Coffee With ZITF
If you were having coffee with me, I would welcome you to my tangle of words, feel at home and allow me to share my latest adventure adventure at an international fare in a teapot shaped country.
The city of Kings, Bulawayo “roared to life” – funny phrase, the kind of colourful phrases that journalist like to use to describe the bustle of activity caused by some events and activities… How does a city roar?… perhaps if its coat of arms had a lion rampant… Bulawayo associates more with an elephant imagery. What sound does an elephant make? Trumpet?
Bulawayo hosted the 64th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair which ran from the 23rd to the 27th of April under the theme Innovation: The Catalyst For Industrialisation and Trade. The City Of Kings, trumpeted to life…. Hmmm that doesn’t sound quite as majestic… anyhow, all roads in Bulawayo led to the Trade Fair Grounds this past week.
ZITF is an annual event that is a vibrant showcase of trade, innovation and industries not just in Zimbabwe but of regional and global interest. The fair was birthed in 1899 by the Rhodesia Farmers Union which later became Bulawayo Agricultural Society which hosted hosted the Central African Trade Fair to cater for industry and opened by Queen Elizabeth II in May 1899. The Fair became known as the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in 1980 becoming the country’s premier Trade Show.
The 2024 show which was opened by Kenyan President William Ruto had 766 exhibitions from 26 countries which included South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa.
If you were having coffee with me, I would tell you that I had never attended the Fair before and when the opportunity presented itself I decided why not have a bit of an adventure, and an adventure it was, accommodation prices and prices for some amenities get a ZITF hike to take advantage of the influx of visitors -for some people this is the time they make money similar to how florists make bag during Valentine’s season..
Then of course there is the Bulawayo Maths, where people tend to favour using Rands for some transactions such as commuter fare resulting in what looks like very dodgy financial transactions to the uninitiated (especially on the backdrop of being in between a currency restructure)
The Trade Fair grounds are massive with about 5 Exhibition halls packed with stands showcasing all sorts of services, products, packages, opportunities, partnerships…
South Korea which is celebrating 30 years of diplomatic relations between Zimbabwe and Korea was one of the countries exhibiting at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair for the first time. Their exhibition featured a representative from the Hyundai Group South Africa, suppliers of K – Beauty Products who were keen on establishing a footprint in Zimbabwe under the auspices of KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency)
There was also a demonstration of some of the activities by KOPIA (Korea Programme For International Cooperation) which has been working with Zimbabwe’s SIRDC to boost agricultural productivity such as drought resistant crops and a Seed Potato Aeroponics model.
And of course they had K-Snacks and Korean Cup noodles… After my first run in with K-Instant Noodles at an Exhibition of Korean Street food at Korea’s National Day I must say I have developed a taste for them, pity there isn’t a dedicated shop you can get them although if you keep an eye out in some Oriental stockists you might get lucky.
If you are having coffee with me, I would tell you that I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Kingdom of Eswatini has a thriving economy which makes produce that is used by divisions of recognisable brands like Kellogg’s, Rhodes Quality and even their own sugar.. The majority of people who visited that stand were shocked at how they had under-rated one of the smallest countries in Africa which like dynamite comes in small packages..
If you were having coffee with me, I would tell you that I had the pleasure of tasting a designer cocktail made from local gin by Comrade Beverages: The Matobo Gin infused with Zumbani which has a zesty zing to it… I am thinking some Zumbani Tea Lemon and Matobo Gin might be an interesting hit, now that winter is coming this side of the world.
I had not appreciated how vast the exhibitions at the Trade Fair are and it took me almost the whole week to browse through them and then narrow down the ones I wanted further interaction with, of which I never did quite finish…. I still have 30 Business Cards left from my stack of 100 – Of course I had business cards, I had to carry myself as a professional and what not—
My one gripe with the ZITF was how for a first time visitor the place was confusing, I had to figure out where everything was the hard way. There is an information desk at the Faircircle Spire but maybe they should have included some sort of digital map or offered printed maps at the gates.. or better yet – some real–time GPS Map that shows you where you are and where you can find everything else.
If you were having coffee with me, I would tell you that I preferred the Business Days which had a less crowd than the Public Days. I particularly disliked the day with the official opening because of security protocol, body searches and all that and there were armed soldiers looking suitably menacing at various points that made it hard to enjoy the experience as you tried not to look suspicious as if your camera had a sniper scope…👀
The president and his entourage took up a lot of space as they visited the diplomatic stations and other exhibitions of interest.. We literally got shooed away so the president could do his thing…
This is the closest I have ever been to a president in my life –( wait, I did shake the hand of the late former president of Zimbabwe when I was in primary school and I met another late former president Banda of Malawi when I was a teen)
I wanted to record a video clip but the security men were all sharp ages and dark suits… is this how presidents roll?… I wouldn’t know I have only shook the hands of 2 other presidents who are now late, hmmmm, moving on swiftly….
The locals of Bulawayo feel the fair has lost its way and is regarded as a Harare event hosted in Bulawayo – as its dominated by Harare business people with some regarding it more as political patronage than a commercial event – others feel its simply an excuse for people to be up-to no good with baddies….
What’s been happening in your neck of the woods? What’s the closest you have ever gotten to a president?
~B
PS I really wanted to taste if what was in the Coca-cola fountain was Coca-cola or couloured water 😂
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