By Caroline Washaya-Moyo
Zimbabwe’s sports tourism sector has significant potential to drive domestic tourism, attract international visitors and stimulate investment in sporting infrastructure, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Hon Tongai Mafidi Mnangagwa has said.
Speaking during the Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo Golf Tournament in Masvingo, Deputy Minister Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe needed to expand and improve sporting facilities across the country to fully harness the economic opportunities presented by sports tourism.
He said the completion of the cricket stadium in Victoria Falls was an important development, particularly as Zimbabwe prepares to host major international cricket events.
“We have finished building a cricket stadium in Victoria Falls. The World Cup is coming, juniors and seniors. That is going to draw the whole world,” he said.
Deputy Minister Mnangagwa said international sporting events could attract visitors from markets as far afield as India and the United States, with tourists spending time and money in Zimbabwe beyond the sporting venues.
“People will be watching, people will travel from as far as India and the United States to come and spend time in Zimbabwe because of sports tourism,” he said.
He noted that Zimbabwe could use sport to distribute tourism activity across different destinations by developing facilities capable of hosting various sporting disciplines.
He cited the potential for visitors to travel to Marondera for volleyball, Bulawayo for other sporting activities and Harare for tennis, among other destinations.
“To stimulate sports tourism, to stimulate domestic tourism, the facilities need to be there and working,” he said, stressing the need for closer collaboration between the tourism and sports ministries.
The Deputy Minister’s remarks come as Zimbabwe continues to position tourism as an important contributor to economic growth and employment under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
The Sanganai golf tournament itself demonstrated how sporting activities can complement tourism expos by bringing together business, recreation and destination promotion.
The tournament sponsor, Stanley Kondongwe, said his decision to support the event was driven by his strong connection to Masvingo and his desire to contribute to the growth of tourism in the province.
“My main reason why I have sponsored Masvingo, it’s home. You call it Masvingo, I call it home. I belong here and I’m pleased to be part of Sanganai,” Kondongwe said.
He said the tournament had attracted a full field of 72 players, demonstrating the potential for golf to become an important component of the province’s tourism offering.
“The good thing is it’s full capacity, 72 players. It’s not a joke,” he said.
Kondongwe also expressed optimism that the existing nine-hole golf course could eventually be expanded to 18 holes, creating capacity to host larger tournaments in Masvingo.
“We believe that we can extend the other nine holes to make them 18 and through that we’ll make sure that we have big tournaments in Masvingo,” he said.
He pledged to work with tourism stakeholders to grow the country’s tourism industry through sport and other initiatives.
The tournament featured prizes valued at approximately US$3,000, with prize-giving scheduled for later in the day.
The event highlighted the broader role of golf and other sporting disciplines in creating tourism products, increasing visitor spending and encouraging investment in destination infrastructure.
As Zimbabwe seeks to diversify its tourism offering beyond traditional attractions, sports tourism presents an opportunity to connect major sporting events with accommodation, transport, restaurants, entertainment and cultural experiences.
For Masvingo, home to the iconic Great Zimbabwe Monuments and host of the 19th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo, the development of sports tourism could further strengthen the province’s position as a gateway to an integrated Zimbabwean tourism experience.
