The Sunday Mail
Kudzanai Sharara in ZAMBIA
THE quality of local products currently on exhibition at the ongoing Zambia Agriculture and Commercial Show (ZACS) is high and it will not be surprising if exhibitors clinch deals to supply the Zambian market.
This was said on Saturday by Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Zambia, Mrs Charity Charamba, after touring the Zimbabwe Pavilion, which houses approximately 30 local firms that are exploring export opportunities at Zambia’s largest trade exhibition event.
Ambassador Charamba was particularly impressed by the type of products on display, some of which are made from natural resources such as Baobab tree fruits (mawuyu).
“My impression here is that Zimbabwe is doing very well; Zimbabwe is innovative,” she said.
The theme for the 94th edition of ZACS is “Innovation Through Technology”.
Ambassador Charamba said it was encouraging that some exhibiting firms were youth- and women-led, as well as based in other towns and cities such as Bulawayo.
Such firms usually play second fiddle to men-led businesses and those that operate from Harare.
“I have seen that those who came from Bulawayo are doing so well in their various industries.
“I have seen youth that are also doing so well and I am really excited that we have youth who are innovative and who have actually come up with products that are amazing,” added Ambassador Charamba.
She singled out 24-year-old Ngonidzaishe Mazhura, the director of Thandie’s Village, who is producing baobab range of products.
“I had never imagined in my entire life that we could come up with products for the face, for various things (from baobab fruits).”
Afrostain Farmtech, a smart farming solutions enterprise, is another youth-led enterprise that made an impression.
According to ZimTrade, which facilitated the participation of Zimbabwean firms, at least seven are led by youth, with several led by young women.
Ambassador Charamba, who was accompanied by ZimTrade chief executive officer Mr Allan Majuru, applauded the country’s trade development and promotion body for coordinating manufacturers and SMEs to exhibit at such platforms as ZACS.
“We are in the process of developing a database of all the Zimbabwe companies that are trading here so that we know to what extent (local products have penetrated the Zambian market).”
Companies that are already exporting to Zambia include Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed firms Tanganda, Turnall and Dairibord, among others.
ZimTrade says the positive feedback on Zimbabwe will be used to springboard more local products into the neighbouring country.
Meanwhile, some of the exhibiting firms confirmed clinching deals to supply big retail outlets such as Pick n Pay in Zambia.
Some are seriously considering setting up base in Zambia following the “overwhelming” response to their products at the ongoing ZACS, which ends on Tuesday.
