Zimpapers Logo

Updates by Costa Mano and Simiso Mlevu

Social Media: Timothy Maponga

 

1708: Now it’s time for entertainment and displays. This bring us to the end of our live updates.

 1705: Min of Agriculture wins the Caltex floating trophy for the Best Agricultural stand.

 1659: Best Foreign Trade exhibit award goes to the Department of Trade and Industry in the Republic of South Africa. Scholastica 2016 debate winner is St Patricks Christian Brothers College.

1657: Supreme Zimbabwean Exhibit is the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development. Troika designs wins a medal for designing the Min of HTESTD stand.

1654: Craft exhibit winner is ZRP kuyedza women’s club. Best exhibit in clothing winner is ZRP kuyedza women’s club. Best Zimbabwean non industrial and non commercial display is ZIMTRADE

1652: Packaging, plastics and publishing winner is Creative Centre.  Toyota Zimbabwe wins the best Zimbabwean Exhibitor for the Motor Trade.

1651: Delta Cooperation takes home the award for the food Manufacturing category.  Mining and Engineering category winner is the Rural Electrification Agency

1649: Chemicals pharmaceuticals winner is ZRP kuyedza women’s club.

 1647: Winner of Best Zimbabwean exhibitor in Agriculture and Irrigation is Treger Products. Best Zimbabwean Exhibitor in Furniture and Home improvement is Treger Products.

1645: Best Zimbabwean Exhibitor in Education is the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development. SMEs winner is the Home of Zanu PF.

1643: Best exhibit in Medical is PSMAS. Best Zimbabwean Exhibitor in ICT category is Netone cellular. Best Zimbabwean Exhibitor in Civic Participation is the City of Harare.

1640: This year, ZITF had 21 competitions and Alpha Omega Dairy wins the Agro processing award.  Best Zimbabwean exhibitor for the first time exhibit goes to Huawei Tech Investment. Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management wins the Tourism and Travel exhibit award.

1638: Togolese President has finished his address and moves to present awards to the winners.

1637: President Gnassingbe shifts to English now.  Adding that when he started he wasn’t confident enough to use the language.  He declares the ZITF 2016 officially opened.

1633: He says his perception about Zimbabwe changed when he arrived in the country adding that what he used to hear about the country is not obtaining on the ground.

1632: President Gnassingbe says he saw a woman entrepreneur who showed him gloves which are of better quality than the ones imported from other countries. Industrialisation calls for certain strategies. We must improve the business climate. Effective administrations should be in place, we must fight corruption.

1628: Industrialisation can unlock employment opportunities and also help in value addition thereby curbing exportation of raw materials.

1624: He has encouraged Africa to speed up integration by putting up complementary projects.

1622: “Integration is a dream that Africa has dreamt of since the beginning of independence of the continent. We inherited Africa with artificial boundaries which hindered integration,” President Gnassingbe said.

1620: President Gnassingbe says the three exis of action that make up the theme can make us achieve Inter-Africa trade.
“Innovation through education by new technologies. Innovation can also be through efficiency. It can also be through funding. It can also be through some rural activities.”

1618: “You have highlighted the three axis of action which must help us industrialise as Africa.”

 1617: “This year once again, the ZITF did not depart from its reputation of quality which is testified by the presence of a number of international exhibitors.”

1615: He expresses gratitude to the people of Zimbabwe and President Mugabe for the hospitality and warm welcome. He says he was happy to be in the city.

“I am particularly excited for the friendship that has been extended to the people of Togo through me, to officially open the 57th edition of the ZITF.”

1613: The Togolese Head of State is a traditional wrestling champion in Togo, says Min Bimha.  President Gnassingbe was, in April 2015, elected for the third term to lead the West African country.

Togolese leader takes to the podium and addresses in French.

1609: President Gnassingbe became Togo Head of State following the death of his father.

1608:  “I have the honour and privilege to present our guest of honour President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe.  Minister Bimha is giving a brief biography of President Gnassingbe and notes that he has several degrees.

1606: He has invited Minister of Industry and Trade Cde Mike Bimha to introduce and invite the guest of honour.  Min Bimha is making his salutations and makes special recognition of Togolese minister who accompanied President Gnassingbe. Also present here is the Minister of Industry and Trade for the Russian Federation.

1601: As companies world over continue to seek opportunities, events like ZITF offer a platform for growth.  Scholastica focused on innovation with the emphasis on stem and other initiative.

1600:  ZITF 2016 featured specific sectors including agriculture, education and manufacturing among others. We are pleased with the quality of products showcased this year.

 1559: It is important as a country that we become innovative in order to industrialise says Mr Nkomo

1556: Mr Nkomo welcomes President Mugabe who is ZITF patron and his Togolese counterpart.

1555: ZITF chairman Mr Bhekithemba Nkomo takes to the podium to address delegates. He starts off with salutations and has invited Prophet Bothwell Phiri to pray.

1546: The guard of honour is now marching past and off the arena.

1543: The guest of honour has finished inspecting the guard of honour.

1534: Togolese President Gnassingbe leaves to inspect the guard of honour as his Zimbabwean counterpart remains at attention.

1532: President Mugabe and his Togolese counterpart move to the podium for the national anthem.

1529:  The Presidential motorcade is making way to the ZITF ground amid deafening cheers from the crowd.

1526: The guard of honour is waiting for the arrival of our guest of honour, His Excellency Faure Gnassingbe who is coming together with President Mugabe.

1521: VP Emmerson Mnangagwa is now arriving at the main arena.

1518: Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko has arrived for the official opening. He is followed by President of the Senate, Amai Edna Madzongwe.

1509: The official opening ceremony is about to start. Security chiefs are making their way to the ZITF grounds.

1421: The two leaders are now leaving Hall 1 and are heading for lunch before the official opening ceremony.

1402: Presidents Mugabe and Gnassingbe have moved to Hall 1 where they are touring Russian companies exhibition stands.

1349: The two leaders are now at Alpha Omega Dairy exhibition stand where Presidents Mugabe and Gnassingbe are meeting employees working for the company.

1338:  From Hall 5, the two Presidents visited the Produce and Home Industries Hall.

1322: The two leaders are now touring Hall 5 which is home to Zanu PF Business Development and Liaison Department.

1231: President Mugabe and His Togolese counterpart are now at the Copperbelt University exhibition stand.

 

1218: They are now at ZimTrade exhibition stand.

1208: The President and his Togolese counterpart are now touring exhibition stands. Their first port of call is Cairns Holdings Limited.

1205: President Mugabe has arrived at ZITF and is being briefed by the officials.

1110:  President Mugabe and his Togolese counterpart have arrived in Bulawayo for the official opening.

1029: A total of 19 countries are taking part in this year’s trade showcase which is being held under the theme ‘Innovate, Integrate and Industrialise.’

1022: All is set for the official opening of the 57th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo today. The trade show will be officially opened by Togolese President Faure Gnassinbe at the invitation of President Mugabe.

Gnassinbe arrived in the country yesterday.

Togo is a West African which gained independence from colonial rule on 27 April in 1960.

Before the official opening ceremony, President Mugabe together with his Togolese counterpart will tour various ZITF exhibition stands.