Online Reporter
Golden Sibanda in Maputo, Mozambique
ZimTrade is confident that local companies exhibiting at the ongoing Mozambique Agriculture, Commercial and Industrial Fair (FACIM) will strike lucrative deals, amid significant inquiries from prospective buyers.
The national trade promotion and development body has facilitated the participation of more than 14 firms, including leather and footwear maker Triple Tree Limited, piping systems manufacturer Proplastics Limited, ethical health and wellness firm House of Moringa, and leather products company Samuneti Leathers.
Life assurer Nyaradzo, car battery maker Chloride Express, agro-processor Niallah Foods, National Railways of Zimbabwe, engineering firm Powerdrive, medical gases supplier Verify Engineering, as well as jewellery producer Chif African Jewels, are also part of the Zimbabwean contingent.
ZimTrade’s efforts are aligned with the Zimbabwe National Export Strategy, which aims to increase annual exports to $14 billion by 2030, a significant rise from $4.5 billion in 2018. This is intended to help the country achieve its goal of becoming an upper-middle-income economy.
The Second Republic, which assumed power in 2017, has an explicit policy objective to achieve export-led growth as outlined in Zimbabwe Vision 2030, through fostering a conducive business environment to attract foreign investment and value addition.
Further, Zimbabwe’s Heritage-Based Education 5.0 philosophy trains graduates to be job creators by blending traditional knowledge with modern technology and industrialisation, enabling them to create products for both local and international markets.
ZimTrade export promotion manager, Mrs Vuyiswa Mafu, said there had been significant interest and inquiries from prospective buyers charmed by the high quality of Zimbabwean products during the exhibition, which started on August 25 and ends on August 31, 2025.
“We are at the Mozambique Agriculture, Commercial and Industrial Fair, with more than 14 companies from various sectors. As you might know, Mozambique is one of our major trading partners in the region. This is not only because they are a major outlet for our exports to the rest of the world, but Mozambique is a huge market for our products in its own right.
“So, we export several manufactured products in this market, with more than 14 companies that we have here. For us at ZimTrade, we believe this market offers so much potential for us as a country. The participating companies have been meeting several potential clients for partnerships and to market and sell their products to them,” Mrs Mafu said.
Apart from growing trade, Zimbabwe and Mozambique enjoy cordial relations dating back to their pre-independence era, while President Mnangagwa’s economic diplomacy policy thrust seeks to grow and solidify economic relations with new and old global partners.
Given the significant interest in the Zimbabwean products, Mrs Mafu said the expectations were that the participating companies would secure significant orders for their products.
“That contributes to the country’s economic growth, through the foreign currency that they will earn, because for some, the argument is that why go out there to the export markets when the companies can get foreign currency within Zimbabwe. But we believe that new money, forex that they bring into the country, contributes to the economic growth of Zimbabwe, so, that is why they are looking to get export orders from the clients and prospective buyers,” she said.
The 2025 exhibition builds on other trade facilitation programmes that ZimTrade has organised in Mozambique this year, such as the Beira Outward Mission, which provided an opportunity for Zimbabwean firms to engage directly with Mozambican distributors and wholesalers.
ZimTrade chief executive Mr Allan Majuru earlier said the national trade promotion body was building on the successes recorded during the Beira Outward Seller Mission, where it organised for local exporters to link and connect with businesses in the market.
“Buyers in Maputo, Beira and Tete have continued to express confidence in Zimbabwean products, citing their quality, durability and reliable supply compared to competing imports,” he said.
Mr Majuru added that Zimbabwe is targeting multi-million-dollar deals at this year’s programme, riding on the success achieved in previous editions, where companies secured firm orders and expanded their presence in the Mozambican market.
This year’s FACIM comes at a time when demand is on an upward trajectory, giving local firms a strong foundation on which to secure business deals.
The platform also provides an opportunity for Zimbabwean businesses to benchmark their products against competitors from other countries, learn about market requirements and build the confidence needed to expand further.
For small and medium enterprises in particular, the exposure to international buyers helps in refining their operations, improving branding and aligning products with export standards.
Zimbabwe’s participation at FACIM is part of a wider export growth strategy being championed under the Second Republic.
The Government’s economic diplomacy drive has prioritised neighbouring markets, where Zimbabwean companies enjoy the advantages of proximity and shared infrastructure.
In an interview, House of Moringa founder Tarie Chirewa said the response from potential clients in Mozambique during the exhibition had been encouraging.
“We are very happy to be here (FACIM). The response to our products has been amazing. At the end of the day, we are here to get more business, more distributors and we seek more partnerships so that our brand can grow and we thank ZimTrade for ushering us into the Mozambican market,” she said.
Nyaradzo sales advisor Mr Andrew Mandimika said the company was participating at FACIM for several reasons, chief among them to promote the company’s diaspora-targeted product, Sahwira International Policy (SIP), which is aimed at Zimbabweans outside the country.
“We assist them to repatriate their deceased because it has been a huge challenge for Zimbabweans outside the country to bury their loved ones there. So, we do not leave out Mozambique due to its proximity to Zimbabwe, which is quite a big country, and most Zimbabweans are situated far away from Forbes and other border posts.”
Nyaradzo has already put in place all the infrastructure to support the delivery of services under its Zimbabwean diaspora-targeted policy, SIP.
Hillary Hilman, a representative of Legacy Logistics, which represents Triple Tee Limited in Mozambique, said they have received good responses from the Mozambican market after having several interactions with companies that are interested in having Triple Tee products because they offer good quality products at reasonable prices.
In 2023, trade between Mozambique and Zimbabwe was substantial, with Mozambique exporting $306 million to Zimbabwe and importing $391 million from its neighbour.
