The Sunday News
THE First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe sent a crowd of exhibitors into wild cheers as she danced to traditional songs from Amakhosikazi Entuthuko, a Zanu-PF musical outfit, as she entered the Zanu-PF exhibition hall on Thursday at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF).
Dr Mugabe danced energetically at the entrance of the hall which made the crowds clap hands and whistle as they saw the life that was in her contrary to recent independent media reports that she was critically ill.
The crowds could be heard screaming “Amai”, “Amai” as she toured the various stands and brought business to a standstill as people jostled to get a glimpse of the First Lady.
Amai Mugabe was in the company of the Zambian First Lady Esther Lungu and Mrs Laurinda Mphoko, wife to VP Phelekezela Mphoko, who were also wooed by the First Lady’s dance moves.
During the First Ladies tour Dr Mugabe warned car dealers to desist from importing vehicles that cause pollution to the environment. The First Lady spoke to representatives of SBT Global who were exhibiting at the ZITF.
“Thank you for exhibiting and supporting Zimbabwe but we do not want you to pollute the environment,” she said sternly.
SBT is a used car importer from Japan that has seen thousands of vehicles being brought into the country. The First Ladies toured the Midlands State University (MSU) stand where Amai Mugabe also took time to dance to tunes from mbira the students had made. She commended them for their innovation.
The deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Cde Chiratidzo Iris Mabuwa told the First Ladies during the tour that the nation was banking on students at state universities to revive local industry.
“National University of Science and Technology (Nust) is dedicated to issues of technology and science; as such we are banking on them to aid in the resuscitation of local industries. It is a starting point in aiding Bulawayo,” she said.
During the tour Amai Mugabe met South African special envoy Ms Lindiwe Zulu who was Sadc chief mediator in Zimbabwe and said they had a good working relationship.
“We get along very well, we are such good friends,” she said.
Ms Zulu returned the pleasantry by saying there was no enmity between the two.
“We have no issues at all,” she said before leaving and smiling cheerfully.
The First Family’s Alpha Omega Holdings was also toured where the First Lady announced that they were set to expand soon with a cheese manufacturing line being considered.
She further stressed that their company was focused on issues of quality in their products.
“We need to do a separate entity for the production of cheese at Alpha Omega Holdings. It is something we are looking into but soon we will have one since we will also venture into ice-cream production,” she said.
At the Grain Marketing Board stand the First Lady said the rice that they had was fit for export as it was of good quality.
Other stands that the First Lady and her entourage visited were that of Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, South Africa, Choppies Supermarkets, National Blankets, Tel-One, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development.
