President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa
By Dickson Bandera
MASVINGO — President Emmerson Mnangagwa will tomorrow officially open the 19th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe World Tourism Expo in Masvingo, as Zimbabwe steps up efforts to position tourism as a major driver of investment, employment and economic growth.
The President is expected to preside over the official opening ceremony at 10am at the Conferencing Hub at the Gymkhana Tourism Park, where tourism operators, international buyers, investors and other industry stakeholders have gathered for the four-day showcase.
The expo runs from September 9 to 12 and is being held in Masvingo for the first time, in line with Government’s drive to decentralise major national events and spread tourism-related economic opportunities across the provinces.
The President’s participation is expected to further highlight the strategic importance attached to tourism under the Government’s Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy 2.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi previously said the sector was being positioned as an instrument for economic transformation, investment mobilisation, employment creation, community empowerment and infrastructure development.
The Masvingo edition has attracted strong international interest, with more than 140 international buyers reported to have arrived in the province ahead of the expo. A total of 392 companies had registered for the event in the build-up, while international buyer participation had increased significantly compared with last year’s edition.
The event is expected to provide a platform for Zimbabwean tourism businesses to establish links with international markets, negotiate business deals and promote the country’s diverse tourism products.
Masvingo’s hosting of the expo is also expected to place greater focus on the province’s heritage and nature-based tourism assets, including the Great Zimbabwe National Monument, Lake Mutirikwi and the wider Lowveld tourism circuit.
The province is also benefiting from improved air connectivity, following the introduction of direct Air Zimbabwe flights between Harare and Masvingo, aimed at easing access for tourists, business travellers and investors. Fastjet has also joined in and launched flights for the route.
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority describes Sanganai/Hlanganani as the country’s flagship annual tourism trade fair, bringing together tourism products, international visitors, industry stakeholders and global media.
The venue for this year’s edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo is expected to continue serving Masvingo as an events and tourism hub, with the planned conference centre potentially allowing the city to attract conferences, exhibitions, corporate events and other large gatherings.
Masvingo is located in south-eastern Zimbabwe and shares borders with Mozambique to the east and South Africa to the south-east. Within Zimbabwe, it borders Manicaland, Midlands and Matabeleland South provinces.
The province has a diverse geographical and economic character. Masvingo City is the main urban centre, while Chiredzi and Triangle are important commercial centres in the Lowveld. Zvishavane and Mashava, to the west, have long been associated with mining, while large parts of Gutu, Chivi, Zaka, Bikita and Mwenezi remain predominantly rural with duverse economic activities.
