Masvingo Province is positioning the 2026 Sanganai/Hlanganani Tourism Expo as a springboard for tourism investment, infrastructure development and business growth, as preparations gather momentum ahead of the international showcase.
The expo, scheduled for September 9 to 12, will be held at the Gymkhana Tourism Park, with provincial authorities saying the event presents an opportunity to generate long-term economic benefits beyond the four-day programme.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Barbara Rwodzi, who visited the province yesterday to assess preparations, said Government was deliberately decentralising the annual tourism expo to stimulate development in different parts of the country.
“As we devolve Sanganai Tourism Expo, our objective is to bring tourism infrastructure into the cities, particularly the five cities that drive the tourism sector in the country,” she said.
Preparatory work at the Gymkhana Tourism Park is now about 80% complete, with authorities introducing 24-hour shifts to ensure the remaining works are completed on time.
The refurbishment and expansion of Masvingo Airport is also expected to strengthen the province’s capacity to handle increased visitor arrivals during the expo and beyond.
Minister Rwodzi said preparations for international participation were progressing well, with 129 international buyers and 44 local buyers already registered. The number of international buyers is expected to rise to about 140 before the expo.
The delegation also inspected the Great Zimbabwe Monument, which is set to host a welcome reception for international visitors, placing the country’s iconic heritage site at the centre of the province’s tourism promotion drive.
Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira said the province was looking beyond hosting the expo, with the event expected to create opportunities for investment and local enterprise development.
“We are not only looking at hosting the expo, but we are looking at the opportunities that will come with it, particularly in terms of tourism investment, infrastructure development, employment creation and the growth of local businesses,” he said.
The province is targeting businesses operating in accommodation, transport, restaurants, arts and crafts and other tourism-related sectors to benefit from increased activity associated with the event.
Beyond the expo itself, Masvingo intends to use the international gathering to market its broader tourism portfolio, including the Great Zimbabwe Monument, cultural heritage, wildlife and scenic attractions.
The hosting of Sanganai/Hlanganani therefore presents the province with an opportunity to convert increased international exposure into sustained tourism arrivals, investment and economic activity.
With infrastructure upgrades underway and international buyers expected to converge in the province, authorities are betting on the expo to leave a lasting footprint on Masvingo’s tourism economy.
