by Gideon Madzikatidze/Simbarashe Sithole
HARARE – Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbara Rwodzi has announced that the next edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo will be hosted in Kariba, Mashonaland West province in 2027.
Making the major announcement to journalists in Harare, Rwodzi said the rotation is part of the Government’s strategy to decentralise tourism products, drive circuit development and optimise destination dispersal across Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces.
“Rotating Sanganai allows us to market different tourism circuits and spread the economic benefits of tourism,” Rwodzi said.
“From the Great Zimbabwe to the Mighty Zambezi, we are showcasing the diversity of Brand Zimbabwe. Kariba 2027 will put our lake, wildlife and adventure product on the global MICE and leisure map,” Rwodzi added.
The Minister said moving the premier B2B travel trade platform to Kariba directly complements Government’s devolution agenda and the ease of doing dusiness reforms in tourism.
“This rotation ensures that tourism receipts, FDI and infrastructure development are not concentrated in one region,” she said.
“It gives SMEs, community tourism enterprises and destination management companies in Mashonaland West an opportunity to plug into the global value chain. It’s about inclusive growth and equitable tourism,” Rwodzi said.
Rwodzi noted that hosting Sanganai in different provinces acts as a catalyst for infrastructure upgrades, airlift development and last-mile connectivity, all critical for improving a destination’s tourism competitiveness index.
The Minister credited the whole-of-government approach for enabling visitors to realise tangible development, especially in previously hard-to-reach areas with spectacular tourism assets and hidden gems.
“Because of this collaborative governance model, we are now seeing improved road networks, ICT connectivity and service delivery in our secondary and tertiary tourism destinations,” Rwodzi said.
“This has enabled convenience and accessibility to some destinations that were once considered inaccessible. Tourists can now do multi-destination packaging with ease – from cultural tourism at Great Zimbabwe to lake and safari experiences in Kariba,” Rwodzi noted.
She said the approach has strengthened public-private partnerships, inter-ministerial coordination and destination stewardship, ensuring that Sanganai is not just a 3-day expo but a legacy tourism development tool.
Tourism industry players described Kariba as an ideal host for 2027 due to its houseboat product, sport fishing, game viewing and conferencing facilities.
Analysts say the move will boost forward bookings, DMC packaging and regional source market penetration for the Zambezi River Basin circuit, while giving international buyers a chance to experience Zimbabwe’s eco-tourism and adventure tourism offerings first-hand.
“Kariba 2027 will be about experiential tourism,” Rwodzi added.
“We want buyers to leave with signed contracts, and leave with memories that turn them into Brand Zimbabwe ambassadors,” she said.
The forthcoming 2026 edition of Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe will be held in Masvingo, the Heritage City.