Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe, [email protected]
THE City of Bulawayo has described its participation at the 66th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) 2026 as a “historic triumph” after pioneering a groundbreaking dual-structure exhibition model that elevated the city’s investment profile and earned it the prestigious Best Local Authority Exhibit award.
In a post-event report, council said the innovative approach, which saw its main commercial exhibition relocated to Hall 3 while the traditional Municipal Pavilion was repurposed into a strategic support and service delivery centre, enabled the city to overcome long-standing space limitations and showcase its economic potential on a larger scale.
The expo was held under the theme: “Connected Economies, Competitive Industries” while Bulawayo exhibited under the banner “Connected Economies, Competitive Industries for a Smart and Sustainable Bulawayo.”
According to the report, the strategy helped position Bulawayo as a smart, investment-ready city while significantly boosting investor engagement, regional cooperation and public participation.
“The City of Bulawayo achieved a historic triumph at the 66th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) 2026, held from 20th to 25th April, 2026, by pioneering a groundbreaking dual-structure exhibition model that propelled the ‘Spirit of Bulawayo’ onto a global stage,” said council.
It said the unique initiative was designed to promote investment opportunities, showcase municipal projects and services, strengthen stakeholder relations, enhance the city’s corporate image, celebrate Bulawayo’s cultural heritage and deepen regional cooperation.
“The transition to a dual-structure exhibition architecture addressed historical structural bottlenecks and significantly enhanced operational efficiency across municipal directorates,” the report noted.
The Hall 3 exhibition stand became the centrepiece of Bulawayo’s participation, offering an expansive platform for investment promotion and economic diplomacy.
“Architecturally designed to embody the ‘Spirit of Bulawayo,’ the stand projected a modern industrial vision that successfully repositioned the city as a resilient, forward-looking economic hub.
“Central to this platform was a compelling and integrated storyline of ‘Connected Economies Competitive Industries for Smart Sustainable Bulawayo’, which anchored the entire exhibition. The narrative was built around the concept of connected communities, illustrating how Bulawayo is leveraging physical, digital, institutional and economic development and market connectivity to drive inclusive economic transformation.”
Council has said the exhibition demonstrated how improved infrastructure, smart technologies, coordinated governance systems and expanded market linkages were enabling the city to integrate into regional and global value chains.
“Through this framework, the stand demonstrated how improved infrastructure, smart technologies, coordinated governance systems and expanded market linkages are collectively enabling the city to integrate into regional and global value chains,” the report stated.
Interactive digital displays and presentations were used to showcase investment opportunities and municipal development programmes, helping translate the city’s long-term development plans into accessible investment propositions.
The Municipal Pavilion, meanwhile, was transformed into a strategic support facility, housing a decentralised payment and revenue collection centre, investor engagement spaces and a dedicated exhibition area for Home Industries.
The pavilion also functioned as “an exclusive Business Engagement Hub” where private investor meetings, policy discussions and bilateral engagements with international partners were conducted.
In addition, local small businesses operating under Home Industries were given a platform to showcase their products and interact with potential investors.
Despite the success, council acknowledged several challenges encountered during the exhibition.
Among the key constraints were inadequate funding, which limited the procurement of promotional materials and branding resources.
Council also cited delays by the appointed stand designer, who was handling multiple projects at the same time.
The city’s Works Department was eventually forced to intervene to ensure the stand was completed on time.
Other challenges included coordination difficulties caused by meetings being held at different venues, including the exhibition grounds and Council Chambers.
The report also identified a skills gap among some municipal officials in areas such as investor engagement, exhibition management and the use of digital marketing tools.
Another setback was the continued absence of Aisleby Farms from the agricultural exhibition category for a second consecutive year due to financial constraints.
Council noted that the non-participation reduced visibility of the city’s agricultural operations and limited opportunities to engage stakeholders in the agribusiness sector.
The city believes lessons drawn from this year’s event, coupled with the development of a dedicated ZITF Procedure Manual, will improve planning, coordination and stakeholder engagement ahead of ZITF 2027.
