By Dickson Bandera
GOKWE – The Government has reaffirmed the strategic role of religious tourism in driving Zimbabwe’s heritage-based tourism economy, with the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) Golden Jubilee celebrations at Defe in Gokwe emerging as a model of how faith-based gatherings can stimulate economic growth, preserve cultural heritage and promote inclusive community development.
Speaking during the Golden Jubilee celebrations, the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Hon. Barbara Rwodzi, said the collaboration between Government and the Church is unlocking the economic potential of Zimbabwe’s religious, cultural and heritage assets in line with President Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 of attaining an upper middle-income economy.
She said religious tourism has become one of the fastest-growing segments of the country’s tourism industry, attracting thousands of pilgrims and visitors who contribute to the hospitality, transport, retail, accommodation and informal sectors, while creating employment and business opportunities for host communities.
Minister Rwodzi noted that Zimbabwe’s tourism sector continues to register positive growth, with international tourist arrivals increasing by 11 percent during the first quarter of 2026, a development she attributed to the country’s diversified tourism products that now extend beyond wildlife and adventure tourism to include faith-based, cultural and gastronomy tourism.
The Minister said Government remains committed to developing Religious Tourism and Culture and Heritage Tourism as key economic clusters capable of transforming Zimbabwe’s rich spiritual and cultural resources into sustainable sources of income for communities across the country.
A major attraction during the ZCC Golden Jubilee celebrations was the Amai’s Traditional Cookout Competitions, an initiative championed by the Patron of Tourism, First Lady Dr. Auxillia Mnangagwa, which showcased indigenous foods and beverages prepared by women, youths and persons with disabilities.
The competition featured traditional delicacies including mabumbe, manyenya, nyii and mawuyu juice, highlighting Zimbabwe’s growing focus on gastronomy tourism as a unique travel experience that allows visitors to discover the country’s identity through its indigenous cuisine and culinary traditions.
Minister Rwodzi said gastronomy tourism is creating new opportunities for local producers, farmers, food processors and small businesses by increasing demand for traditional foods and encouraging the establishment of community-based restaurants and food enterprises.
She commended the First Lady for elevating gastronomy tourism through the “Nhaka Yedu, Ilifa Lethu – Our Heritage” programme, saying the initiative has strengthened efforts to preserve indigenous knowledge systems while creating sustainable livelihoods and positioning Zimbabwe as a competitive cultural tourism destination.
The Minister also applauded the First Lady for receiving international recognition from UN Tourism for championing gastronomy tourism, describing the achievement as a milestone that is enhancing Zimbabwe’s international tourism brand and showcasing the country’s culinary heritage on the global stage.
The ZCC Golden Jubilee celebrations demonstrated the increasing contribution of religious tourism to Zimbabwe’s tourism diversification strategy, with faith-based events now recognised not only as spiritual gatherings but also as important platforms for economic empowerment, cultural preservation, domestic tourism growth and international destination marketing.
