President Emmerson Mnangagwa speaks at Gymkhana Events and Conference Centre (pic by Lovejoy Mutongwiza)
BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA in MASVINGO
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has challenged Zimbabweans at home and in the diaspora, to increase domestic tourism by travelling and experiencing the vast beauty of their own country.
His Excellency Mnangagwa said this today (Wednesday, September 9, 2026) as he officially opened Sanganai/Hlanganani Dzimbahwe 2026 World Tourism Expo, at the Gymkhana Events and Conference Centre in Masvingo.
President Mnangagwa said Zimbabweans should take advantage of the country’s rich tourism attractions which are in the country’s provinces.
He said domestic tourism had recorded significant growth, with the number of local visitors increasing from five million in the first half of 2025 to 6.4 million during the same period this year.
“Likewise, Zimbabweans are commended for the increase in domestic tourism from 5 million visitors in the first half of 2025 to 6.4 million, during the same period, this year,” President Mnangagwa said.
He challenged the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry and other stakeholders to scale up programmes aimed at promoting domestic tourism.
“I challenge the Tourism and Hospitality Industry, along with other stakeholders, to scale up support for programmes such as the Nhaka Yedu/Ilifa Lethu Domestic Tourism Campaign.
“I invite our people here at home and in the diaspora to increase local travel to experience the vast beauty of our own country.”
President Mnangagwa said Zimbabweans should travel within the country and enjoy its attractions with their families and friends.
“Ngatishanye munyika yekwedu takasununguka, tichifara nemhuri neshamwari. ‘Tozipigwa’ hedu muNyika ya Munhumutapa.”
Zimbabwe boasts a wide range of tourism attractions, including the iconic Great Zimbabwe Monument in Masvingo, Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Mana Pools, Gonarezhou National Park, Matobo National Park and Lake Kariba, to name just a few.
President Mnangagwa said the growth of the tourism sector was demonstrating sustained growth, diversity and resilience, which he attributed to the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS-2) and Vision 2030.
“The tourism sector is demonstrating sustained growth, diversity and resilience, attributable to NDS-2 and Vision 2030,” he said.
He said tourism development should continue on a transformative trajectory that delivers tangible benefits to communities and improves people’s quality of life.
Despite global challenges, President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe was consolidating its position as one of the best and must-visit tourist destinations.
He said investor confidence remained high, with tourism investment rising by 229 percent to US$132.3 million in the first half of 2026, from US$40.2 million during the same period in 2025.
The President added that the growth of tourism was also having a positive impact on the Creative Cultural Industries, which contributed 8.8 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
President Mnangagwa also noted that Zimbabwe had received international recognition from leading global platforms, including Forbes Magazine in 2025 and Condé Nast Magazine in 2026.
The country recently received the Gold Award at the 2026 Chinese Tourist Welcome Awards for excellence in destination marketing.
Such recognition, President Mnangagwa said, affirmed Zimbabwe’s growing international appeal as a premier tourist destination.
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Chief Executive Officer, Dr George Manyaya
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) Chief Executive Officer, Dr George Manyaya speaking in a separate interview after the official opening, said the authority would complement the President’s call to increase domestic tourism.
“His Excellency in his speech implored us to increase domestic tourism, we are actually going to complement this,” Dr Manyaya said.
He said the ZTA had launched the Nhaka Yedu domestic tourism drive, alongside various initiatives aimed at encouraging Zimbabweans to travel locally.
“If you notice here we had sport tourism and you saw thousands of people coming.
“You saw hundreds of school children who played sports and they also participated in sporting activities,” he said.
Dr Manyaya said the sporting activities were part of broader efforts by the tourism sector to promote domestic travel and ensure that Zimbabweans benefitted from tourism opportunities across the country.
