SEPTEMBER SPORTS TOURISM CARNIVAL ROARS TO LIFE IN MASVINGO

Masvingo Province is bursting into action this week as the September Sports Tourism Carnival gets underway, kicking off an extensive month-long programme of events designed to showcase destination Zimbabwe through sports tourism, culture, heritage and gastronomy, ahead of the landmark 19th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani Dzimbahwe World Tourism Expo.

Running from 1 to 4 September 2026, the Sports Tourism Carnival marks the opening chapter of what provincial authorities are calling one of the most defining moments in Masvingo’s modern tourism and economic development journey. The momentum begins with an extensive programme of sports tourism events from 1 to 4 September, followed by the vibrant Sanganai Street Carnival and Kids Fun Factory along Main Street on 5 September.

The carnival forms the first movement in an unprecedented convergence of activities across the province, building toward the main expo itself. The programme then moves into a more strategic phase, with professional masterclasses, the Tourism Investment Conference and high-level B2B networking sessions from 8 to 11 September. The Sanganai/Hlanganani – Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo proper will run from 9 to 12 September 2026 at the Gymkhana Events and Conference Centre.

Organised annually by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, the flagship international tourism trade fair embodies a profound unity across cultures, with its name drawing on Shona, Ndebele and Dzimbabwe roots meaning to meet, to come together, and house of stones — honouring the country’s iconic national monuments. This year’s edition places the spotlight on Masvingo as home to the Great Zimbabwe Monument, one of the country’s most significant cultural and archaeological landmarks, and a fitting backdrop for an edition themed around Dzimbahwe.

Masvingo recorded more than 50,000 visitors in 2025, with authorities expecting the expo to significantly boost tourist arrivals further, positioning the province as a leading tourism and business destination, backed by over 900 rooms currently available across the city and surrounding areas. Delegations are expected to attend from across the region, including South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Malawi.

Beyond the trade showcase, the province is preparing a full cultural calendar, including the Sanganai Tourism & Culture Night, the Great Zimbabwe Monuments delegate experience, and the launch of a new double-deck cruise boat on Lake Mutirikwi, underscoring the province’s ambitions to position its inland waters as a driver of leisure tourism and investment.

For Masvingo, the carnival’s opening beat is more than a warm-up act, it is a statement of intent that the historic province is ready to welcome the world.