Source: Exhibitors, buyers troop in for ZITF 2026 – herald
Sikhumbuzo Moyo and Judith Phiri
EXHIBITORS and buyers continue to troop into Bulawayo as some are putting final touches to their stands in readiness for the 66th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair 2026, which kicks off today.
The country’s premier trade showcase runs until Saturday at the Zimbabwe Conference and Exhibition Smart City (ZICES), under the theme: “Connected Economies, Competitive Industries”.
Due to the overwhelming demand for exhibition space, the organisers had to extend exhibition allocation outside the main halls and the stands generally appear to be of high quality.
Botswana President, Duma Boko, is expected to officially open the exhibition on Thursday, bringing along a business delegation to participate at the expo.
The successful hosting of ZITF is crucial for Zimbabwe as it promotes new exports, attracts investment and opens a window for mutually beneficial partnerships designed to anchor economic growth and job creation.
Organisers expect this year’s fair to provide a favourable platform for Africa’s industrial heavyweights and emerging disruptors, as more than a simple exhibition, connecting manufacturing breakthroughs and digital shifts directly to global value chains.
Zimbabwe is geared to ensure local ingenuity meets international capital to build scalable, cross-border partnerships that define the next decade of African trade.
According to ZITF Company board chairman, Dr Busisa Moyo, about 485 direct exhibitors, including 100 leaseholders, will be participating.
International participation is quite strong with 46 international exhibitors from 29 countries including Belarus, Belgium, Botswana, China, Denmark, Eswatini, Ethiopia, European union (EU), France and India.
Indonesia, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Japan, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates (UAE), United Kingdom (UK), and Zambia are also in.
The Indonesian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Arief Hidayat, who arrived in Bulawayo with his delegation yesterday, expressed his country’s readiness to partner with Zimbabwe in unlocking mutually beneficial economic gains.
“We will be exhibiting big at the ZITF, and we want to align our investments with the Zimbabwean policy on open for business, and tapping into trade partnerships,” said Ambassador Hidayat.
“ZITF is a good platform for us to put into practicality all the agreements we have. We are keen on agriculture, tourism, energy, and technology projects.”
He said companies from his country were eager to extend footprint to Zimbabwe and partner locals in expanding business including taping into the wider regional economic value chains across sectors.
Zanu PF Politburo member and secretary for business development, Cde Elifasi Mashava, was already at venue and the party’s team.
“We are here to demonstrate how the party functions, particularly the role of the First Secretary, who is also the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, together with his deputies in both the party and Government, Secretary-General Advocate Jacob Mudenda, Chairman Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, and all its 21 departments,” said Cde Mashava.
“We will also showcase a historical exhibition detailing the period of the President’s incarceration. It’s a deeply emotional presentation, and many visitors are likely to find it very moving.”
A local exhibitor, Advance Fire Engineers’ managing director, Mr Lovemore Ndebele, said they w Sikhumbuzo Moyo and Judith Phiri
EXHIBITORS and buyers continue to troop into Bulawayo as some are putting final touches to their stands in readiness for the 66th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair 2026, which kicks off today.
The country’s premier trade showcase runs until Saturday at the Zimbabwe Conference and Exhibition Smart City (ZICES), under the theme: “Connected Economies, Competitive Industries”.
Due to the overwhelming demand for exhibition space, the organisers had to extend exhibition allocation outside the main halls and the stands generally appear to be of high quality.
Botswana President, Duma Boko, is expected to officially open the exhibition on Thursday, bringing along a business delegation to participate at the expo.
The successful hosting of ZITF is crucial for Zimbabwe as it promotes new exports, attracts investment and opens a window for mutually beneficial partnerships designed to anchor economic growth and job creation.
Organisers expect this year’s fair to provide a favourable platform for Africa’s industrial heavyweights and emerging disruptors, as more than a simple exhibition, connecting manufacturing breakthroughs and digital shifts directly to global value chains.
Zimbabwe is geared to ensure local ingenuity meets international capital to build scalable, cross-border partnerships that define the next decade of African trade.
According to ZITF Company board chairman, Dr Busisa Moyo, about 485 direct exhibitors, including 100 leaseholders, will be participating.
International participation is quite strong with 46 international exhibitors from 29 countries including Belarus, Belgium, Botswana, China, Denmark, Eswatini, Ethiopia, European union (EU), France and India.
Indonesia, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Japan, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates (UAE), United Kingdom (UK), and Zambia are also in.
The Indonesian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Arief Hidayat, who arrived in Bulawayo with his delegation yesterday, expressed his country’s readiness to partner with Zimbabwe in unlocking mutually beneficial economic gains.
“We will be exhibiting big at the ZITF, and we want to align our investments with the Zimbabwean policy on open for business, and tapping into trade partnerships,” said Ambassador Hidayat.
“ZITF is a good platform for us to put into practicality all the agreements we have. We are keen on agriculture, tourism, energy, and technology projects.”
He said companies from his country were eager to extend footprint to Zimbabwe and partner locals in expanding business including taping into the wider regional economic value chains across sectors.
Zanu PF Politburo member and secretary for business development, Cde Elifasi Mashava, was already at venue and the party’s team.
