President <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Emmerson_Mnangagwa">Emmerson Mnangagwa</a> (ED) believes that the participation of the European Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom at the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_International_Trade_Fair">Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF)</a> is proof that his efforts to improve relations with other countries are working.
He made this statement to journalists after touring the fair, which ended on Saturday, 29 April 2023. The president told journalists:
<blockquote>
The Americans are here, the British are here, the EU is here. What else would we want? Everybody is here. So this engagement and re-engagement policy is bearing fruits. Perhaps, they heard that the Majesty is coming. That’s why they are here.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe’s relations with the West have been strained due to political and economic issues, resulting in sanctions being imposed on the southern African nation. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has attempted to improve relations through his re-engagement policy, but progress has been slow due to concerns over human rights and governance. Some positive developments have occurred, such as the resumption of development aid by the EU and new funding pledges by the UK, but there are still obstacles to the full normalization of relations.
This year, over 20 countries participated at the ZITF, compared to only 13 last year. Angola, Belarus, Botswana, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Netherlands, Nigeria, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America and Zambia were the countries that participated.
The EU was the largest exhibitor, occupying 33 square meters of exhibition space, as reported by ZITF Company chairman Busisa Moyo. There were 533 exhibitors in total, taking up 46 631 square meters of exhibition space, which is 97% of the available space. This is an improvement from last year when the total space occupied was 45 786 square meters.
King Mswati III of the Royal Kingdom of Eswatini officially opened the fair and emphasized the need for greater trade and investment cooperation between Zimbabwe and Eswatini. He noted that while Eswatini imports over USD$2 billion worth of goods annually from Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe imports over USD$5.6 billion worth of goods annually from Eswatini. Despite this, trade and investment between the two countries remain insignificant compared to their economic connections with the rest of the world. Therefore, he called for closer trade and investment collaboration between the two countries.
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US, UK, EU Participation At ZITF Proof That Re-engagement Is Working  - ED

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has increased police visibility at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair to curb crimes that are usually associated with the event due to an entrance of visitors.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube told Southern Eye Wednesday that law enforcement agents were prepared to deal with criminals that take advantage of the increase in the number of visitors in the city during the annual trade extravaganza. Ncube said:
<blockquote>
We have realised that there is an influx of visitors in Bulawayo, we are glad to receive them, we want to tell them that they are safe.
We have deployed enough police officers to deal with those who will be engaged in criminal activities. Some criminals would have travelled from afar, we want to warn them that Bulawayo is not a hunting ground for criminals and does not tolerate lawlessness.
We urge the public to co-operate with police and that they should not leave their luggage in their cars.
</blockquote>
This year’s ZITF comes at a time when Bulawayo has in the recent past recorded a spate of armed robbery, resulting in an exchange of gunfire between police officers and armed robbers.
In August, police in Bulawayo shot and killed a member of a six-armed-member gang that had come all the way from South Africa. Two were injured when the gang pounced on a house along Franklin Drive in Fourwinds, Bulawayo.
Four firearms were recovered at the scene.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/09/heavy-police-presence-at-zitf/">NewsDay Zimbabwe</a>

ZRP: We've Deployed Enough Police Officers At ZITF

The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) kicked off on Wednesday on a “low note” as most exhibitors were still to set up their stands, many of them affected by a late decision to run the exhibition after the lockdown was reduced to level 2.
Some stands were unoccupied while others were still closed, meaning the companies were not taking part.
Only 25% of Bulawayo companies are exhibiting at the fair, demonstrating just how hard the pandemic has hit the remaining firms in a city once touted as Zimbabwe’s industrial hub.
Those present include the National Railways of Zimbabwe and Boustead Beef, which has failed to reopen the Cold Storage Company, another indication that the economic situation remains tricky.
That is not all, even South Africa — Zimbabwe’s largest trading partner — did not take up large exhibition space this year.
China, too, which has for years dominated the ZITF, occupying large exhibition spaces, seemingly has a lowkey representation.
Only 10 countries, namely Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa and Tanzania, are participating but on a smaller scale.
In 2019, the exhibition attracted 17 countries.
These developments indicate how the COVID-19 pandemic is reshaping everything, including the future of major exhibitions.
With the pandemic likely to be gripping the world for some time, the rate at which physical exhibitions will be held will remain subdued.
Under the circumstances, tech-based marketing and campaigns will be key to complementing reduced physical exhibitions.
This is likely to be the new normal until economies reopen as the pandemic fizzles out.
Last year’s hard lockdowns forced authorities to call off the important trade showcase for the first time.
For Zimbabwe, however, the spirited efforts made to ensure the holding of this year’s edition of ZITF is a good start in the country’s drive to rebuild the economy.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/09/subdued-trade-fair-mirrors-state-of-the-country/">NewsDay Zimbabwe</a>

