Innocent Kurira [email protected]
VICE-PRESIDENT Dr Constantino Chiwenga will officially open the Kuzana Sports Industry Conference 2026 today (Wednesday), as Zimbabwe seeks to move sport beyond the playing field and establish it as a significant contributor to the economy.
The conference is part of the inaugural Kuzana Sport and Creative Economy Expo of Zimbabwe (SCEEZ), which brings together leading figures from the local and international sporting industry to explore the commercial opportunities within the sector.
Among the high-profile speakers are International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Kirsty Coventry, Women in Sport representative Kudzai Kadzombe, ICC deputy chairperson Tavengwa Mukuhlani, African
Union Sports Council (AUSC) chief executive Stanley Mutoya and Zimbabwe cricket captain Sikandar Raza.
The discussions will focus on issues shaping the modern sports economy, with panels covering sports infrastructure, the business of play, “From Jersey to Brand” and “The Billion Dollar Pivot”.
The conference comes as Zimbabwe increasingly recognises that sport extends far beyond competition, with the sector supporting an ecosystem encompassing sponsorship, broadcasting, branding, infrastructure, merchandising, tourism, media and employment.
Kuzana seeks to explore how these components can be linked and developed into a sustainable economic sector capable of creating opportunities beyond the traditional sporting arena.
The Expo is being convened by the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture in strategic partnership with Nhimbe Trust, which is serving as the technical partner.
Its ambition is to position Zimbabwe as a regional hub for sport and creative economy development and an exporter by 2030.
Running under the theme “From Talent and GDP: Driving Zimbabwe’s Creative Industries”, the five-day programme will feature exhibitions, conferences, sporting competitions, an arts showcase and a musical concert.
