Zimbabwe’s government has outlined an ambitious plan to transform the country’s South-East Lowveld, within the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA), into a high-value transboundary safari hub. This initiative is a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s drive towards achieving a US$5 billion tourism economy.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 2026 Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo in Masvingo Province, Dr. Gwinyai Muti, the international coordinator for the GLTFCA, explained that the blueprint is being rolled out under the SADC Transfrontier Conservation Areas Framework. The GLTFCA spans 10 million hectares across Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, seamlessly linking iconic national parks such as Kruger, Limpopo, and Gonarezhou, alongside Banhine and Zinave in Mozambique, and a wide array of private, state, and community conservancies.
Dr. Muti emphasized that the GLTFCA is now in an active, compliance-driven execution phase, guided by the GLTFCA Joint Strategic Management Plan 2024–2034 and the SADC TFCA Programme 2023–2033. He described this as a once-in-a-generation opportunity, likening its potential economic impact to the introduction of commercial sugarcane farming in Zimbabwe’s South-East Lowveld.
Key Players Involved
- Zimbabwean Government: Driving the initiative to boost the national tourism economy.
- Dr. Gwinyai Muti: International Coordinator for the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA).
- SADC: Providing the framework for Transfrontier Conservation Areas.
Event Timeline
- September 14, 2026: Transboundary tourism blueprint unveiled at the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo in Masvingo Province.
- 2024–2034: GLTFCA Joint Strategic Management Plan guiding the execution phase.
- 2023–2033: SADC TFCA Programme providing the broader framework.
