daniel chigunweMangaliso Lawrence Kabulika
Exhibitors from Malawi participated and were seeking business opportunities at the recent Zimbabwe Agricultural Show, an indication of the growing bilateral relations between the two countries.
Exhibitors from the SADC and the African continent at large view these as important in terms of trade especially with the coming into effect of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking at last week’s exhibition Me and Them Enterprises managing director Mrs Mirreille Nkata of Mzuzu, Malawi said it was her first time to exhibit at ZAS after exhibiting at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) two years ago.
“I brought cassava mealie meal, dried leaves and flour, Malawian rice and hibiscus such as rosella,”she said.
She showcased her diverse range of agricultural products.
“While displaying at the ZITF, I noticed that people have been buying my cassava products. Even here as well a number of people have been buying them.
“I am into cassava farming and processing and I noticed that in Zimbabwe you grow cassava but do not have facilities to process it. Therefore, I came to fill in the gap so as to encourage healthy eating. I also came with rosella tea which helps people with diabetes, hypertension and digestive problems,” she said.
She bragged that most Malawian products were grown organically and appealed to consumers’ health eating habits.
“These products are grown organically as we want to conserve their taste and health benefits,” she said.
Exhibiting has also enhanced her livelihood.
“My lifestyle has changed as I am able to send my children to school and provide for their daily needs. I have been doing this for five years in various countries and I have since opened a store in Harare where I am selling my products.
“I am truly honoured to have participated at the ZAS and shared my agricultural expertise and experiences as a Malawian exhibitor. The event provided a remarkable platform for cross-border knowledge exchange, fostering collaboration, and inspiring innovative farming practices. I hope to come next year again and I am encouraging other exhibitors from other countries to seize this opportunity and network,” she said.
This year, over 500 exhibitors participated at the show compared to 420 last year.
The show also witnessed exhibitors from the DRC, South Africa, Zambia, EU and China against last year’s five exhibitors from China, Malawi, Botswana, South Africa and Belarus.
Online Reporter