Organisers impressed with ZITF

Moving around different exhibition stands, both local and international, one would not miss the high quality exhibitions.

Thousands of people thronged the trade fair grounds which opened to the public yesterday and many more are expected today.

Visiting Zambian President Michael Sata who was on a three-day State visit and later officially opened the show, arrived at the ZITF grounds in the company of President Mugabe to a rousing welcome by hundreds of people who had come for the annual exhibition.

The crowds jostled to catch a glimpse of the two Presidents.

While hundreds stood on the side of connecting roads within the trade fair grounds, hundreds more were waiting patiently for the start of official proceedings at the main arena.

One of the security guards who was manning the prizes at the arena collapsed reportedly because of the heat and was carried away.

“I could not see them clearly when they were moving around and so I have to go to the grounds in time so that I sit at a strategic place to be able to see them clearly,” said one man who was standing by the roadside.

While others were at the main arena, others followed the official proceedings from several big screens dotted around exhibition sites.

ZITF general manager, Mr Daniel Chigaru, described this year’s fair as very successful. He said the ZITF company this year decided to give exhibitors more time to engage each other without interruption hence the decision to increase the business days from the usual two to three.

There was joy and jubilation when deputy general manager Mrs Nomathemba Ndlovu started announcing winners who were presented with medals and trophies.

Maybe to show that they meant business, the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) who resurfaced all roads around the trade fair grounds, scooped the first prize in the Zimbabwe Motor Trade category.

The Ministry of Defence won the first prize in the Non Industrial display category and also another first prize for being the best and most outstanding overall Zimbabwean display.

South Africa’s department of Trade and Industry scooped the first prize for being the best and most outstanding foreign display.

Indigenous farmer, Mrs Sibongile Hlongwane, was the most outstanding farmer in the crop section and Mr L Stanton was the best in the cattle category.