Online Reporter
Michael Tome-Business Reporter
THE Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe has called for stronger collaboration between banks and the tourism industry to unlock funding required to modernise hospitality infrastructure ahead of the Intra-African Trade Fair 2029 in Harare.
Zimbabwe won the bid to host the permanent headquarters of the Intra-African Trade Fair Company and will host the full-scale IATF event in 2029.
The continental trade showcase, which will run annually in Zimbabwe between 2029 and 2033, was awarded to Harare following a competitive bidding process against South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Burkina Faso and Cameroon.
The decision was announced at the close of the 2025 IATF in Algiers, Algeria, marking a major milestone to institutionalise the IATF under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking at the Tourism and Hospitality Investment Conference, dubbed “Meet the Bankers Conference 2026”, HAZ president Mrs Emmah Kativhu said the event was designed to bridge the long-standing financing gap that has constrained investment in Zimbabwe’s tourism and hospitality sector.
Held under the theme “Connecting Capital to Capacity: Unlocking Zimbabwe’s Tourism Potential Ahead of IATF 2029,” the indaba brought together bankers, policymakers, development partners and tourism operators to discuss sustainable financing models for the industry.
Mrs Kativhu said tourism remains one of Zimbabwe’s strategic economic sectors, generating foreign currency, creating employment, stimulating infrastructure development and promoting the country’s international image.
She said the conference aligns with the objectives of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which identifies tourism as a key driver of economic transformation through increased investment, export growth, regional integration and improved destination competitiveness.
“Today marks a defining moment for our sector. We are gathered not merely for dialogue but for alignment — alignment between capital and capacity, between policy and practice, and between ambition and execution,” said Mrs Kativhu.
She said while Zimbabwe possesses significant tourism assets and opportunities, the country must ensure it is investment-ready and capable of delivering projects that meet international standards before hosting IATF 2029.
According to Mrs Kativhu, the hospitality industry requires substantial capital to refurbish and expand accommodation facilities, improve infrastructure and develop skilled human resources capable of delivering world-class service.
The HAZ president urged tourism operators to improve governance, transparency and project preparedness to enhance their ability to attract funding, while calling on banks to develop innovative financial products tailored to the industry’s needs.
She expressed confidence that stronger collaboration among financiers, Government and industry would position Zimbabwe to leverage IATF 2029 as a catalyst for tourism investment and economic growth.
“If we align today, IATF 2029 will not be a pressure point. It will be a showcase for Zimbabwe because the nation has the assets, the talent and the opportunity. What we must now ensure is coordinated execution,” Mrs Kativhu said.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Tongai Mnangagwa, implored financial institutions to play a leading role in funding Zimbabwe’s tourism and hospitality expansion ahead of hosting the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2029. He said collaboration between banks and tourism businesses would deepen financial inclusion, create sustainable employment and strengthen Brand Zimbabwe through improved hospitality services.
“ This landmark event brings together financial capital leaders and tourism players to unlock unprecedented economic growth,” Deputy Minister Mnangagwa said.
He said Zimbabwe is required to meet several infrastructure obligations before hosting the continental event, including providing 20 000 hotel rooms, with accommodation facilities rated three stars and above and modern exhibition and conference facilities that meet international standards.
He said the country would need to develop approximately 10 000 additional hotel rooms by 2029 to meet expected demand. With intra-African trade currently accounting for about 14 percent of the continent’s total trade, Deputy Minister Mnangagwa said hosting IATF 2029 presents Zimbabwe with a strategic opportunity to stimulate investment, strengthen tourism, expand hospitality capacity and position itself as a regional business and conference destination. Bankers Association of Zimbabwe (BAZ) president, Mr Solomon Nyanhongo, said banks are ready to seize the opportunities in Zimbabwe’s tourism sector and remain committed to financing viable tourism and hospitality projects that support the country’s growth agenda
“The banking sector is ready to seize the opportunities presented by Zimbabwe’s tourism growth agenda and is fully committed to supporting viable, bankable tourism and hospitality projects that will expand the country’s capacity ahead of IATF 2029.
“Through strategic financing partnerships, we can help unlock investment, modernise infrastructure and position Zimbabwe as a leading tourism and business destination in Africa,” Mr Nyanhongo said.
