Online Reporter
Prosper Ndlovu in GABORONE, Botswana
THE Zimbabwe Pavilion was a hive of activity yesterday as the Global Expo Botswana 2025 opened to business with buyers and traders visiting stands for local companies that are exhibiting top notch products or services and are eager to secure strategic synergies to expand exporting footprint.
Botswana President, Duma Boko, also took time from his busy schedule to conduct a brief tour of the Zimbabwe Pavilion, among others and was briefed about the diverse manufacturing, agriculture, services and technology capability offered by Zimbabwe.
The neighbouring country’s premier expo kicked off at the Fairgrounds in Gaborone, running from October 8 to 11 and Zimbabwe is ready to make its mark with at least 20 local companies participating, highlighting the quest for growing regional integration through partnerships.
These are drawn from sectors such as fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), horticulture, building and construction materials, leather, and professional services, which showcase the country’s creativity, manufacturing strength and growing export footprint.
This year’s edition, which is the first under Botswana’s new administration following a break in 2024 due to national elections, comes at a time of renewed trade momentum between the two neighbours.
ZimTrade client advisor, Ms Nozipho Maphala, on behalf of the country’s business delegation, gave a detailed highlight to President Boko, of the exhibiting companies’ profile, and the unique products and services from Zimbabwe.
“We’ve got 20 companies that are in different spaces. We’ve got a company that’s in value-addition of vegetables. We’ve also Sila Vegetables, which is into the training of women into producing mushrooms for their own sustenance and also for sale and she’s also looking at exporting into Botswana,” she said.
“We also have companies that are in the cosmetic space. Some of their manufacturing ingredients come from the process from the agricultural space.
“We have companies that are into production of leather. They’ve got handbags, belts and different other products in the leather space. We’ve got Dairibord, one of our leading companies in the dairy industry that is here with a various number of products as well.”
The Zimbabwe Pavilion also houses companies that are in the technology space and are helping farmers farm better with drone technology who have come to help farmers in Botswana to farm better using sustainable farming practices through drone technology in agriculture.
“There are local companies that have developed platforms for us to trade easier in Africa and these are young companies driven by youths to drive higher trade between our countries in different sectors,” said Ms Maphala.
“So, this year we have come to try and seek for new markets. There are some companies that have not begun exporting and they are looking to export first to Botswana because of the proximity of the market.
“We did a survey as ZimTrade back in 2018 and we determined the sectors that have good demand for our products back in Zimbabwe. Since that time we’ve worked on sharpening and developing the skills of companies in those spaces and we’re now at a point where we are saying they’re ready to export and they’re looking to then penetrate the Botswana market.”
Ms Maphala commended the strong regional representation and participation at this year’s expo saying this was significant for the expansion of business for Zimbabwean producers.
“Business is more than just in Botswana but also to our other neighbouring countries. As we speak, developing and implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is what we’re looking at, transacting business with our neighbours and growing demand for each other’s products and in turn also growing the skills and the knowledge for improving our products, and like I said improving the demand for these across the countries.”
In 2024, Zimbabwe’s trade promotion body, ZimTrade, led a market visit to Botswana with local manufacturers, which culminated in several trade deals with Botswana-based buyers, further tightening economic ties.
Zimbabwe has been a regular feature at Global Expo Botswana since 2019, while Botswana, through the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), has consistently taken part in the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo.
This mutual participation reflects the long-standing friendship between the two countries, built on shared culture, history and mutual economic interests.
The Bilateral Trade Agreement of 1988 between the two nations remains the cornerstone of this relationship. It allows duty-free trade in qualifying goods, encouraging the exchange of manufactured products, agricultural commodities, and services. Over the years, the agreement has supported the growth of small and medium enterprises and helped sustain the flow of goods between the two economies. Regular reviews by ZimTrade and BITC ensure it continues to respond to new market realities.
Opportunities continue to expand in processed foods, furniture, leather goods, construction materials, and horticulture, with Botswana’s growing retail and infrastructure sectors offering a ready market for Zimbabwean exporters.
Adding to this is the influence of the vibrant Zimbabwean diaspora in Botswana, whose affinity for local brands has helped sustain demand and visibility for both new and legacy Zimbabwean brands.
Zimbabwe’s participation once again signals confidence in regional trade and the shared ambition to see local products move beyond borders: from Gaborone to the rest of Africa. As Global Expo Botswana 2025 opens its doors, the Zimbabwe Pavilion stands as a beacon of regional collaboration and offers a strategic platform to deepen trade partnerships and expand market access while celebrating the resilient bond between Zimbabwe and Botswana.
