By Munyaradzi Blessing Doma
MASVINGO is set to take centre stage in Zimbabwe’s tourism development when the 19th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo is held in the province from September 9 to 12.
The premier tourism trade event will be hosted at the Gymkhana Events and Conference Centre as Government steps up efforts to decentralise tourism development and ensure communities and businesses outside traditional tourism hubs benefit from the sector.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi said taking Sanganai to Masvingo demonstrated Government’s commitment to spreading tourism opportunities across the country in line with Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2.
She said this on Wednesday at the launch of Tourism Month and the 2026 Sanganai/Hlanganani Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo in Harare.
“We are moving forward with our narrative of going beyond our traditional centres, such as Victoria Falls, Bulawayo and Harare, and bringing tourism directly to the provinces,” Rwodzi said.
She said the decision to host the Expo in Masvingo marked an important step towards a more decentralised tourism sector.
“We want to emphasise how important Masvingo is for us as a country. The hosting of the 19th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo represents an important milestone in our devolved approach to tourism development.”
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Masvingo was selected because of its rich historical, cultural and natural tourism assets, particularly the Great Zimbabwe Monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Rwodzi said the Expo would provide a platform to expose the province’s tourism attractions to international markets while creating opportunities for local communities and businesses to participate in the tourism value chain.
“Through Sanganai Dzimbahwe, we will systematically profile Masvingo’s tourism potential for trade, investment and destination development, while creating opportunities for the local communities and enterprises in Masvingo Province to participate more meaningfully in the tourism value chain,” she said.
The Minister said inclusivity remained central to Government’s vision for tourism, which is expected to contribute to economic transformation, job creation, investment mobilisation and community empowerment.
“We must build a globally competitive, inclusive and sustainable tourism economy that creates more opportunities for our people, stimulates enterprise across all provinces, attracts domestic as well as international investment, strengthens local communities and generates value throughout the economy.
“Tourism must become a stronger engine for inclusive growth, ensuring that no one and no place is left behind.”
Rwodzi said Government expected communities in Masvingo to benefit from the increased tourism activity generated by the Expo.
“We have a number of projects that we need to be helping in putting in place in Masvingo,” she said.
The Minister reiterated that Sanganai/Hlanganani Dzimbahwe remained Zimbabwe’s premier tourism trade platform, providing a marketplace where tourism businesses can showcase their products, access international markets, build partnerships, generate business leads and explore investment opportunities.
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