Preliminary Report - 2026 XUNICEF Reunion in Zimbabwe by Susan Muza

XUNICEF 2026 Reunion — An Exciting Journey of Discovery and Creating Lasting Memories in Zimbabwe

By Susan Muza

Zimbabwe was nominated as the venue for the 2026 XUNICEF Annual Reunion at the April 2024 gathering in Malta and confirmed at the 2025 Reunion in Manila. XUNICEF Zimbabwe then set about planning what would become an extraordinary week of discovery — a journey from 7 to 13 March 2026 centred on one of the world's most spectacular natural landmarks, with ample opportunity for fun, reconnection, and lasting memories.

Victoria Falls — known in the Tonga language as Mosi-oa-Tunya, “The Smoke that Thunders” — straddles the Zambezi River on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. At 1,708 metres wide, it is among the largest waterfalls on earth, set within a region of remarkable biodiversity. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was also rated by Forbes Magazine as the world's top tourist destination in 2025.

The itinerary, carefully curated by XUNICEF Zimbabwe in partnership with Shearwater Adventures Victoria Falls, offered a seamless blend of adventure, culture, wildlife, and relaxation. Participants viewed the Falls from the air on a helicopter flight, explored them on foot via guided tours on both the Zimbabwean and Zambian sides, and crossed the iconic Victoria Falls Bridge on a dedicated heritage tour. They attended an authentic African cultural show, experienced thrilling game drives in Zambezi and Chobe National Parks, and joined morning and sunset cruises along both rivers. Quieter highlights included gourmet drumming dinners and a deeply personal conservation encounter — the “Through the Eyes of an Elephant” experience.

Participants

In all, 59 participants — 40 XUNICEF retirees and 19 family members — gathered from 19 countries, with some arriving as early as 5 March to begin exploring independently or simply rest before the programme began. While initial projections had anticipated around 80 attendees, a number withdrew due to medical, mobility, or family emergencies. Those who made it agreed: we experienced the magic of Victoria Falls like never before.

Programme of Events

The reunion opened with a welcome dinner enlivened by a surprise video message from Etleva Kadilli, UNICEF Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, followed by a personal welcome from Etona Ekole, the UNICEF Representative in Zimbabwe, who had flown to Victoria Falls specially for the occasion.

The programme that followed was rich and varied. Highlights included a guided tour of Victoria Falls itself, game drives in both Zambezi National Park in Zimbabwe and Chobe National Park in Botswana, a visit to an elephant sanctuary where we were inducted as “Elefriends”, an African dance gala, and an environmental theatre performance. Group lunches and dinners were thoughtfully designed as experiences in their own right, bringing participants together around food, music, and conversation.

A free day allowed us to follow our own inclinations — whether shopping, swimming, playing tennis, taking a helicopter flight over the Falls, touring the historic Victoria Falls Hotel, or watching wildlife from the peaceful grounds of the Elephant Hill Resort. Those with a taste for adventure could join a field visit to a UNICEF-supported school in the area, while the more intrepid — spanning a satisfyingly wide age range — took on white-water rafting, jet-boating, and zip-lining.

XUNICEF Meeting

On the evening of 10 March, an XUNICEF business meeting was held, chaired by Susan Muza and facilitated by Gautam Banerji and Margherita Amodeo. The discussion centred on the need for a more vibrant and active association, with particular emphasis on greater engagement from younger members. Participants were encouraged to join the editorial team of XUNICEF News & Views, whose founding members have given long and dedicated service and will be stepping down at the end of March 2026.

Venues for Future Reunions

The meeting also addressed future reunion venues, with participants emphasising the need for a more robust selection process that takes into account ease of visa access and travel logistics, particularly for national staff members. Multi-layered gatherings — at country and regional levels — were proposed as a way to broaden participation.

For 2027, the group reaffirmed the recommendation made at the Manila Reunion that Colombia should ho,st the next annual reunion, subject to conditions in the region. Blanca Gomez San German volunteered to follow up with Maria Elena, who was unable to attend Victoria Falls. Milada Pejovic also proposed Southeastern Europe — Macedonia, Montenegro, or Serbia — as an alternative should circumstances require it. 

For 2028, Jane Muita proposed Kenya and offered to take on the hosting role. The group acknowledged that wherever the reunion is held, some participants will always face long-haul travel, and that this is simply a reality of a truly global association.

Celebrating 35 Years of XUNICEF — and UNICEF's 80th Anniversary

The gathering marked two milestones. Following a reminder from Fouad Kronfol, we took a moment to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the XUNICEF association, combined with an early toast to UNICEF's 80th anniversary, which falls in December 2026. The cake was cut by Agatha Pratt, who had turned 81 just days before — making her, as she was warmly noted, one year older than UNICEF itself.

A Gift to the Community — Climate Smart Schools

The reunion left more than memories behind. Following a visit to a UNICEF-supported school — facilitated by the UNICEF Chief of Partnerships, Advocacy and Communications, who came to Victoria Falls to meet the group — we made a collective donation of US$3,090 to the UNICEF–Wild Horizons joint Climate Smart Schools project serving the Victoria Falls area.

The Grand Finale

The week concluded with the African Gala Dinner — an evening of dancing, laughter, and warm farewells that brought the reunion to a fittingly joyful close.

Experiences on Film

A full album of photographs and videos shared by participants and Shearwater's media team is available here.

The links below offer a more detailed set of videos and information of the experiences we enjoyed:

Through the Eyes of an Elephant

Bridge Adventures

Water Adventures

The Victoria Falls Theatre — Simunye: We Are One

River Cruises

Safari Experiences in Zimbabwe and Botswana

Air Adventures

Hikes and Cultural Tours

Post-Reunion Travels

When the reunion formally ended on 13 March, the adventure continued for many. Several participants extended their journeys to South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Senegal, and Hwange National Park within Zimbabwe — making the most of long-haul travel to visit places and people they had not seen since their active service days. Some post-reunion packages were organised by XUNICEF Zimbabwe in partnership with Premier Travel; others arranged their own itineraries to suit personal schedules and budgets. Feedback from both was overwhelmingly positive.

The reflection we shared afterwards was consistent: the planning and coordination were flawless, carrying a personal touch throughout. The programme blended nature with exceptional warmth and hospitality. It offered not only the chance to reunite with colleagues and forge new friendships, but a pace that allowed genuine rest and immersion in the beauty of our surroundings — with more than a few surprises that none of us had anticipated.

A Detailed Report to Follow

This article is a brief overview, shared while our memories are still fresh. A full report is being compiled and will be circulated to the XUNICEF community in the coming weeks.

With warm thanks to Tom McDermott and Dr Gloria Kodzwa for their invaluable support throughout the planning of this reunion.