FAITH NDOU
MASVINGO-Major hotels in Masvingo are already between 80 and 100 percent booked ahead of the 19th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbabwe World Tourism Expo, prompting the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) to begin registering private homes to help boost accommodation capacity during the event.
The prestigious tourism showcase is scheduled to run from September 9 to 12, 2026, in Masvingo Province and is expected to attract thousands of local and international visitors.
Speaking to The Midweek Watch on the preparations, ZTA Masvingo Provincial Manager Bridgette Shambare said the authority will, within the next two weeks, begin registering private homes that meet the required standards to accommodate visitors during the expo period.
She said the initiative is aimed at complementing the available room capacity in the city, with most major hotels already recording high booking levels.
“Most of the major hotels in Masvingo are already between 80 and 100 percent booked for the Sanganai period. The registration of private homes is therefore meant to complement and boost the available accommodation capacity,” said Shambare.
She said only homeowners who meet minimum accommodation standards will qualify for the programme.
Masvingo has over 150 registered tourism facilities and more are being registered.
“The homes must have basic requirements such as adequate lighting, cleanliness and suitable living conditions. Those with houses that have three bedrooms and above are eligible to apply,” she said.
Shambare added that successful applicants will be issued with temporary licences that will only be valid for the duration of the tourism expo.
She said the move will not only help address accommodation shortages but will also create an opportunity for local residents to benefit economically from the influx of visitors expected during the event.
Meanwhile, preparations for the tourism expo are gathering momentum, with site works already underway at the new venue.
Shambare said preparations have commenced at the Gymkhana Site, a new 14-hectare open space located along the Bulawayo Road, approximately 4km from Masvingo’s central business district.
The Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbabwe World Tourism Expo is Zimbabwe’s premier annual tourism exhibition, bringing together tourism operators, investors, buyers and industry stakeholders from across the globe.
This year’s edition marks a significant milestone for Masvingo Province as it hosts the event, with expectations that it will boost tourism, investment opportunities and local business activity.
