The Sunday News
Siyalam’kela, Welcome!
This was the song sung by the lovely, colourfully dressed ladies of local a capella group, Nobuntu, kneeling and cupping their hands as they welcomed President Mugabe and Zambia President Edgar Lungu to “The home of Zanu-PF”.
As if this was not enough a few metres off the lovely ladies, another local act Amakhosikazi Enkululeko also led exhibitors in another song welcoming the two presidents as they marvelled at the sight.
Among those dancing was Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Minister Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo. President Mugabe couldn’t help but give a flash of a smile, shoulders raised with pride as he led his Zambian counterpart showing him what the ruling party was capable of and the fruits of a 35-year-old journey from the day the nation attained its independence.
As the two presidents exited the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Hall Five, they were again met by another spectacle as Ms Beverly Pullen handed a traditional chair to President Lungu as the entire hall reverberated into song and dance.
This was the story of a new attraction at this year’s edition of the trade fair, this being what was christened the Home of Zanu-PF.
So popular was this hall that almost half the time it was a hive of activity with people wanting to see for themselves the exhibitions of this first time exhibitor.
Even the judges at the fair noted this marvelous exhibition as it got an award for the best first time exhibitor.
The ruling party dedicated the hall to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises who exhibited their wares and further proudly showed the benefits of the Government’s indigenisation and economic empowerment drive.
“This is an opportunity for us to show the people out there that Zanu-PF is a party of empowerment that supports these SMEs, bearing in mind that the informal sector is now a force to reckon with and frankly this is the solution to the country’s economic problems.
“What you see here is people showing what they are capable of and what they are surviving on. It goes to show that we also can make it, shaming the West that think without them nothing will go,” said Small and Medium Scale Enterprises and Co-operative Development Minister Cde Sithembiso Nyoni.
Finance and Economic Development Minister Cde Patrick Chinamasa also noted that the informal sector was an important part of the country’s economy adding that the time had come for it to grow and contribute to the country’s fiscus.
“The idea is to grow and get rid of the tag SME because that gives someone the notion that they are small when in essence they are an intergral part of the country’s economy. This is a sector that when carefully exploited can see this country grow to unprecedented levels, yes industries are closing it is time we realise that it is us who should take over these industries and ensure that they get back on their feet.
“When I look at these SMEs exhibiting here I see big businesses, we must not forget that all companies, no matter how big now, all started off very small, all it needs is determination and focus,” said Minister Chinamasa.
Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Moyo said the move by Zanu-PF to avail the opportunity to the SMEs was a positive one as it also gave them an opportunity not only to show off their wares but also engage in business transactions that would see their businesses grow.
