By Tapiwa Chawagarira
MASVINGO — Masvingo has launched the Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe 2026 Sports Tourism Carnival, positioning the four-day sporting showcase as a major platform to promote the province as a tourism destination, stimulate economic activity, and create opportunities for young people.
The carnival officially began at Mucheke Stadium, bringing together athletes, students, tourism stakeholders, government officials, and visitors ahead of the main Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo, which will be held in Masvingo from September 9 to 12.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Masvingo, Engineer Ezra Ruvai Chadzamira, said the sporting event should be viewed as more than a competition, but as a catalyst for tourism development, investment, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment.
The four-day programme, which ends tomorrow (September 4), features 11 sporting disciplines, including football, basketball, golf, cricket, netball, boxing, volleyball, rugby, tennis, pool, and marathon events.
Minister Chadzamira said Masvingo’s rich combination of sport, heritage, wildlife, and culture provides an opportunity to develop integrated tourism packages that can attract visitors and encourage them to spend more time and money in the province.
He cited Great Zimbabwe, Lake Mutirikwi, Kyle Recreational Park, the Lowveld tourism circuit, and Gonarezhou and its surrounding conservation areas as key attractions that can be linked to sporting activities.
“Let this carnival be more than a sporting occasion. Let it be a catalyst for tourism growth, create opportunities for our young people, promote investment and entrepreneurship, and strengthen the Masvingo tourism brand,” the minister said.
Minister Chadzamira said the initiative was in line with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 and the government’s devolution agenda, particularly efforts to spread economic opportunities across provinces and communities.
The minister also called for collaboration between the government, tourism and hospitality operators, sporting associations, tertiary institutions, the private sector, and local communities to ensure that the benefits of sports tourism reach a wider section of society.
Guest of honour and Deputy Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Tongai Mnangagwa, said sporting events provide an important platform for marketing Zimbabwe to regional and international audiences.
He said sports tourism could generate business for hotels, restaurants, transport operators, traders, and other small businesses while increasing the visibility of host destinations.
The deputy minister also stressed the need to integrate sporting events with Zimbabwe’s broader tourism offerings so that visitors can experience the country’s heritage, culture, hospitality, and natural attractions.
The sports tourism carnival is part of a wider programme surrounding the hosting of Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe in Masvingo for the first time.
The carnival will be followed by a street carnival on September 5, before the main tourism expo runs from September 9 to 12.
The sequence of events is expected to create a sustained tourism experience while showcasing Masvingo’s sporting talent, cultural heritage, tourism attractions, and investment opportunities to domestic and international visitors.
