Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka/Bruce Ndlovu, Zimpapers Reporters
THE first public day of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) burst into life yesterday in a vibrant explosion of colour, excitement and national pride, as thousands thronged the Zimbabwe International Conference and Exhibition Smart City for the official opening.
Despite the early drizzly and cold morning, which seemed to be a perfect snapshot of the fading rainy season and upcoming winter, crowds spilled from the various entrances, more determined and formed long, winding queues.
Wrapped in jerseys and jackets against the chilly morning air, families, schoolchildren and businesspeople stood patiently, their breath visible in the cold as anticipation built with every passing minute.
By the time the gates opened, the trickle had turned into a flood.
Inside, as the hum of business and commerce continued in the various halls, the exhibition grounds quickly transformed into another hive of activity.
Children in neat school uniforms streamed in, many clutching notebooks and pens even during the school holidays, eager to explore stands rich with educational material. Their laughter and wide-eyed curiosity set the tone for a day that blended learning with celebration.
Across the grounds, the mood was unmistakably festive, a carnival of ideas, innovation and human connection. The excitement reached fever pitch when President Mnangagwa, accompanied by Botswana President Duma Gideon
Boko, began their tour of exhibition stands ahead of the official opening ceremony.
As the two leaders moved through the pavilions, the atmosphere erupted. Cheers, whistles and ululations pierced the air as people surged forward for a glimpse.
Mobile phones shot up in unison, capturing the rare moment as the Presidents paused at various stands, engaging exhibitors and exchanging pleasantries.
The walkabout injected fresh energy into the fair, leaving a trail of exhilaration in its wake.
“It’s something you don’t see every day, two Presidents walking right in front of you,” said one visitor, visibly thrilled.
“This is history.”
Among the most fascinating stops were the security sector stands, where the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Zimbabwe Republic Police and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) drew significant attention.
At the ZPCS stand, crowds gathered in amazement as inmates performed songs, their harmonies drawing applause and adding an unexpected cultural dimension to the exhibition.
The performance of the inmates brought home ZPCS’s message that prison is not just about punishment, but the active rehabilitation of men and women who have found themselves on the wrong side of the law. At a fair, where all eyes were on business, the glaring talent of the inmates was a timely reminder that even those atoning for their sins behind bars have space at the trade spectacle.
But it was the Zanu-PF pavilion that truly stood out as one of the main attractions.
The stand was a magnet for visitors, with long, snaking queues of people waiting patiently to enter. Inside, an exhibition chronicling President Mnangagwa’s incarceration at Khami Maximum Prison gripped the imagination of many, who marvelled at just how close the country’s head of state had come close to losing his life as he fought for his country’s liberation.
On display were chilling artefacts, including leg irons, cane sticks, a flogging bench, a straitjacket and even a hangman’s noose. These odds and ends were stark reminders of the brutality endured during the liberation struggle.
Visitors moved slowly through the exhibit, some in quiet reflection, others in animated discussion, as they absorbed the powerful narrative of sacrifice and resilience.
“It’s emotional to see what our leaders went through,” said one elderly visitor, who identified herself as Mrs Ngwenya.
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