MINISTER RWODZI URGES ZIMBABWEANS IN AUSTRALIA TO INVEST INTO TOURISM SECTOR

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority has hosted a Diaspora Investment and Business Opportunities Forum in Sydney, Australia, bringing together Zimbabweans living in the country to explore investment opportunities within Zimbabwe’s tourism sector, as government continues efforts to channel diaspora financial flows into productive sectors of the economy.

Addressing the gathering, Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Hon. Barbara Rwodzi acknowledged the significant role diaspora remittances have played over the years in supporting families back home, financing education and housing development, and sustaining community livelihoods, while also contributing meaningfully to Zimbabwe’s foreign currency earnings. Building on this, the Minister challenged Zimbabweans in Australia to direct a greater share of these remittances toward investment rather than consumption, particularly within tourism, which she described as a strategic sector capable of generating sustainable returns, creating employment and stimulating local value chains. She linked this call to government’s broader development agenda under National Development Strategy 2 and Vision 2030.

The forum also featured the appointment of thirteen-year-old Langdentity School student Leah Rose Nyoni as Zimbabwe’s 2026 Junior Tourism Ambassador in Australia, following her presentation of an award-winning Zimbabwe travel itinerary. The recognition earns her a week-long familiarisation tour of the country’s leading tourism attractions. Langdentity School further contributed to proceedings with a cultural dance performance that was well received by delegates in attendance.

In a further outcome from the engagement, the Minister approved the launch of an annual initiative titled “My Roots, My Pride Tour,” to be coordinated through the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority. The programme is intended to reconnect Zimbabwean children growing up in Australia with their heritage, with the broader aim of inspiring future visits to Zimbabwe among younger generations of the diaspora community.

The forum concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, giving attendees the opportunity to engage directly with the Minister and tourism officials on investment prospects and related opportunities. Proceedings closed with a gastronomy and networking dinner showcasing traditional Zimbabwean cuisine, an occasion organisers said was intended to reinforce cultural identity among the diaspora, strengthen community connections, and advance the growth of gastronomy tourism as part of Zimbabwe’s wider tourism offering.

The Sydney forum forms part of a continuing series of diaspora engagements being held by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority in key markets abroad, aimed at deepening ties between Zimbabweans living overseas and developments within the domestic tourism industry, while positioning the sector as an accessible entry point for diaspora-led investment.