harare24dmin Jimmy Murwira
The year 2025 will be remembered as the moment Manicaland Province stepped out of the shadows to become a central driver of Zimbabwe’s growth, resilience, and international standing. A province often celebrated for its natural beauty, fertile valleys, and warm people is now redefining itself as a hub for major national and regional events. This transformation is no accident; it is a direct manifestation of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s mantra of leaving no place and no one behind, which is now bearing visible fruit.
Through the hosting of the SADC Emergency Response Training in Nyanga, the Sanganai / Hlanganani / Kumbanai Tourism Expo in Mutare, and the forthcoming 22nd ZANU PF National People’s Conference, Manicaland is showcasing its ability to contribute meaningfully to Zimbabwe’s economic, political, and tourism landscape. Together, these events are boosting local infrastructure, stimulating business, and rebranding the province as a strategic player not only nationally but also regionally.
For decades, national development in Zimbabwe was often concentrated in a few urban centres, leaving some provinces underutilised in terms of economic activity and visibility. President Mnangagwa’s vision has changed that narrative by deliberately spreading opportunities, conferences, and investments across all provinces.
In 2025, Manicaland Province has become the prime beneficiary of this inclusive vision. Hosting events of such magnitude proves that “no place and no one” is indeed being left behind. Every gathering brings with it investments in hotels, roads, telecommunications, and tourism facilities — developments that will remain long after the events conclude, benefitting local communities for generations.
The first major event of the year was the launch of the second cohort of SADC Emergency Response Training in Nyanga, Manicaland Province, from 24 August to 5 September 2025. Following the inaugural training in South Africa last year, this year’s edition brought together experts from across the region to sharpen their skills in disaster preparedness, emergency medical response, search and rescue, logistics, and post-crisis management.
Nyanga was an apt choice. The province knows the human cost of disasters all too well; Cyclone Idai of 2019 remains etched in the collective memory. Hosting the training in Manicaland Province was both symbolic and practical: it allowed the region to learn from its painful past while preparing for a safer future.
For Zimbabwe, and particularly for Manicaland Province, the event was a powerful signal of regional trust. It demonstrated that the province has the logistical capacity, infrastructure, and hospitality needed to anchor such a critical regional initiative. More importantly, it placed Manicaland Province at the heart of SADC’s efforts to build resilience and safeguard development gains.
If Nyanga put Manicaland Province on the regional map, the upcoming Sanganai / Hlanganani / Kumbanai Tourism Expo 2025 will project it onto the global stage. Scheduled for next month in Mutare, this prestigious event has already attracted 319 companies and six foreign countries like Ghana, Indonesia, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, and Malawi.
With a target of 450 exhibitors, this year’s edition is poised to be one of the most vibrant in the expo’s history. Last year, 408 companies participated, and expectations are high that 2025 will match or even surpass that achievement.
The economic spin-offs for Mutare will be immense. Hotels will be filled to capacity, restaurants and transport operators will thrive, and informal traders will benefit from the influx of visitors. More importantly, the expo will market Manicaland Province’s unique tourism gems from the Vumba Botanical Gardens to the majestic Chimanimani Mountains, positioning the province as a must-visit destination for international travellers.
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) and the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) have likened the event to world-class tourism expos, such as ITB Berlin and WTM London. For Mutare, this is not just an event; it is a chance to rebrand itself as a gateway city to Zimbabwe’s tourism industry, showing the world that Zimbabwe is open, competitive, and prepared to welcome global visitors.
The momentum continues later this year when Mutare hosts the 22nd ZANU PF National People’s Conference. This political and policy-shaping event will bring together thousands of delegates from across Zimbabwe, reaffirming the city’s capacity to manage large-scale national gatherings.
While the conference is primarily political, its socio-economic benefits cannot be ignored. The arrival of thousands of participants will spark increased demand for accommodation, food, transport, and local services. Farmers, vendors, and small business owners in Manicaland Province will reap immediate rewards.
Beyond economics, the event will underscore Mutare’s role as a centre of national dialogue and unity, further cementing Manicaland Province’s growing stature in the political and developmental landscape of Zimbabwe.
The cumulative effect of these events is that Manicaland Province is undergoing a quiet transformation. Hosting major gatherings requires significant investment in infrastructure from roads and telecommunications to electricity and hospitality facilities. These upgrades are not temporary; they will benefit the province’s residents and businesses long after the last conference delegate has left.
Moreover, international visitors attending the Sanganai Expo or SADC training are likely to return as tourists in future, bringing friends and family. This creates sustainable growth in tourism, reinforcing Manicaland province’s long-term economic potential.
The deliberate choice to host these events in the province reflects a clear government strategy: development must be spread across Zimbabwe, leaving no province behind. Manicaland Province’s rise is a case study of how inclusive planning can stimulate local economies, uplift communities, and build national pride.
By hosting these high-profile gatherings, Manicaland Province has positioned itself as a dual powerhouse. Nationally, by anchoring the ZANU PF Conference and demonstrating its ability to manage events that shape Zimbabwe’s political and developmental direction, regionally and internationally, by providing a platform for SADC’s emergency training and the globally recognised Sanganai Tourism Expo, which attracts participation beyond Zimbabwe’s borders.
Few provinces in the country can claim such achievements in a single year. Manicaland Province’s story is therefore not just about local progress, but about national transformation through inclusivity.
The events unfolding in Manicaland Province in 2025 are not isolated milestones but they are the living proof that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s mantra of leaving no place and no one behind is bearing fruit. By spreading opportunities beyond the traditional centres of Harare and Bulawayo, Zimbabwe is ensuring that provinces like Manicaland step forward as full partners in shaping the country’s future.
For Manicaland Province, the benefits are clear: jobs created, infrastructure improved, businesses boosted, and international exposure gained. For Zimbabwe, the message is even clearer: inclusive development works, and it strengthens both the economy and the nation’s image.
This year, Manicaland Province has risen proudly to the challenge, showing that it is not only a land of scenic mountains and fertile valleys but also a pillar of economic growth, regional cooperation, and political dialogue. The eyes of the nation, and indeed the region, are now fixed on Manicaland and the province is rising to the occasion with dignity, pride, and purpose.