“We are here to demonstrate how the party functions, particularly the role of the First Secretary, who is also the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, together with his deputies in both the party and Government, Secretary-General Advocate Jacob Mudenda, Chairman Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, and all its 21 departments,” said Cde Mashava.
“We will also showcase a historical exhibition detailing the period of the President’s incarceration. It’s a deeply emotional presentation, and many visitors are likely to find it very moving.”
A local exhibitor, Advance Fire Engineers’ managing director, Mr Lovemore Ndebele, said they were ready to tap into ZITF opportunities.
“For us, this is a chance to engage both existing and potential clients. Even before the official start, we have already been interacting with prospective customers eager to learn more about our services,” he said.
Dr Moyo has said business visitor registrations were at 10 472 as of Thursday, compared to last year’s number of 8142.
Based on these indicators, the overall readiness level is high, while exhibitor uptake has been strong across both the public and private sectors, with Government participation at 42 percent and the private sector contributing 58 percent of space uptake.
“This is a clear indicator of market confidence and sustained interest in the ZITF platform.”
This week will be the busiest for Bulawayo and the ZITF venue in particular as the expo programme features conferences, forums, networking sessions and high-level engagements designed to attract both local and international participants.
Today, there will be a Rural Industrialisation Conference at Hall 2, followed by the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) Exhibitors and Marketers Cocktail later in the evening.
The Rural Industrialisation Conference is a flagship empowerment platform, structured to transition communities from peripheral participants to equity holders in industrial value chains. 350 delegates are expected to participate.
Momentum builds on Tuesday with the Youth in Business Conference, Buyers Speed Networking session and the traditional ZITF 2026 Welcome Cocktail, to be hosted in partnership with the British Embassy in Zimbabwe.
The day will also feature the Innovators Forum and Hackathon, which will run till Wednesday, a platform aimed at promoting technological advancement and entrepreneurship among young innovators.
The flagship ZITF International Business Conference — one of the fair’s premier events — is scheduled for Wednesday and will bring together policymakers, industry leaders and investors to deliberate on economic trends and investment opportunities.
The Guest of Honour will be Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga.
The ZITF Diplomats Forum, also set for Wednesday evening, to be held in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
The official opening ceremony will be held on Thursday at the Main Arena and is expected to attract high-level dignitaries, including Government officials, business leaders and international guests. Botswana President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko is expected to officially open the event and will, as tradition dictates, tour selected pavilions.
Friday’s programme includes the Connect Africa Symposium in Hall 2 with the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) as the technical lead partner. The Guest of Honor will be Vice President Kembo Mohadi, with a total of 250 delegates expected to attend.
There will be the Zimbabwe-Botswana Business Forum, to be held in partnership with ZimTrade at Holiday Inn, the ZITF Charity Golf Challenge at Bulawayo Country Club and the Minister of Industry and Commerce Dinner in the evening.ere ready to tap into ZITF opportunities.
“For us, this is a chance to engage both existing and potential clients. Even before the official start, we have already been interacting with prospective customers eager to learn more about our services,” he said.
Dr Moyo has said business visitor registrations were at 10 472 as of Thursday, compared to last year’s number of 8142.
Based on these indicators, the overall readiness level is high, while exhibitor uptake has been strong across both the public and private sectors, with Government participation at 42 percent and the private sector contributing 58 percent of space uptake.
“This is a clear indicator of market confidence and sustained interest in the ZITF platform.”
This week will be the busiest for Bulawayo and the ZITF venue in particular as the expo programme features conferences, forums, networking sessions and high-level engagements designed to attract both local and international participants.
Today, there will be a Rural Industrialisation Conference at Hall 2, followed by the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) Exhibitors and Marketers Cocktail later in the evening.
The Rural Industrialisation Conference is a flagship empowerment platform, structured to transition communities from peripheral participants to equity holders in industrial value chains. 350 delegates are expected to participate.
Momentum builds on Tuesday with the Youth in Business Conference, Buyers Speed Networking session and the traditional ZITF 2026 Welcome Cocktail, to be hosted in partnership with the British Embassy in Zimbabwe.
The day will also feature the Innovators Forum and Hackathon, which will run till Wednesday, a platform aimed at promoting technological advancement and entrepreneurship among young innovators.
The flagship ZITF International Business Conference — one of the fair’s premier events — is scheduled for Wednesday and will bring together policymakers, industry leaders and investors to deliberate on economic trends and investment opportunities.
The Guest of Honour will be Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga.
The ZITF Diplomats Forum, also set for Wednesday evening, to be held in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
The official opening ceremony will be held on Thursday at the Main Arena and is expected to attract high-level dignitaries, including Government officials, business leaders and international guests. Botswana President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko is expected to officially open the event and will, as tradition dictates, tour selected pavilions.
Friday’s programme includes the Connect Africa Symposium in Hall 2 with the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) as the technical lead partner. The Guest of Honor will be Vice President Kembo Mohadi, with a total of 250 delegates expected to attend.
There will be the Zimbabwe-Botswana Business Forum, to be held in partnership with ZimTrade at Holiday Inn, the ZITF Charity Golf Challenge at Bulawayo Country Club and the Minister of Industry and Commerce Dinner in the evening.A
COMMENTS