By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
MASVINGO — Zimbabwe’s tourism sector is basking in continental recognition after the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry and its Minister, Barbara Rwodzi, won two major accolades at the 2026 Africa Tourism Leadership Awards (ATLF) held in Polokwane, South Africa.
Minister Rwodzi was honoured with the Women in Leadership Award for her contribution to advancing Zimbabwe’s tourism agenda and shaping the country’s tourism narrative.
She was selected ahead of South Africa’s Soweto Travel Shop and Botswana’s Gorata Gabaraane of Fairground Holdings, following an independently adjudicated and audited process conducted by BDO South Africa.
The Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry also scooped Bronze in the Leading in Progressive Policy Award, alongside Kenya’s Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife and the Rwanda Development Board.
The recognition reaffirms Zimbabwe’s commitment to progressive tourism policy and creating an enabling environment for sustainable tourism growth.
Speaking to journalists at Masvingo Airport on Saturday (September 5), shortly after an Air Zimbabwe inaugural flight carrying international buyers landed in the city, Minister Rwodzi said the double win was particularly meaningful as it coincided with Zimbabwe’s final preparations for the Sanganai/Hlanganani Dzimbahwe World Tourism Expo.
“Today is a good day for us. Air Zimbabwe is landing in Masvingo, and then winning two awards as well. We are very happy,” she said.
“As the people of tourism—the team from the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, and Mosi-oa-Tunya—we are sharing this recognition, but let me thank His Excellency for giving us a chance to serve.
Most importantly, we wouldn’t be here if he had not chosen us to be part of the Cabinet, and to listen to the ideas and strategies that we add on as we dissect his own strategies in the NDS2.”
The two accolades add to Zimbabwe’s growing recognition on the continental tourism stage and reinforce the country’s efforts to position tourism as a key driver of economic growth and development.
The country’s tourism sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience, with tourism receipts reaching 104 percent of pre-COVID-19 levels, growing from US$500 million in 2021 to US$1.32 billion in 2025.
Minister Rwodzi dedicated the awards to the people of Zimbabwe and the government’s collective efforts to build an upper-middle-income society by 2030.
“But to all the people in Zimbabwe, it’s the support that they are giving the government, and heeding the call that the President wants this country to be an upper-middle-income society by 2030. If you lag behind, then you won’t be improved by 2030,” she said.
“And tourism is part of that, and everything that we are doing is pointing to improvement of livelihoods in our communities in particular, and we continue with the trajectory we take in Zimbabwe.”
The awards come as Zimbabwe prepares to host the 19th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo from September 9 to 12 in Masvingo, an event expected to attract more than 140 international buyers and 400 exhibitors.
The Ministry has intensified preparations for the expo, with Air Zimbabwe introducing direct flights on the Harare–Masvingo route to facilitate connectivity for delegates.
With the continental awards and the momentum of the Sanganai Expo, Minister Rwodzi expressed confidence that the country’s tourism sector is firmly on a growth trajectory.
“We are happy, we are very happy. The whole of the team is excited, and we are in Masvingo, it coincided with Sanganai—it wouldn’t come at any other given time,” she said.
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#IlifaLethu #ZimBho
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