By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
HARARE — Zimbabwe is seeking to turn its liberation history into a major tourism product as the government steps up efforts to diversify the country’s attractions beyond traditional wildlife and resort destinations.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi said the country’s liberation heritage would form a central part of Zimbabwe’s emerging heritage-based tourism strategy, with the government seeking to package historical sites and stories for local, regional and international visitors.
Speaking at the 2026 World Tourism Day commemorations at Heritage Village in Harare on Saturday, Rwodzi in a speech read on her behalf by Deputy Minister Tongai Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe’s liberation history was “a foundational pillar of our national identity” and a cultural asset that could be used to attract tourists.
Heritage Village, located within the broader Liberation City development, was selected as the venue for the national commemorations, underscoring the government’s growing emphasis on heritage tourism.
The Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry says it has adopted heritage-based tourism as a guiding approach and is using a cluster model that includes culture and heritage alongside
Rwodzi said the ministry was working towards the production of a documentary showcasing Zimbabwe’s culture and heritage, particularly the liberation struggle, which would be packaged with other attractions around the country.
The minister said the strategy was intended to help Zimbabwe attract more domestic, regional and international visitors while creating opportunities for communities around tourism sites.
Heritage Village has increasingly been positioned as a cultural and tourism destination within Liberation City. The wider development includes the Museum of African Liberation, Liberation Mall
Recent reporting has also highlighted Heritage Village’s use as a venue for conferences, cultural events and leisure activities, combining African-inspired architecture, cuisine and cultural heritage.
For government, however, the challenge is likely to extend beyond simply creating heritage attractions.
Rwodzi said communities and custodians of heritage sites should be among the primary economic beneficiaries of increased tourism activity.
“Heritage” tourism would therefore need to generate tangible opportunities for communities through accommodation, food, crafts, transport, guiding, cultural performances and other services if the government’s inclusion objectives are to be realised.
The minister said Zimbabwe’s tourism strategy was no longer focused solely on established destinations such as Victoria Falls, but on spreading tourism opportunities across provinces in line with the country’s devolution policy.
The government is also seeking to use digital platforms to market heritage sites internationally, with Rwodzi saying technology would be central to making Zimbabwe’s attractions more visible to potential travellers.
The 2026 World Tourism Day theme, “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism”, has provided the backdrop for the government’s renewed focus on using technology to promote and develop tourism products.
For Zimbabwe, the emerging model combines historical preservation with commercial tourism — turning sites associated with the country’s past into places where visitors can learn, eat, shop and experience Zimbabwean culture
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