By Tendai Chisiri
Zimbabwe’s “Best of Class” final-year students from hospitality and tourism schools to compete in Dubai Global Finals
HARARE – The Future Leaders Platform will officially launch in Zimbabwe this October, with a 3-day summit aimed at strengthening workforce development in the country’s hospitality and tourism sector.
This was announced during a press conference in Harare following a board meeting between Future Leaders Platform Zimbabwe Country Manager, Luckson Zambuko, the Zimbabwe Strategic Board, and Founder Hubert Ummels.
The event will be hosted at the University of Zimbabwe from 19 to 21 October 2026 and will bring together vocational students, school directors, industry leaders and HR professionals.
Speaking to the media, Founder Hubert Ummels said, ” I am the founder of the Future Leaders Platform, and together with the board for our platform in Zimbabwe, it’s a pleasure to have you guys here. The Future Leaders Platform is an initiative to empower, elevate, and educate stakeholders to achieve their full potential and to enable an ecosystem that’s going to support workforce development in Zimbabwe.
So what we do is we have a number of initiatives that create more opportunities for sustainable employment, focused on the hospitality and tourism industry in the country. We do this in 32 countries at the moment. And Zimbabwe is basically this year going to be our official launch.
Our key objectives for the event in the long term is that we want to create a better understanding to the general public of what the hospitality and tourism industry has to offer as an industry and an inspiring sector to work in.”
The Founder outlined that the 3-day launch will begin with the Crafts and Culture Challenge. Vocational students will do a deep dive into Zimbabwe’s culinary heritage and create a two-course lunch inspired by the country’s food and drink culture.
“The idea is to create an initiative that’s going to get more heritage and craftsmanship support and inspiration to young people for the country of Zimbabwe, for more people to take on the artisan side of it, as well as to create a sense of alignment and proudness within the country,” he said.
On day two, the platform will host an Industry Conference alongside a Job Market Fair. School directors, industry leaders and HR professionals will come together to discuss aligning education with employment and creating a more seamless graduate-to-employment pathway. The job market fair will also connect young talent to both national and international job opportunities. Participants will be the “best of class” final-year students from hospitality and tourism schools across Zimbabwe.
The event will conclude with the Strategic Industry Challenge. Selected students will present solutions to an industry challenge, and the top 3 winners will go on to represent Zimbabwe at the Global Future Leaders Platform finals in Dubai, where about 65 schools from 32 countries will compete.
The Founder noted that while a pilot was held last year, 2026 marks the official launch in Zimbabwe.
The Future Leaders Platform operates in 32 countries and focuses on empowering, elevating and educating young talent in hospitality and tourism. Its mission is to build sustainable employment pathways by connecting education, industry and culture, and to showcase national heritage as part of the tourism offering.
All nine board members attended the meeting. They included Rosa Kennedy, Director of Africa Albida Tourism; Hubert Ummels, Founder of GameChangers and Future Leaders Platform; Luckson Zambuko, Country Manager of Future Leaders Platform Zimbabwe; Christopher Biribonwa, CEO of Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe; Emmah Kativu, President of Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe; Ivan Kaszai, Group Operations Executive of Cresta Hotels; Kumbirai Chiweshe, Chairman of Zimbabwe Tour Operators Association; Nico Vivier, Regional Director of Operations and Development at Miiro Hotels Africa; and Atenedi Mamvuto, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Administration at University of Zimbabwe.
The University of Zimbabwe is the official host partner for the October event.
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