Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
“WHEN our Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry (Honourable Barbra Rwodzi) came to tell us that we were going to move the Sanganai/Hlanganani/Kumbanayi World Tourism Expo to Manicaland and rotate to other provinces, the industry was not too pleased by the announcement.
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“The reason being that we know that to host an event like this, one must have the facilities in place. So we doubted the facilities in Manicaland.
“However, that we are here, and we have seen the work that was done, we were very surprised, and very happy at the same time that the event has been a resounding success.”
These were the words of Zimbabwe Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe chief executive, Mr Paul Matamisa, as he gave the vote of thanks following the 18th Sanganai/Hlanganani/Kumbanayi World Tourism Expo official opening at Mutare Sports Club by President Mnangagwa yesterday.
No doubt, Manicaland Province did exceptionally well to go beyond expectations in hosting the global tourism showpiece.
The spruced-up venue, the revamping of Grand Reef Aerodrome, the resuscitation of the railway network connecting Harare and Mutare, as well as other infrastructural development works carried out in the run-up to the event, all spoke to Manicaland Province’s readiness to host important events of national and global significance.
Top-notch protocol systems during the event, including the flawless welcome of President Mnangagwa as he touched down at Grand Reef Aerodrome, before proceeding to officially open the 2025 edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani/Kumbanayi World Tourism Expo, spiced by entertainment provided by Dapurahunanzva Traditional Dance Group, all gave testimony of a well-organised event.
The 2025 edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani/Kumbanayi World Tourism Expo is being held under the theme: “Devolving Sustainable Tourism Development—Our Future”.
Speaking at the official opening, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Honourable Barbra Rwodzi said: “Guided by your vision of attaining an upper middle income economy by 2030, Your Excellency, your Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry this year took a bold decision to take the 18th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani/Kumbanayi World Tourism Expo to Mutare from its traditional venue of Bulawayo.
“This approach, consistent with this year’s theme: ‘Devolving Sustainable Tourism Development— Our Future’, ensures that every province plays a part in tourism development and directly benefits from Zimbabwe’s tourism growth.
“We do not want to leave a place behind and any person in your country behind, as you teach us every day, Your Excellency. Zimbabwe is richly endowed with diverse tourism regions, each with unique natural and cultural heritage assets. So, the inaugural rotational approach, which begins today, we begin here in Mutare, the heart of the Eastern Highlands.
“This is a province that we think, Your Excellency, with what it is blessed with, with what you find in Manicaland, it is endowed with diverse tourism attractions, next to Victoria Falls. We really want to grow and market Manicaland Province.”
Accordingly, the initiative worked out as planned. Buyers from far and wide converged in Mutare, resulting in most of them appreciating the need to add Manicaland Province and its tourism products to their packages.
