Online Reporter
Judith Phiri
AS Zimbabwe continues to strategically leverage its rich cultural and natural resources to drive exports, the Government has called for the establishment of industries that reflect the country’s heritage for unique market appeal.
Zimbabwe boasts a remarkably 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, called for industries that utilise natural resources.
“Let this occasion reaffirm our collective resolve to build industries that reflect our heritage,” he said.
“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 were brainwashed to believe that local fruits are wild fruits, so that you begin to think they are wild, while they were the country’s heritage.
He said once people know that wild fruits are not an appropriate term, that’s the beginning of the development of Africa.
Padenga Agribusiness (Private) Limited scooped 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 they were grateful for the award and they looked forward to keep growing as a business with more 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, Winner landed on SeedCo Zimbabwe while other nominees were Nestle Zimbabwe (Private) Limited and Zimbabwe Sugar Sales (Private) Limited.
The SME Exporter of the Year winner was Edenchase (Private) Limited, followed by Cotmatech Enterprises (Private) Limited.
On household and electrical category Treger Products (Private) Limited trading as (t/a) Kango Products came first 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 other nominees being Treger Products (Private) Limited t/a Monarch Steel Division and Brown Engineering Group (Private) Limited.
On floriculture, the winner was Zimbabwe Flower Exports (Private) Limited, with other nominees being Hopitt (Private) Limited, Tsanga Flora (Private) Limited and Zimidora Co-op.
The building and construction top prize went to Sunny Yi Feng Tiles (Zimbabwe) (Private) Limited, with other nominees being Saint-Gobain Construction Products Zimbabwe.
Leather, leather products and footwear top prize went to Zambezi Tanners (Private) Limited, followed by Zimbabwe Bata Shoe Company (Private) Limited.
Zimplow Holdings Limited scooped the top agricultural implements winner and other nominees were Maka Resources (Private) Limited and Treger Products (Private Limited t/a Treger Plastics.
On processed foods, the winner was Zimbabwe Sugar Sales and other nominees were Nestle Zimbabwe (Private) Limited and Dairibord Zimbabwe (Private) Limited.
Agricultural inputs top accolade 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 first produce winner category and the other nominees were Eastern Highlands Plantations Limited and Makandi Estates (Private) Limited.
Companies in the Hall of Fame included: Varichem on pharmaceutical category, textiles- Zimbabwe Spinners and Weavers (Private) Limited, clothing – Paramount Exports (Private) Limited, hides and skins – Padenga Holdings, furniture sector – J. W. Wilson International (Private) Limited and packaging sector – Hunyani Paper and Packaging (Private) Limited.