Zimbabwe International Trade Fair 2021: COVID-19 Reshaping Everything

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has said economic agents, including the micro, small and medium enterprises can transform the economic trajectory of Zimbabwe.
The former military boss made the remarks on Wednesday while addressing delegates at the annually-held Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) held at the ZITF Business Conference in Bulawayo. He said:
<blockquote>
We now have economic agents, including the micro, small and medium enterprises. This paradigm shift means enterprising individuals sustaining themselves through the SMEs sector should no longer be considered as unemployed just because they are not in wage employment.
</blockquote>
He reiterated that one of the key lessons which should never be forgotten from the Covid-19 experience is that a nation is more secure if it is willing to rely on itself than foreign production.
VP Chiwenga said the funds received from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will be deployed prudently to support key social and economic programmes that will in the future assure sustained development. He added:
<blockquote>
The injection of the IMF SDR is not the panacea of the structural imbalance which remains, which we are determined to resolve. Disciplined behaviour of all of a as economic agents will be critical in building the economy towards Vision 2030.
</blockquote>
He speaks when the country’s unemployment rate is reportedly growing following the closure of some companies following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Some closed citing lack of a conducive operating environment in Zimbabwe.
VP Chiwenga also said there were enormous economic opportunities that Zimbabwean businesses stand to exploit through deepened regional integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA), inviting industry to work together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, ZimTrade and other trade facilitation bodies.
More: <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/vp-chiwenga-zimbabweans-must-build-the-national-economy/">The SundayNews</a>

Individuals In SMEs Sector Are Not Unemployed - VP Chiwenga

The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company last month appointed Dr Nicholas Ndebele and Ms Stella Nkomo, in that order, as the company’s chief executive officer (CEO) and deputy CEO.
Prior to this appointment, Dr Ndebele had been ZITF’s acting general manager while Ms Nkomo was the firm’s marketing and public relations manager.
Dr Ndebele joined the ZITF Company in 2017 as a sales executive and was appointed acting general manager in the following year.
In this role, he was credited with delivering one of the most successful ZITF editions (2019) which attracted wide and critical acclaim from all stakeholders.
Dr Ndebele holds a Doctor of Philosophy Degree (PhD), majoring in Business Leadership from the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) of the University of Pretoria.
He is also a holder of an Executive Development Program (GIBS), an MSc Marketing from the National University of Science and Technology (Nust), MBA from Midlands State University, Post Graduate Diploma in PR (Nust) and a BBS Honours Degree from the University of Zimbabwe.
Prior to joining ZITF, Dr Ndebele has had a long career in sales, marketing, key account management, and distribution while working at Delta Beverages (then Natbrew), Old Mutual, Population Services International, and Telecel Zimbabwe.
Ms Nkomo holds a Business Leadership Certificate, Zimbabwe Chartered Marketer, MSc Marketing, BSc Journalism and Media Studies (Nust), Marketing Practitioner, and (Marketers Association Zimbabwe) and is also an MSc International Relations Student (UZ).
She has been with ZITF for over 14 years driving the marketing, communications and business development functions of the entity and will continue to manage that portfolio as well in addition to her new duties.
She was also recently sworn in as a Gwanda State University councillor. Ms Nkomo has over the years held various positions as a Business Executive, Non-Executive Director, Board Member, Lecturer and experienced Marketing &amp; Public Relations Executive with a demonstrated history of working in the events management industry.
More: <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/zitf-new-executive-appointments/">The Sunday News</a>

ZITF Appoints New Chief Executive Officer And Deputy

The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) will be held from August 23-27 after it was postponed due to a recent spike in new coronavirus infections.
ZITF was supposed to be held from July 20 to 23 but the Cabinet postponed it to August following the coronavirus resurgence.
Mr Busisa Moyo the ZITF company chairman announced in a statement on Thursday said the decision to postpone the event was made in consultation with the government. He said:
<blockquote>_Due to the rising numbers of new Covid 19 infections, both locally and regionally, and the resultant movement and gathering restrictions, the ZITF Company Board wishes to officially advise exhibitors, service providers, registered buyers, business visitors and other stakeholders of the decision to postpone the 2021 edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair to 23-27 August 2021. The Company is of the view that it was no longer realistic to successfully stage the trade fair during the previously advertised dates, being 20-23 July 2021, without significant risk to participants given the current high number of active cases in the country._
_The decision to postpone the fair has been reached after extensive consultations with the Government of Zimbabwe and a wide cross-section of stakeholders including the relevant health authorities.  Postponing the ZITF to the end of August allows for the nation to concentrate on efforts to curb the third wave timeously and that a later date provides more ideal conditions to conduct the much-anticipated trade show business in a relatively biosecure environment._</blockquote>
Mr Moyo added ZITF will continue to update stakeholders on any new developments.
Eleven countries namely Angola, Belarus, Botswana, Indonesia, Japan, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa and Tanzania had confirmed participation in the event.
The ZITF this year will be held under tight Covid-19 mitigation protocols under the theme: “Showcasing the New Normal for Business &amp; Industry: Realities and Opportunities.”
More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-admin/post-new.php">Pindula News</a>; <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/just-in-zitf-to-be-held-in-august/">The Chronicle</a>

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