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The two presidents arrived at the ZITF grounds just after 11am and emerged from the VIP Lounge holding hands in a clear indication of the two countries’ solidarity and comradeship.
President Mugabe and President Sata were accompanied by the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Professor Welshman Ncube, Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Dr Joseph Made, ZITF general manager Mr Daniel Chigaru and chairman Bekithemba Nkomo.
They toured the Zambian, Mozambique and Chinese stands as well as the Bulawayo Agricultural Society’s Produce and Home Industries section, the Office of the President and Cabinet stand.
These countries provided the bulk of exhibitors at this year’s 53rd edition of the trade fair running under the theme “Investing Locally, Reaping Globally”.
Their first port of call was the Zambian stand where the two Presidents were introduced to the exhibitors.
President Sata said to President Mugabe: “Musa Bakeries is one of our strong national bakeries” as they approached the company’s stand. An exhibitor showed the two leaders some packets of chips which he said are given to miners in Zambia and they both laughed.
At the Mozambican stand they were briefed about the products in that country and the railway line, as there was an exhibition of the Beira-Maputo Railway Line.
President Mugabe greeted a handful of people who were in the Mozambican stand when he entered in both Ndebele and Shona.
Business came to a standstill as the two Presidents emerged from the Mozambican stand on their way to the motorcade as hundreds of people were now gathered outside on the sides of roads and on different halls’ entry points to catch a glimpse of the two leaders.
One was heard saying “Nanguyana kawumboni, simbonile nangu”, referring to President Mugabe as the crowd followed the proceedings.
On arrival at Hall One where Chinese businesses are exhibiting, President Sata said “Where are we now, are we in Beijing?”
They were welcomed by the Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Xin Shunkang who led them on the tour around his country’s exhibitions while explaining to them the different products on display.
Said Mr Shunkang: “Welcome to China. We are a group of 170 exhibitors and we have a variety of products ranging from detergents, farm produce, clothes, electrical to many others.”
From Hall One the two Presidents toured the Produce and Home Industries section, where President Sata expressed concern and appreciation of the produce on display, especially maize.
“These are products from farmers in Matabeleland North, South and Bulawayo,” said an official from the BSA.
Seeing the quality of maize on dislay, President Sata wanted to know about maize production levels in Matabeleland.
“How many tonnes of maize does Matabeleland produce per year?” he asked, to which President Mugabe responded by inviting Dr Made to explain that the maize at the exhibition was just for display.
They also went to the cattle melons, pumpkins, clothes, homemade jams and clear spirits sections.
On their way out, they were given each a homemade stool and cattle melon as gifts.
The two leaders then left the agricultural section on foot and holding hands going to Hall Four where they toured the Office of the President and Cabinet stand, Namibia, Zambia Embassy and South Africa where they were welcomed by South Africa deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Elizabeth Thabethe who led them around the stands.
They rounded up the tour at the Grain Marketing Board where they emerged wearing identical grey sunhats and went back to the VIP Lounge for lunch at about 12.45pm.
Online Reporter