The Sunday News
Nduduzo Tshuma
TOGOLESE President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé on Friday won the hearts of Zimbabweans when he called on the country to remain vigilant in the face of illegal sanctions imposed by the West whose objective is to effect a regime change agenda.
President Gnassingbé who officially opened the 57th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo, ditched his translator that he had used for the greater part of his speech, shifting from French to English in delivering his message.
He said he had used French as he was not sure of his English but went on to drive the point home on a matter very close to the hearts of all Zimbabweans. He said the country was under illegal Western sanctions just as Togo once faced the embargo but Zimbabwe was thriving because of the resilience of her people.
“I’ve heard a lot about Zimbabwe but what I saw when I came here is way better,” said President Gnassingbé adding that the country has a right to pave its own way and that it will prosper.
The Togolese President, who arrived in the country on Thursday, was welcomed at the Joshua Mqabuko Airport by President Mugabe at 10.16am about 20 minutes after the Zimbabwean leader landed at the same airport from the capital, Harare.
Before the arrival of his Togolese counterpart, President Mugabe took time to interact with thousands of Zanu-PF supporters who had come to welcome the two leaders. He shook hands with hundreds of party supporters, some who had brought with them their children and would stop especially to chat with the little ones. The President also made another stop in front of a traditional dance group, nodding his head in appreciation of the rhythmic beat of the African drum.
President Gnassingbé landed at the airport accompanied by Togolese Government officials before he was introduced by President Mugabe to the two Vice-Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, Cabinet Ministers and Government officials who had come to witness his arrival.
The two leaders were then driven to a Bulawayo hotel where they made a brief stop before proceeding to the ZITF for the tour of the exhibition stands. The two Presidents made their first stop at Cairns Holdings Limited before proceeding to Hall 4 that houses various embassies.
Inside Hall 4, the two Presidents made their first port of call at the ZimTrade stand where various indigenous business organisations were showcasing their products. They spoke to Meprin founder and Engineering managing director Mr Prince Gobvu who was exhibiting products ranging from borehole equipment to cast iron pots, among others, where President Mugabe was particularly interested in the pots as he jokingly asked if they could be used to cook isitshwala and meat.
The two leaders then moved to Lahama Trading which specialises in, among other products, safety clothing.
The company’s sales executive, Ms Tina Gwavava, told the President Mugabe and his Togolese counterpart that they are one of the only two companies engaged in the manufacture of PVC gloves.
She said they, however, faced competition from PVC glove imports of lower quality and sold cheaper than their products. Ms Gwavava then gave President Mugabe a garden work kit to which he jokingly responded, “You’re only giving me one, what if I have 10 gardeners?”
President Mugabe and his Togolese counterparts then visited the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JAICA) and then Zambia’s The Copper belt University.
Perhaps the dramatic visit of them all was when the two leaders approached the South African exhibition stand where they were welcomed amid dance and ululations from some of the female officials clad in Zulu traditional attire. At the SA stand, the two Presidents were guided on a tour of three of the 33 companies exhibiting at the fair by the southern country’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Mphakama Mbete.
Mr Mbete told the Sunday News that he gave the two leaders a brief on the number of South African companies exhibiting at the fair.
“I also told the Presidents that we will continue exhibiting in Zimbabwe as part of strengthening trade relations between the two countries. President Mugabe nodded in acknowledgement and showing appreciation for our being here,” he said.
The two Presidents moved to the Namibian stand where they had a brief interaction with the country’s ambassador to Zimbabwe Balbina Daes Pienaar before moving to the Botswana stand where they toured various companies including Royal Technologies Botswana, Solarmatic Botswana and ABM University College.
Presidents Mugabe and Gnassingbé visited the Tanganda stand where they were briefed by the company’s general manager in charge of beverages, Mr Kwirirai Chigwere that the company employs 4 000 people. He also revealed that the company was driven by value addition and beneficiation cluster of the Zim Asset Government blue print.
“The President was concerned about value addition on our products and we affirmed that this is what the company actually thrives on that,” said Mr Chigwere.
The two leaders proceeded to the Choppies Zimbabwe stand where company managing director Mr Siqokoqela Mphoko showed them a range of locally produced food products forming the company’s thrust of promoting indigenous products.
“The President was impressed to see for instance coffee produced from Chipinge that forms part of the locally produced goods sold at Choppies. We explained to the President that we support the Buy Zimbabwe initiative through supporting our locally produced products,” said Mr Mphoko.
President Mugabe then led his Togolese counterpart to Hall 5, the home of the ruling Zanu-PF party. There, the two Presidents were met by senior party officials including Secretary for Administration Cde Ignatius Chombo among other senior party leaders.
They toured a number of stands including the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo and Simon Muzenda museums. The party also exhibited a big banner containing a welcome message from President Mugabe to his Togolese counterpart.
The Togolese President was impressed by the design and quality of the exhibitions at the Zanu-PF Hall, remarking, “This is so beautiful.”
President Mugabe stopped briefly at the sight of his portrait, standing with former Tanzanian and Zambian Presidents Julius Nyerere and Kenneth Kaunda taken in 1980, as if reminiscing on the day the image was taken. The two leaders were handed two paintings, one of President Gnassingbé and another of President Mugabe with First Lady Grace Mugabe.
The two Presidents visited the Products and Home Industry Hall where President Mugabe introduced his Togolese counterpart to a number of crops grown in the country and even teaching him their names in ChiShona and IsiNdebele.
Presidents Mugabe and Gnassingbé proceeded to Hall 1 housing the Russian stand where they were welcomed by the country’s Industry and Trade Minister, Denis Manturov and was given a profile of companies exhibiting at the stand.
The Presidents concluded their tour by visiting the Treger stand.
