Online Reporter
Sibonokuhle Mboni, [email protected]
BULAWAYO is set to host the inaugural Kuzana Sport and Creative Economy Expo of Zimbabwe (SCEEZ) on October 9, an event expected to bring together sports federations, athletes, artists and players from the creative industries under one roof.
The expo will run from October 7 to 11 at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Grounds and will feature conferences, exhibitions, arts showcases and a headline football match at Barbourfields Stadium.
The boxing fraternity is also exploring plans to stage a professional boxing tournament as part of the activities.
Organisers have indicated that a senior Government official is expected to grace the event as guest of honour.
Government involvement reflects its recognition of sport’s growing role in economic transformation through employment creation, entertainment and wellness initiatives.
The event was formally launched following Cabinet approval, with Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Minister Anselem Sanyatwe and Deputy Minister Emily Jesaya announcing the initiative during a media briefing.
The briefing outlined the scope of the expo and confirmed the dates, venue and flagship programmes ahead of the October showcase.
Held under the theme, “KUZANA: Towards Vision 2030 through Sports and Creative Industries,” the expo derives its name from a Tonga word meaning “to dance” or “to play”, a reflection of the cultural heritage organisers say lies at the heart of Zimbabwe’s sporting and creative traditions.
Organisers say the platform is designed to position sport and the creative sector as key drivers of investment, job creation, tourism and economic growth, in line with National Development Strategy 2 and Vision 2030’s goal of attaining upper-middle-income status.
The Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (MoSRAC) is spearheading the initiative in partnership with Nhimbe Trust and the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Company.
The collaboration between Government, the creative sector, civil society and the country’s premier trade exhibition organiser reflects the broad ambitions of the expo, which seeks to bridge policy, enterprise, talent development and investment opportunities within a single platform.
Organisers say the event will bring together athletes, artists, cultural practitioners, sports federations, creative enterprises, investors, policymakers and development partners, creating opportunities for talent to connect with capital, infrastructure, technology and policy support.
The five-day programme at the ZITF Grounds will include conferences and panel discussions aimed at professionalising sport and the creative economy, alongside exhibitions where sports bodies and creative enterprises can showcase their work to investors and the public.
In a statement, organisers said the expo seeks to recognise sport and creativity “not only as entertainment, but as productive economic sectors,” positioning the event as a platform for talent development, enterprise growth, investment and national development.
That vision aligns with broader efforts across the region to formalise the economic contribution of sport and the arts, sectors that have traditionally operated on the margins despite their significant impact on employment creation, cultural development and economic activity.
