By Dickson Bandera
MASVINGO has been transformed into a hive of sporting, tourism and cultural activity this September, with athletes, teams, officials, tourists and visitors converging on the ancient city as Zimbabwe rolls out a packed tourism calendar designed to showcase the country’s diverse attractions and stimulate economic activity.
The heightened activity comes as Zimbabwe prepares to host the Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo 2026, with Masvingo taking over from Manicaland, which hosted the event last year.
The movement of visitors into the province is being supported by Air Zimbabwe’s Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe Flights 2026, which will connect Harare, Masvingo and Victoria Falls between September 5 and 12.
Air Zimbabwe is scheduled to land in Masvingo from Harare at 8.10am on September 5, following the 7am departure from Harare. The aircraft will subsequently operate several services between Harare and Masvingo during the expo period, while a special Masvingo–Victoria Falls connection will also give visitors an opportunity to link the two major tourism destinations.
The published fares start at US$100 one-way and US$175 return for Harare–Masvingo, while Masvingo–Victoria Falls flights start at US$240 one-way and US$360 return.
The additional air connectivity is expected to make it easier for exhibitors, tourism buyers, athletes and visitors to move between destinations while extending the economic benefits of the tourism programme beyond the expo venue.
Masvingo is particularly well positioned to benefit from the increased traffic, being home to the Great Zimbabwe National Monument, one of Zimbabwe’s most important cultural and heritage attractions and a major drawcard for international and domestic tourists.
The combination of the tourism expo, sporting activities and cultural programmes is creating an environment in which visitors can experience Masvingo not merely as an event destination, but as a tourism hub with heritage, wildlife, culture, hospitality and adventure products.
The development also provides an important continuity from Manicaland to Masvingo. After last year’s Sanganai/Hlanganani edition in Manicaland, the movement of the expo to Masvingo is spreading the tourism spotlight to another province and creating opportunities for local businesses to benefit from increased visitor spending.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi recently said the 2026 edition had attracted significant participation from the tourism industry, with 392 exhibitors registered, underlining the scale of the event and its potential to generate business linkages across the sector.
For Masvingo, the immediate influx of visitors is expected to sow seeds for longer-term tourism and economic value as tourism operators, accommodation establishments, restaurants, transport providers, cultural institutions, retailers and other small businesses interact with visitors and industry players.
The city’s sporting calendar is adding another dimension to the tourism push, bringing athletes and supporters into the province at a time when the country is deliberately positioning tourism as a catalyst for local economic development.
With Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe 2026, sports, cultural activities and improved air connectivity converging in the province, Masvingo is effectively becoming a showcase of how tourism events can drive movement, business and destination visibility.
#SanganaiHlanganani2026 #DzimbahweFlights #AirZimbabwe #Masvingo #ZimbabweTourism #VisitZimbabwe #GreatZimbabwe #TourismZimbabwe #ExperienceZimbabwe
