FOR the first time since the inception of the Zimbabwe
International Trade Fair 60 years ago, organisers have been forced to pitch
tents to accommodate more exhibitors as the available space has been taken up
for this year’s showcase.
This puts this year’s event that starts on Tuesday and ends
on Saturday, as the biggest ever to be held in Bulawayo since 1959. The
exhibition is running under the theme: “Propagating Industrial Growth through
Trade and Investment.”
In an interview yesterday, ZITF Company chairperson Ms Ruth
Ncube said all the space has been taken and the company had to pitch extra
tents to accommodate more than 100 exhibitors.
She said: “The show is the biggest ever. We sold all
possible space and for the first time in the history of ZITF we had to
hire tents to accommodate 100 more
exhibitors. This year we won’t be having VIP parking because we converted that
space for extra exhibition space and the halls, which we haven’t been using for
the last four to five years have been refurbished and converted to exhibition
space.”
A trajectory graph depicting capacity utilisation at the
exhibition centre, Sunday News is in possession of reveals that it has been on
an upward trend over the last five years. The space being made available for
sale rose from a low of 47 612 square metres in 2016 to a high of 57 732 square
metres in 2019. The Government has also facilitated for the smooth holding of
the event by availing fuel in Bulawayo. Fuel supplies in the city have since
last week improved as the Government weighs in to ensure the international
acclaimed exhibition is hosted without any mishap.
“We spoke to the Ministry of Energy (and Power Development)
through our parent Ministry’s Minister (Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu) and he
spoke to his counterpart that fuel supplies to Bulawayo should increase at
least a week before ZITF to enable motorists to sufficiently refuel their
vehicles and we are seeing tankers coming to Bulawayo in numbers. We want
Bulawayo to be set abuzz. That’s how serious Bulawayo will be next week (this
week),” said Ms Ncube.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is expected to officially
open this year’s ZITF on Friday. By yesterday, a number of officials from
different companies were making last minute arrangements to ensure that they
are ready for the event. Among the first time exhibitors will be Belarus which
is bringing in a number of companies as Zimbabwe and that country continue to
improve their economic relations. The United States of America is returning to
ZITF after a three-year absence. Other countries that have confirmed
participation include Botswana, Ethiopia, Japan, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, United States of America
and Zambia.
Although all the city’s hotels and lodges were fully booked
as of the beginning of the month alternative accommodation is still available
at most plush suburbs.
“The accommodation, which is being offered by Bulawayo
residents at their homes, is amazing. Of course people are complaining about
the shortage of accommodation at hotels but there is no shortage of alternative
accommodation in the city. Our partner, Ecological Safaris and Travel is
assisting us to seek comfortable accommodation for visitors and we are looking
forward to a number of home owners realising substantial revenue from letting
out their rooms,” said Ms Ncube. Sunday
News
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