Sanyatwe Says Sports Tourism Can Drive Zimbabwe’s Economic Transformation

Zimbabwe’s Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Lieutenant General (Rtd) Anselem Sanyatwe, says sports tourism has the potential to become a major driver of economic growth, tourism development and community empowerment across the country.

Minister Sanyatwe made the remarks during the innagural Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe September Sports Tourism Carnival in Masvingo on Friday where he was  joined Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi and Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira.

He said sport had moved beyond its traditional role of recreation and competition and had become an important economic pillar capable of generating employment, attracting investment and increasing tourism revenues.

He further said “hosting major sporting events creates demand across a wide range of local industries, including hotels and lodges, transport operators, restaurants, tour companies, cultural attractions and small-scale businesses”.

“Zimbabwe must therefore deliberately position sporting events as tourism products capable of attracting both domestic and international visitors”.

Minister Sanyatwe said the development of sports tourism was aligned with the country’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and the broader vision of transforming Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.

He stressed that sporting events should not be viewed as once-off competitions, but as opportunities to stimulate economic activity before, during and after events.

The Minister also called for greater collaboration between government ministries, local authorities, the private sector and communities to ensure that sports tourism generates lasting benefits.

The Minister said the development of sports infrastructure should extend beyond major cities and include rural communities.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to the principle of “leaving no one and no place behind,” saying young people across the country should have opportunities to participate in sport and benefit from the economic opportunities created by the sector.

Particular emphasis was placed on creating inclusive pathways for young people with disabilities, ensuring that sports development and tourism opportunities are accessible to all.

Masvingo was highlighted as an important destination for the development of sports tourism, given its sporting heritage and internationally recognised tourism attractions.

Minister Sanyatwe said the province could combine its sporting talent and facilities with attractions such as Great Zimbabwe to create an integrated visitor experience.

The concept would allow visitors attending sporting events to also explore the province’s cultural, historical and tourism offerings, potentially increasing visitor spending and length of stay.

The Minister identified infrastructure development as a key requirement for Zimbabwe to successfully host major sporting events.

This includes upgrading sporting venues, improving transport networks and strengthening accommodation and hospitality facilities to meet international standards.

He also called for stronger links between sporting events, tourism operators, local businesses and municipal authorities.

Such integration, he said, could create opportunities for local vendors, tour guides, artisans and young entrepreneurs to benefit directly from increased visitor numbers.

Minister Sanyatwe urged continued cross-ministerial cooperation to ensure that sports tourism becomes a sustainable contributor to Zimbabwe’s economic transformation.

He said the success of sports tourism should ultimately be measured not only by the quality of competitions hosted, but also by the jobs created, businesses supported and communities that benefit from the visitors attracted to the country.

The Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe Sports Tourism Carnival comes as Zimbabwe seeks to strengthen the link between sport and tourism and position the country as a competitive destination for major sporting events.