Online Reporter
IN recent months, the name “Zimbabwe” has begun to reappear on international and regional sporting calendars as a host.
From regional youth tournaments to the bigger and upcoming global cricket tours, there is a growing recognition that Zimbabwe can serve not just as a berth for teams, but as a fully-fledged destination for sport.
We believe that if this moment is seized with vision, it could spark far-reaching benefits for infrastructure, technology, tourism and social development far beyond the boundaries of the playing fields. The gift is already ours. The upcoming tour by the England cricket team – scheduled for 2026 – reflects renewed confidence from overseas cricket bodies that Zimbabwe offers the right mix of grounds, hospitality and audience potential.
Add to that the expectation of One-Day International (ODI) series by teams such as Australia and a pattern begins to emerge.
The heavyweight Cricket Associations, which were once reluctant to touch down in Harare, are again scheduling Zimbabwe for high-profile tours.
This sends a strong signal to players, coaches, fans and broadcasters alike that Zimbabwe is back on the map.
But cricket alone does not tell the whole story. Our recent hosting of the COSAFA Under 17 Boys Championship and the ongoing CAF Girls Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT) have drawn regional attention to Zimbabwe’s ability to rally behind youth football, organise logistics, accommodate teams and fans, and deliver a smooth tournament experience.
Meanwhile, the ongoing African Youth Chess Championships being held here underscores that our potential spans beyond physical sport.
We can host “mind-sport” events, tapping into different demographic and talent pools, and showcasing our readiness for diversity in the sporting calendar. The hosting of the African union Sports Council Region 5 Youth Darts Championships in Mazowe also showcased Zimbabwe’s ability to host diverse and less popular sports.
Beyond the field and board, Zimbabwe hosted the AUSC Regional Annual Sports Awards (RASA) this year where the winners included Collin Kabinetshipi, the Botswana 400m star who went on to win the gold medal in the Individual 400m and the 4x400m relay at the World Championships in Japan. This broadening of our sporting portfolio matters. It opens doors to hosting not just elite or traditional disciplines but a panoply of sports. That, in turn, expands our appeal: to youth teams, to families, to international delegations, to media, and to tourists.
We are convinced that Zimbabwe is no longer a one-dimensional sports venue; it is shaping up to be a versatile sporting destination, enhancing sport tourism.
The significance of incoming tours and tournaments extends far beyond match results or trophies. One only needs to consider what organised, regular sporting gatherings can bring to our nation:
Historic venues and high-profile stadiums must remain central — but the real opportunity lies in building multi-purpose facilities in high-density suburbs and rural areas, much like the one opened last week by the Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Anselem Sanyatwe in Juru, Mashonaland East.
Sports grounds can double as community centres, training hubs, and gathering spots. When international teams tour, such venues could be used for coaching clinics, youth development camps, talent scouting — reaching beyond the urban elite and into communities that seldom get a chance. Over time, these facilities can become anchors for local sports clubs, communal recreation, school tournaments and grassroots athletic growth. Their value will last far beyond any single tournament.
Sporting events bring in players, officials, support staff, media, sometimes families and fans. That influx creates demand – for hotels, for transport, for catering, for local services, for hospitality. But this should not be limited to match days. With careful planning and forward-thinking marketing, Zimbabwe can package Sports Tourism offering touring teams and their entourages — and visiting fans – a chance to explore our vibrant culture, natural heritage, and rural heartlands.
We can only imagine a cricket team arriving in Harare, playing a match, then being offered a curated experience: a tour to the Eastern Highlands, a game-reserve safari, or a cultural visit to rural communities.
That kind of integration turns a short visit into a meaningful engagement with Zimbabwe and delivers economic benefits to far more stakeholders than just stadium operators.
In today’s world, sport is no longer just what happens on the field, it is now also largely about how it gets shared. If Zimbabwe upgrades its digital infrastructure with reliable Wi-Fi, streaming servers, contact-centre capacity for media, commentary and data analytics, we could become a hub for live broadcast and sports media.
That has ripple effects: creating jobs in tech support, media production, data services; training young Zimbabweans in broadcasting, production, digital commentary, remote-streaming operations and offering the global diaspora a chance to “tune in” from abroad. With stable streaming, even matches in smaller rural venues could reach global audiences showcasing our stadiums, landscapes and people worldwide.
By situating multi-purpose sporting facilities across density and rural zones, sport becomes accessible to rural and urban underserviced communities. That access can nurture talent, promote healthy lifestyles, and offer structured after-school or weekend activities for young people. With visiting teams holding clinics and training sessions, local youth get exposure to international standards.
Over time, we could see a pipeline: from grassroots sport to provincial, to national representation, all built on infrastructure and opportunity within their communities.
Commendably government has also seen it fit to improve sport infrastructure through an increased vote in the national fiscus and via the recently announced national Budget.
If we are to transform this potential into concrete results, Zimbabwe needs more than occasional hosting rights — we need a coordinated strategy that binds infrastructure, technology, tourism and community development into one long-term vision.
This could be anchored on key components which include: A national sports-hosting strategy that identifies priority zones (urban, peri-urban, rural) and plans for multi-purpose sporting-community facilities and Public–private partnerships (PPPs) that mobilise government, local authorities, private investors, and community groups to fund and manage these facilities sustainably.
There is also investment in ICT infrastructure for high-speed internet, streaming servers and digital broadcasting capacity to support live events, media production, and remote commentary services.
Collaboration with tourism operators and cultural stakeholders to package sports events with heritage tours, wildlife experiences and community engagement in order to give visiting teams and fans a taste of “the full Zimbabwean experience’’ and the commitment to long-term community use by ensuring facilities built for high-profile events remain accessible for local clubs, schools, youth groups, and recreational activity. There has not been a better time to act. Zimbabwe’s recent wave of hosting – from youth football to chess to high-profile cricket tours – is not a coincidence.
There is work going on behind the scenes. But that work must be built on carefully laid foundations that a strengthened by collaboration and deliberate strategic decision making. If we continue merely viewing each tournament as a one-off event, we risk squandering our chance.
But if we adopt a comprehensive strategy of integrating infrastructure development, ICT investment, tourism, and community empowerment then we could redefine what it means to be a sporting nation in Africa.
When any visiting team steps onto our soil in 2026 and beyond and when touring players, staff, fans, media descend, we should not be scrambling.
We should be ready. Ready with stadiums and facilities. Ready with reliable streaming and technology. Ready with hospitality, culture, and opportunity. And above all, ready to demonstrate that Zimbabwe is more than a temporary venue.
That we are indeed a sporting destination.
dyton mupawaenda