Online Reporter
Eliah Saushoma
[email protected]
HUNDREDS of Jehovah’s Witnesses Church congregates are gathered at Zimbabwe International Conference and Exhibition Smart City (ZICES) in Bulawayo for the organisation’s three-day annual convention series programme.
Beginning today, June 12 to 14, 2026, the church will launch its annual convention series for Matabeleland Region, shifting the focus to a universal theme: “Eternal Happiness.”
The free public programme aims to explore how ‘everlasting happiness’ can be achieved through building a strong spiritual foundation rooted in practical Bible principles, organisers said.
The Bulawayo event marks the launch of the convention season for the broader Matabeleland Region, which will see sequential events running from June through September 2026.
The convention series will eventually cover communities including Binga, Hwange, Lupane, Filabusi, Gwanda, and Beitbridge, said the church leaders.
To ensure the message reaches everyone, the programme will be delivered in multiple languages across the venues, including isiNdebele, chiShona, Sign Language, chiTonga (in Binga), and chiVenda (in Beitbridge).
“This year’s convention will focus on how to be happy and maintain eternal happiness even when one faces some challenges,” Mr Mlaleli Nsikani, regional spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses, said.
“We are excited once again to work with officials from different cities who will be hosting our conventions. Everyone is invited to come and discover the real joy; attendance is free.”
Beyond the spiritual focus, the convention is expected to provide a significant economic shot in the arm for the host city as more than 3 000 attendees are projected to flood Bulawayo this weekend alone.
The influx of huge numbers is set to fuel the local economy through increased spending at hospitality venues, retail stores, and restaurants.
The “Eternal Happiness” programme will utilize a modern mix of live discourses, interviews, and multimedia presentations. Key topics scheduled for discussion include: “Abundant Happiness Forever—Is It Realistic?, Why Are You Anxious?, Have You Discovered the Treasure?
A major highlight of the three-day event will be the exclusive debut of Episodes 4, 5, and 6 of “The Good News According to Jesus.” The highly anticipated, 18-episode video series offers a look at the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, drawing strictly from the Gospel accounts. Following the release of Episode 1 in 2024 and Episodes 2 and 3 last year, the next three installments will premiere on consecutive days of the convention.
Additionally, a live baptism ceremony, a cornerstone of the annual events, will take place during the Saturday morning session.
The Bulawayo and Beitbridge gatherings are part of a massive global footprint. As one of the world’s largest non-profit convention organizers, Jehovah’s Witnesses are hosting this identical programme worldwide, including at 19 special international conventions in countries like South
Africa, Portugal, and Thailand, which will welcome tens of thousands of global delegates.
The scale of these events follows successful 2025 series under the theme “Pure Worship” where the organization hosted over 6,000 conventions in nearly 500 languages, drawing a total global attendance of over 12 million people globally.
Londile Moyo