Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve
MORE than 409 exhibitors and 95 buyers, including 83 international and 12 local have confirmed participation at the forthcoming 2025 Sanganai/Hlanganani/Kumbanayi Tourism Expo.
The expo, which will be held in Mutare for the first time in its 18-year history, promises to be a catalyst for economic growth and sustainable tourism development in the Eastern Highlands.
In a press briefing held on Thursday, the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbara Rwodzi spoke on the significance of the event.
“Sanganai/Hlanganani Kumbanayi 2025 is not just an event; it is a celebration of Zimbabwe’s tourism heritage, innovation and resilience,” she said.
She also highlighted the strategic rebranding of the expo to include Kumbanayi, a Manyika dialect term meaning meeting or gathering, which reflects the Government’s commitment to inclusivity and devolution.
The benefits for Mutare are extensive, ranging from economic spin-offs and employment creation to infrastructure upgrades.
“The influx of international buyers, exhibitors, and visitors boosts demand for accommodation, transport, food, retail, and entertainment,” she said.
Significant infrastructure developments, including the refurbishment of Grand Reef Aerodrome and the reintroduction of Air Zimbabwe flights and NRZ luxury passenger trains, are already enhancing accessibility to the region.
The expo will run under the theme “Devolving Sustainable Tourism Development – Our Future” and features a packed programme from 4 September to 13.
Key events include a tourism investment conference, a scholastica conference, speed networking sessions, a carnival, and a golf tournament, among others.
The Minister expressed confidence in the state of preparedness, citing extensive marketing campaigns, branded public transport, billboards, and online promotions.
“We are grateful to the media who have been giving pre-event coverage and this has widened reach of the message,” she said.
With the stage set for a memorable gathering, the Sanganai/Hlanganani Kumbanayi Expo is set to strengthen Zimbabwe’s position as a must-visit destination on the global tourism map.
