Tourism investment is taking center stage as a key driver of Zimbabwe’s destination competitiveness, with government and industry leaders mobilizing financing and partnerships to prepare the sector for major continental events and long-term growth.
The Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, together with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), participated in the inaugural two-day Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) Bankers Conference 2026 held this week.
Convened under the theme “Connecting Capital to Capacity: Unlocking Zimbabwe’s Tourism Potential Ahead of Hosting the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2029,” the conference brought together bankers, hoteliers, investors, and policymakers to strengthen collaboration between the banking and hospitality sectors.
The objective is clear: unlock investment, enhance tourism infrastructure, and build world-class service capacity ahead of Zimbabwe’s hosting of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2029 — one of Africa’s largest trade and business events. HAZ President Mrs Emmah Kativhu noted that the forum provides a platform to address funding gaps, de-risk projects, and align financial products with the unique needs of tourism and hospitality businesses.
Representing the Guest of Honour, Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Hon. Barbara Rwodzi, Deputy Minister Hon. Tongai Mnangagwa underscored the importance of strategic financing and collective partnerships.
He said mobilizing capital today is critical to positioning Zimbabwe as a premier tourism, business, and investment destination. “Strategic financing and collective partnerships are essential to accelerate tourism product development, strengthen hospitality services, create employment, and enhance Brand Zimbabwe’s global competitiveness,” Hon. Mnangagwa said. He added that these investments will also lay a solid foundation for the successful hosting of IATF 2029, which is expected to attract thousands of exhibitors, buyers, and visitors from across Africa and beyond.
The initiative directly advances the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which identifies tourism as a key enabler of economic transformation.
Under NDS2, government prioritizes infrastructure development, value addition, and increased foreign currency earnings. Tourism is central to that agenda, with targets to grow arrivals, receipts, and job creation while showcasing Zimbabwe as a safe, diverse, and investment-ready destination.
By linking banks to hospitality operators, the conference aims to fast-track hotel refurbishments, new lodge developments, conferencing facilities, transport, and digital systems — all critical to meeting international standards by 2029.
Industry stakeholders agreed that competitiveness will come from more than marketing. It requires bankable projects, skilled staff, improved air connectivity, and quality accommodation across all tiers.
ZTA Chief Executive Dr. George Munyaradzi Manyaya said the Authority will continue to work with the financial sector to package investment opportunities, promote joint ventures, and ensure that Zimbabwe’s tourism product matches global expectations.
With IATF 2029 on the horizon, the message from the HAZ Bankers Conference was unified: the time to invest is now. By connecting capital to capacity today, Zimbabwe is building the infrastructure, services, and reputation needed to compete and win on the continental stage.
As Zimbabwe prepares to host IATF 2029, tourism investment is being positioned not just as sector growth, but as a national strategy to drive jobs, foreign exchange, and Brand Zimbabwe’s global standing in line with Vision 2030.
