HARARE – For centuries, the towering, mortarless granite walls of the Great Zimbabwe monument have stood as a masterclass in African ingenuity, historically drawing traders, merchants, and travellers to the heart of the southern plateau.
Today, that ancient magnetic pull is echoing powerfully into the modern era. As Masvingo prepares to host the 19th edition of the newly localised Sanganai/Hlanganani – Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo from September 9 to 12, the numbers are already pointing to a monumental success.
Driven by the undeniable allure of this UNESCO World Heritage site, 392 of the targeted 400 exhibitors are registered—marking a 14.3% increase from last year—alongside 118 confirmed international buyers.
The ancient stone city is, once again,
serving as Zimbabwe’s epicentre of global connection.
At a high-level press briefing in Harare marking the launch of Tourism Month 2026, the strategic pivot toward Masvingo was unveiled as a cornerstone of the government’s devolution policy. Moving beyond traditional hubs like Victoria Falls and Harare, Zimbabwe is explicitly anchoring its economic drive in its profound archaeological heritage.
“Tourism is not merely an industry,” Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Barbara Rwodzi told a packed room of media and industry executives. “It is a powerful instrument for economic transformation, investment mobilisation, employment creation, community empowerment, infrastructure development, and tourism sustainable development.”
Aligned with the UN Tourism theme, “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,” the month’s events will culminate in the United Nations World Tourism Day main celebrations in Masvingo on September 27. Yet the soul of the expo remains deeply rooted in local heritage.
Acknowledging the historical weight of the province, the government adopted the community’s proposal to rebrand the showcase as the Sanganai/Hlanganani – Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo.
“Masvingo Province, our host this year, will take centre stage as we showcase its extraordinary wealth of history, storytelling—proper storytelling about Zimbabwe—and authenticity about who we are as a people and as a culture,” Minister Rwodzi emphasised. She underscored a national mandate to build a “globally competitive, inclusive, and sustainable tourism economy that creates more opportunities for our people.”
Just as the rise of Great Zimbabwe catalysed regional development in the 11th century, this modern influx is leaving an indelible infrastructure legacy. The pivot to Masvingo has fast-tracked the refurbishment of the Masvingo Airport and the rapid modernisation of the Gymkhana Events and Conference Center. This includes a newly constructed state-of-the-art restaurant, upgraded ablution facilities by the City of Masvingo, and permanent regional offices for the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.
To further diversify the province’s draw, the ministry has integrated a new dynamic into the heritage landscape: sports tourism. The September Sports Tourism Carnival, running from September 1 to 4 at Mucheke Stadium, unites athletes across disciplines from rugby and golf to netball and soccer, proving that modern cultural capital can seamlessly blend with historical legacy.
“This approach recognises the growing linkages between tourism and sport, and provides an opportunity to use sporting events to stimulate domestic travel, to attract visitors, to increase destination visibility, and to diversify Zimbabwe’s tourism offering,” said Minister Rwodzi.
As international buyers prepare to descend on Masvingo for rigorous B2B networking and market expansion, they are stepping into a living continuation of Zimbabwe’s ancient mercantile greatness.
“Tourism must become a stronger engine for inclusive growth, ensuring that no one and no place is left behind,” Minister Rwodzi concluded. With record-breaking attendance and a revitalised provincial landscape, the enduring spirit of Dzimbahwe is doing exactly that—building a prosperous, decentralised future on the unshakeable foundation of its past.