The Sunday News
Kennedy Mavhumashava, Assistant Editor
THIS year’s edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) was a success judging by the high-quality exhibits and diversity of participants, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa, said yesterday.
Speaking after touring a number of stands at the show, the Minister said the Government was committed to growing the economy and creating warm relations with all nations across the world.
“The quality of exhibits was excellent. The turnout was big. The show was successful. This shows that we are building our own country in line with President Mnangagwa’s policy that the country is built by its people. The high participation by foreign exhibitors shows that Zimbabwe is a friend to all and an enemy to none.”
The minister, accompanied by her husband, Cde Chris Mutsvangwa, passed through the Kenyan, Japanese, British, European Union (EU) and US embassy stands in Hall 4. They also had a stop at the Liquid Home pavilion in the same hall. They interacted with officials manning the stands and the public. They, too, posed for pictures with a number of them. She bought some traditional jewelry at the Kenyan stand.
Cde Chris Mutsvangwa
“The engagement and re-engagement policy is bearing fruit,” she said in reference to the return of the EU to ZITF after some years of absence.
“It is important for us to do all this in peace because there can be no development without peace. We look forward to a peaceful election this year as well. We say ‘no’ to violence. With the success we have had this year, we expect the ZITF to be successful again next year.”
The 63rd edition of the annual exhibition, which started in Bulawayo on Tuesday, ended yesterday. It was held under the theme “Transformative Innovation: Global Competitiveness.” King Mswati III of Eswatini was the guest of honour. About 21 countries representing more than 600 companies and organisations took part. Cde Mutsvangwa, who is also Zanu-PF spokesman, described the exposition as a success too.
“The message from the party, the message from President is getting across. The success of the show shows that there is a new appetite for Zimbabwe in terms of trade and investment. Big investments are taking place across the country and some of those investments take some time to build.
“However, in the next three years or so, they will be up. We are scaling up. There is investment in a range of areas including mining. We have big companies in lithium, in iron and steel and so on. The Manhize Iron and Steel Project in Mvuma, for example, will produce for the first time in September this year.
“That investment in mining will be good for Bulawayo which has a vibrant steel processing industry. The foundry industry in Bulawayo will grow. We will see a revival of the metallurgical industry in the city. As the mining industry grows, we need to develop the rail sector as well, so we take the load from road to rail, which is more cost effective.”
Britain, which exhibited at the ZITF last year, was strongly represented again this year, said Mr Grant Calder, a political counsellor at the British Embassy in Harare. He said his country and Zimbabwe enjoy strong relations in trade and investment, among other sectors. His country has invested millions in education, agriculture, health and climate change projects in Zimbabwe.
“Zimbabwe has the best access to the UK market. It, like other countries, enjoys duty-free access into the UK. We encourage Zimbabwean businesses to boost trade with the UK.”
A number of visitors to the stand, he noted, had a keen interest in scholarship opportunities offered in Britain, among them the well-known Chevening One under which successful Masters’ Degree candidates benefit from full sponsorship.
President Mnangagwa, King Mswati III with his entourage at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport on Friday
Mr Calder expressed delight at visits by President Mnangagwa, King Mswati 111 and Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga and Minister Mutsvangwa to the embassy stand. Mr Munhamo Chisvo, a senior official at the EU-funded Zimbabwe Agricultural Growth Programme (ZAGP) said the organisation was honoured to host the top leadership of the country.
“We were blessed to have the President taking his time to come and see what the EU and Team ZAGP are doing in Zimbabwe, to come and listen to us.
“They are listening leaders. We are running this programme (ZAGP) which has increased production, productivity and profitability of the local livestock sector to contribute to the achievement of the National Development Strategy 1.”
ZAGP, funded by the EU to the tune of US$44million was launched in 2017. It was supposed to end last year but was extended by a year. About 4 350 dairy farmers, 10 000 (goat), 14 000 (beef) and 14 396 (poultry) benefited under the programme, said Mr Chisvo. At least 23 300 more benefited under the research segment of the programme.
“ZAGP was successful in testing innovations in the area of breed improvement, efficiency of production by reducing the cost of feed through capacitating farmers to produce own-feed on-farm, aggregating production and direct marketing of their produce as a collective,” he added.
The ZAGP technical team has recommended an extension of the programme for the next five years. Minister Mutsvangwa bought five necklaces and four bracelets from Ms Evalin Musyoka, a crafter who exhibited at the Kenyan stand.
“I did not expect this sort of support. All the items she bought cost US$50,” she smiled, rolling the cash into her purse.
“I did not expect a person like her to come to promote us in such a way; to help us grow.” She is a member of a co-operative that works at Kariokor Market in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital.
