Online Reporter
Judith Phiri, [email protected]
AS Zimbabwe continues to leverage its cultural and natural heritage to drive exports, the Government has called for the creation of industries that reflect the country’s identity to enhance unique market appeal.
Zimbabwe boasts a rich, diverse and internationally recognised blend of natural, cultural and historical heritage.
In a keynote address at the ZimTrade Annual Exporters’ Awards Gala in Bulawayo on Friday, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira, urged industry to utilise local natural resources.
“Let this occasion reaffirm our collective resolve to build industries that reflect our heritage. We want to see more wine from tsubvu fruit (smelly-berry fingerleaf), muhute (waterberry) and mazhanje (sugar plum), at that moment you know you are capitalising on natural resources.
“Apples are a product of Kazakhstan, they were found in the mountains and they grow like matamba or umkhemeswane (monkey orange) here. So, there is no tree that grows in a house, they grow in the forests. There is no domestic and wild tree. You don’t call your fruit wild fruit.”
Prof Murwira said people had been “brained washed” to believe local fruits are wild, when in fact they are part of the country’s heritage.
He said that once people understood that “wild fruits” was not an appropriate term, that would mark the beginning of Africa’s development.
“When your hunting is called poaching, when your fruits are called wild, when your matamba are called monkey apple, then you have a problem. Once you know that, that then Chimurenga Chepfungwa/ Umvukela Wemngqondo/ Liberation of the Mind tells you that your resources can be used and ensures that our trade competitiveness is rooted in our unique heritage and intellectual capital,” said the minister.
He delivered the remarks as Padenga Agribusiness (Private) Limited won the Overall Exporter of the Year award. Other nominees were SeedCo Zimbabwe (Private) Limited and Zimbabwe Sugar Sales (Private) Limited.
A representative from Padenga Agribusiness said the company was grateful for the award and looked forward to continued growth through exports.
“We know we have not reached the tip of it but we will continue to work hard, climbing the next mountain to succeed in exports,” said the official.
Intra Africa Exporter of the Year went to SeedCo Zimbabwe, with other nominees including Nestlé Zimbabwe (Private) Limited and Zimbabwe Sugar Sales (Private) Limited.
The SME Exporter of the Year award was won by Edenchase (Private) Limited, with Cotmatech Enterprises (Private) Limited as runner up.
In the household and electricals category, Treger Products (Private) Limited t/a Kango Products took first place, followed by BICC (Central Africa) (Private) Limited t/a CAFCA and Copperwares (Private) Limited.
Dinson Iron and Steel Company (Private) Limited scooped the engineering accolade, with Treger Products (Private) Limited t/a Monarch Steel Division and Brown Engineering Group (Private) Limited among the nominees.
In floriculture, Zimbabwe Flower Exports (Private) Limited won the top award, with Hopitt (Private) Limited, Tsanga Flora (Private) Limited and Zimidora Co-op also nominated.
The building and construction top prize went to Sunny Yi Feng Tiles (Zimbabwe) (Private) Limited, with Saint Gobain Construction Products Zimbabwe named among the nominees.
In leather, leather products and footwear, Zambezi Tanners (Private) Limited took the top prize, followed by Zimbabwe Bata Shoe Company (Private) Limited.
Zimplow Holdings Limited won the agricultural implements category, with Maka Resources (Private) Limited and Treger Products (Private) Limited t/a Treger Plastics also nominated.
In processed foods, Zimbabwe Sugar Sales came first, ahead of Nestlé Zimbabwe (Private) Limited and Dairibord Zimbabwe (Private) Limited.
The agricultural inputs award went to SeedCo Zimbabwe, with Irvine’s Zimbabwe and Niculata Investments (Private) Limited t/a Prime Seeds following closely.
Tanganda Tea Company (Private) Limited won the fresh produce category, with Eastern Highlands Plantations Limited and Makandi Estates (Private) Limited also nominated.
Hall of Fame companies included Varichem (pharmaceuticals), Zimbabwe Spinners and Weavers (Private) Limited (textiles), Paramount Exports (Private) Limited (clothing), Padenga Holdings (hides and skins), J.W. Wilson International (Private) Limited (furniture) and Hunyani Paper and Packaging (Private) Limited (packaging).
