Architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, project managers and contractors will gather in Bulawayo from 21 to 23 October for AfriConfex 2026, billed as the place “where Africa’s builders meet”.
The event will be held at the Zimbabwe International Conference and Exhibition Smart City (ZICES) in Bulawayo. It covers the full range of the built environment, from smart infrastructure to roads and housing, and is aimed at the professionals shaping the sector.
Organisers say visitors can expect four main benefits. Exhibitors will showcase cutting-edge technologies, and delegates can connect with leading suppliers and contractors. Expert-led technical sessions will cover current practice, and networking opportunities will bring participants face to face with industry leaders.
AfriConfex, the Africa Infrastructure and Built Environment Confex, is organised by the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Company (ZITF). It is positioned as a major construction and infrastructure event bringing together buyers and sellers across the built environment value chain. ZITF Company is Zimbabwe’s leading exhibitions organiser, based in Bulawayo.
Previous editions have drawn senior government attention to the event. Last year, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona used the Bulawayo gathering to speak about road rehabilitation, including the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Highway. The event has also served as a platform for policy discussion, with an earlier edition hearing Zimbabwe’s renewable energy targets outlined on behalf of the Finance Minister.
For the construction industry, a gathering of this kind offers more than a product showcase. Suppliers meet the contractors who specify and buy their materials, while consultants hear first-hand about new technologies and methods. Professionals working on roads, housing and urban projects can compare notes with peers from across the region, and the technical sessions give them a chance to earn insights they can apply on site.
The timing is also significant. Infrastructure development remains a national priority, and delivering roads, housing and smart city projects depends on partnerships between government, financiers, consultants and builders. AfriConfex puts those groups in one place over three days.
Bulawayo has built a reputation for hosting trade events. Local business leaders have described expos such as Mine Entra and AfriConfex as key contributors to the city’s economic development. Hotels, restaurants and transport operators typically see added demand during such events, and exhibitors and visitors alike are advised to book accommodation early.
Professionals and companies planning to attend should contact ZITF Company, the organiser, for registration and exhibition details.
