By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
The formal launch of the Women in Tourism and Youth in Tourism National Chapters has been accompanied by a clear implementation framework designed to transform the structures into effective vehicles for sector development and empowerment.
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority CEO Dr George Manyaya outlined the six-point “Way Forward” during the launch ceremony in Harare on 13 August 2026, providing stakeholders with a roadmap for operationalising the chapters.
1. Constitution Framework Development
Executive Committees for both the Women in Tourism and Youth in Tourism chambers and networks will receive a draft constitution framework to guide their operations.
Each committee is expected to adapt and enrich the framework with input from their members, ensuring it reflects the specific needs and priorities of their constituencies. The Ministry of Tourism and ZTA will provide guidance on key areas to ensure alignment with national tourism objectives.
2. Membership Recruitment
Committees are tasked with actively recruiting members across all provinces, building on provincial structures established in March that filled key positions including Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer and Coordinating Secretary.
The recruitment drive must prioritise inclusivity, ensuring representation of diverse groups spanning urban and rural areas, women entrepreneurs, youth, students and persons with disabilities.
3. Annual Workplans
Each committee must prepare a detailed workplan for the year, setting out clear objectives, activities and measurable outcomes.
This requirement ensures that the chapters move beyond symbolic recognition to deliver tangible results for their members and the broader tourism sector.
4. Database Formation
A centralized database of members will be created, including names, contact details, areas of expertise, regions and tourism-related interests.
This database will serve as a critical resource for networking, collaboration and monitoring growth.
It will also help connect members with funding opportunities and training programmes offered through partnerships with Government ministries and development partners.
5. Leadership and Coordination
Executive Committees will lead the constitution formulation process in consultation with their members, with the Ministry of Tourism and ZTA acting as facilitators to ensure consistency and provide technical support.
Regular progress reviews will be scheduled to track milestones against workplans, ensuring accountability and momentum.
6. National Executive Launch
The National Executive will be formally launched during the Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe World Tourism Expo, scheduled for 9-12 September 2026 in Masvingo.
The expo is Zimbabwe’s flagship international tourism trade fair, bringing together tourism operators, buyers and other industry stakeholders from across the globe, with 89 international buyers from Australia, China, Japan, India, the UK, France, Germany, the UAE and South Africa already confirmed.
The expo offers an ideal platform for showcasing the newly established structures and connecting them with international partners and investors.
A Broader Empowerment Agenda
The six-point plan is part of a broader Government effort to empower women and youth in tourism. The Ministry of Tourism is working closely with the Ministry of Women Affairs to identify players in the sector and assist them with start-up support.
The Government’s whole-of-Government approach, which also includes partnerships between the First Lady’s office, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and various development partners, has already yielded results in rural areas.
Agrotourism training programmes have empowered rural women in communities like Mukoto Village in Buhera, equipping them with skills in service excellence, storytelling, tour guiding and branding.
Training programmes are designed to demystify tourism and make it accessible at community level, with participants gaining practical skills for careers in tourism and safari operations.
A New Dawn
For the newly appointed executives, the task ahead is both challenging and exciting. Their success will determine whether the Women in Tourism and Youth in Tourism chapters become genuine engines of sector growth or merely symbolic structures.
As the Permanent Secretary told the incoming leadership: “Be prepared to execute your duties diligently and professionally. This is the beginning of the new dawn.”
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