By Munyaradzi Blessing Doma
Masvingo is stepping up preparations to host the 19th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo, with major infrastructure projects nearing completion ahead of the tourism showcase.
The province plans to use the expo to promote its cultural heritage, tourism attractions and investment opportunities while creating a lasting economic and infrastructural footprint.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi and Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira recently toured key facilities, including the Gymkhana Tourism Park, Masvingo Airport and the Great Zimbabwe Visitor Centre, to assess preparations.
The expo will begin with a Sports Tourism Carnival from September 1 to 4, followed by the Street Carnival on September 5. The main expo will run from September 9 to 12.
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Preparations at the Gymkhana Tourism Park are about 80 percent complete. The facility will include a restaurant, bar, gastronomy hub, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority offices and a mini-stadium, while a conference centre is planned for future development.
Upgrades to Masvingo Airport, roads and the expo site are also expected to improve connectivity and strengthen the province’s capacity to host major tourism and events activities beyond the expo.
So far, 270 exhibitors have registered, with the number expected to reach 450. There are also 129 international buyers and 44 local buyers registered.
The Great Zimbabwe Visitor Centre will host the welcome cocktail, providing international tourism players with an opportunity to experience the country’s iconic heritage site.
Rwodzi said Masvingo’s location along the regional Cape-to-Cairo corridor presented opportunities for investment in hotels, conference facilities, restaurants, lodges and other tourism products.
Australia will participate for the first time following a Zimbabwean tourism roadshow, while increased numbers of Indian tourists have been recorded at destinations showcased during the previous expo in the Eastern Highlands.
For Masvingo, Sanganai represents more than a tourism event, with the province seeking to convert international exposure into investment, visitor arrivals and long-term economic opportunities.
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