Thousands are expected descend at The Miracle Gardens in Ashdown Park in Harare for the Benny Hinn Crusade starting this Friday and running till Sunday.
Organisers have put estimates of expected visitors at 45 000 domestic and 3 000 international visitors
The three-day event slots in neatly into the government’s Religious Tourism Cluster — once a quiet corner of the tourism— now suddenly in the spotlight.
Zimbabweans have a strong culture of religious tourism through events such as annual church gatherings and pilgrimages to places like Israel, no data is available to document the commercial impact.
Minister Barbara Rwodzi says the crusade is a live example of how faith can drive commerce. “This crusade is not only a spiritual gathering but also a powerful demonstration of how faith can drive tourism and national growth,” said Minister Rwodzi.
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Among those expecting to cash in on the gathering are transporters, caterers, and other service providers, while temporary jobs will be created through roles such as ushering and security.
Pastor Hinn described Zimbabwe as “a land of grace and divine potential.”
Tourism analysts say the remark may prove prophetic — religious events like this are being positioned as long-term economic assets.
Religious tourism is a centuries old phenomenon cutting across beliefs and faiths and spanning all continents as people seek spiritual succour.
Pastor Benny Hinn, born Toufik Benedictus Hinn in 1952 in Jaffa, Israel, is one of the world’s most recognized Christian evangelists and faith healers. Known for his dynamic preaching and global healing crusades, Hinn rose to prominence through his television program This Is Your Day and bestselling book Good Morning, Holy Spirit. Over a ministry spanning more than four decades, his outreach has drawn millions across 190 countries, making him a defining figure in contemporary Pentecostalism despite periodic controversy over his ministry’s finances and healing claims.
Hinn’s visit to Zimbabwe marks part of his renewed global mission focusing on prayer, repentance, and revival in the Global South — regions where Christianity is rapidly expanding. Zimbabwe, with its deep spiritual roots and vibrant faith community, offers fertile ground for such a revival. His choice of Harare reflects growing recognition of Africa as the heartbeat of world Christianity and underscores Zimbabwe’s emergence as a key destination for religious tourism on the continent.
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