MASVINGO AIRPORT UPGRADE UNDERWAY AHEAD OF SANGANAI/HLANGANANI 2026

Rehabilitation works have commenced at Masvingo Airport as Zimbabwe accelerates preparations to host the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo 2026 in Masvingo, one of the country’s most prestigious international tourism showcases.

The airport upgrade forms part of ongoing efforts to enhance aviation infrastructure, improve the passenger experience and strengthen Masvingo’s capacity to accommodate increased tourist traffic during the expo, which is scheduled to run from 9 to 12 September 2026 at the Gymkhana Events and Conference Centre.

The works reaffirm Zimbabwe’s commitment to developing modern, safe and efficient airport infrastructure that supports the growth of the tourism industry and contributes to the national vision of positioning Zimbabwe as a premier tourism destination. Improved air access is widely regarded as essential to Masvingo’s ability to welcome the volume of international buyers, exhibitors and media the expo typically attracts.

Masvingo Airport has previously been identified for rehabilitation and extension of its terminal building, along with runway upgrades and the installation of an air ground lighting system, as part of a broader national push to modernise regional aviation infrastructure. Enhanced facilities would support not only the expo but also longer-term connectivity for the province, given its proximity to Great Zimbabwe, major agricultural hubs and mining activities.

Preparations for Sanganai/Hlanganani 2026 have been gathering pace across multiple fronts in recent months. Provincial authorities have confirmed that Masvingo recorded more than 50,000 visitors in 2025, with expectations that the expo will significantly boost arrivals and cement the province’s position as a leading tourism and business destination. More than 900 rooms are currently available across the city and its surrounding areas to accommodate visitors.

Government ministries, the City of Masvingo and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority have been working together to ensure logistical, infrastructural and service delivery requirements are met ahead of the showcase, with venue preparations at the Gymkhana Events and Conference Centre also well underway.

The Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo, first held in Bulawayo in 2008, has grown into one of Zimbabwe’s premier tourism and investment platforms, rotating annually between provinces under government’s devolution policy. The 2025 edition was hosted in Mutare, with Masvingo now preparing to take up the mantle.

Hosting the 2026 edition is expected to stimulate economic activity across hospitality, transport, retail and the arts, while creating employment opportunities and reinforcing Masvingo’s profile as a leading tourism destination.

Masvingo is getting ready. Zimbabwe is getting ready. Sanganai 2026 is coming.