Online Reporter
Judith Phiri, [email protected]
BULAWAYO’S tourism and hospitality sector is experiencing a surge in business ahead of Mine Entra 2026, with major hotels and lodges reporting impressive bookings as delegates, exhibitors and visitors flock to the city for
Zimbabwe’s premier mining, engineering and transport exhibition.
The three-day expo begins tomorrow and runs until Friday, presenting a significant economic boost for the hospitality industry and related service sectors.
Like the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), Mine Entra has become a major calendar event that injects life into Bulawayo’s economy, transforming the city into a vibrant hub of business networking, investment discussions and industry innovation.
Hosted by the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company in partnership with the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe and the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, the exhibition will be held at the Zimbabwe International Conference and Exhibition Smart City (ZICES).
Running under the theme: “Unearth, Transform, Prosper: Anchoring Economic Transformation through Mining Value Chains”, the 2026 edition is expected to attract leading mining companies, equipment manufacturers, technology providers, policymakers, investors and industry experts from across Zimbabwe and the region.
The strong accommodation bookings underline the growing stature of the exhibition and its importance as a catalyst for business tourism, investment promotion and economic activity in Bulawayo.
Responding to questions from Zimpapers Business Hub, Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) Bulawayo representative Mrs Grace Guchu-Nkomo said main hotels were fully booked and ready for Mine Entra 2026.
“Most hotels and lodges are fully booked. Tourism and hospitality sector players are fairly busy due to the high demand for services during this time,” she said.
Mrs Guchu-Nkomo called on the players to ensure they are well prepared and offer world-class standard services to their guests.
Sterling Bulawayo Hotel general manager, Mr Fungai Mutseyekwa said they were fully booked for Mine Entra and have unfortunately had to turn away some companies that tried booking late.
“Apart from Mine Entra, we had other bookings as well, which makes it a very busy period. As usual, we will put our best foot forward to make our guests stay in Bulawayo even longer,” he said.
Crown Events owner, Ms Samantha Banda who is also an AirBnB host and property manager, said Mine Entra attracts a different calibre of visitors, which include mining executives, suppliers, Government delegates and exhibitors.
“These type of guests value comfort, WiFi and zero stress. Accommodation service providers especially BnBs should nail the basics like clean linen, hot water, air conditioning if possible, fast reliable WiFi and backup power supply,” she said.
“Extra amenities to also consider for the comfort of guests will be breakfast and dinner options, laundry and housekeeping services, safe parking or even vehicle hire/shuttle services.”
She said collaborating with other service providers and players ensures that guests experience top notch service from the moment they arrive in the city until the last day.
Now in its 28th year running, the Mine Entra has built a solid reputation as a vital business and networking platform, bringing together key players in the mining, engineering and transport sectors, to meet their marketing needs.
The Mine Entra Buyers Programme runs from Wednesday to Friday (29 to 31 July), offering targeted matchmaking to connect exhibitors with key decision- decision-makers across the African mining value chain.
