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Bulawayo Bureau
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa arrived in Victoria Falls last night and is expected to officiate at the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions conference which kicks off in the resort town today.
He was accompanied by Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Air Chief Marshal Perrance Shiri (Retired).
Matabeleland North Minister for Provincial Affairs Ambassador Cain Mathema, Victoria Falls mayor councillor Sifiso Mpofu, service chiefs and heads of Government departments were at the airport to welcome the President.
A total of 13 countries are expected at the regional farmers’ conference whose theme will be bordering on trade enhancement with respect to agriculture.
The Zimbabwe Farmers Union and Commercial Farmers Union are hosting the rotational conference on behalf of Zimbabwe.
In an earlier interview, ZFU executive director Mr Paul Zakariya said farmers hope Government would come up with policies that enable farmers to access finance.
The conference running under the theme: “Trade As a Driver for Agricultural Transformation,” is being hosted by SACAU’s two members in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Farmers Union and Commercial Farmers Union.
The conference aims at discussing key concerns and issues around trade arrangements and practices, identify and discuss key elements to consider in pursuing a trade-driven agricultural transformation agenda and create an opportunity for farmer leaders in Southern Africa to better understand the rules and regulations within which trade happens at global, continental and regional levels as well as in between countries.
The conference will be followed by an Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 16 May.
The AGM is the highest governance authority of the organisation and is for members only.
Dr Theo de Jager, who is the President of SACAU, will present his last chairman’s report before retiring from the board.
SACAU will confirm its new president and elect a new deputy president and an ordinary board member during the meeting.
Online Reporter