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CHRONICLE gives you live updates on the official opening of this year’s installment of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair. LIVE FEEDS: Stanford Chiwanga

DASHBOARD: Happiness Chikwanha

SOCIAL MEDIA: Tafadzwa Chinyakuza

17:09-That brings us to the end of the live updates. Thanks for being with us.

17:01-The  Champion Slaughter is won by Massadell Farm. President Gnassingbé has finished handing over the awards. He makes his way to his seat.

17:00-Best Foreign Display goes to the Department of Trade and Industry South Africa. ST Patricks Christian Brothers College wins the Debate Award. Best Agricultural Stand is won by the Ministry of Agriculture.

16:57-Best Zimbabwe Exhibit in None Industrial and Commercial Display is ZimTrade. Supreme Zimbabwe Exhibit goes to the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development.

16:55-Best Zimbabwe Exhibit in Motor Trade is Toyota Zimbabwe. Best Zimbabwe Craft Exhibit is ZRP Kuyedza Women’s Club. Best Zimbabwe Exhibit in Clothing, Footwear, Textile is ZRP Kuyedza Women’s Club.

16:52-Delta Corporation wins the Food Manufacturing Trophy. Best Zimbabwe Exhibit in Mining is the Rural Electrification Agency. Best Zimbabwe exhibit in Packaging, Stationery and Printing is Creative Centre.

16:50-Best Zimbabwe Exhibit in Furniture and Home Improvement is Treger Products (edited to correct Trigger to Treger). Best Construction is also bagged by Tregers Products. ZRP Kuyedza Women’s Club wins the  Chemicals, Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics award.

16:47-Best Zimbabwe Exhibit in Agriculture and Irrigation is Treger Products.

16:46-Home of Zanu-PF wins the best exhibit in the SME category.

16:44-Best Zimbabwe Exhibit in Civic Participation is the City of Harare. Best Zimbabwe Exhibit in education Training is the Ministry of High and Tertiary Education.

16:42–Best Zimbabwe Exhibit in ICT is NetOne.

16:41-Best Zimbabwe Exhibit in Tourism and Travel is Zimbabwe Parks and Wild Life Management Authority. Best Zimbabwe Exhibit in Medical and Health is Premier Service Medical Aid Society.

16:40–Best Zimbabwe First Time Exhibitor is Huawei Tech Investment.

16:40: The Best Zimbabwe Exhibit in Agro Processing is Alpha and Omega Dairy.

AWARDS

16:39-President Gnassingbé makes his way to the field to hand over awards to exhibitors.

16:38–He ends his speech by declaring ZITF 2016 officially opened.

16:38-He continued saying – Next time I return to ZITF I will come with a bigger delegation

16:38-President Gnassingbé ditches his translator and speaks in English. He admits he was not confident that his English was good enough.

16:37-Zimbabwe is right to pave it’s own path. Zimbabwe will prosper. I have seen the way our African people interact and I must admit that our people have shown the African governments the way to integrate.

16:36-I have heard a lot about Zimbabwe but what I saw when I came here is way better.

16:35-Zimbabwe is a land locked country but I have seen great innovations. Some of the goods made here are of high quality.

16:34-We are now living in a global village, we cannot run away from that so we need to liberalise the markets.

16:34-Industrialisation calls for certain strategies. We must improve the business climate. Effective administrations should be in place, we must fight corruption.

16:33-The goal is industrialisation and this industrialisation will lead to employment and sustainable development

16:32-Once we have a common market it will be easy to achieve industrialisation.

16:32-It will lead to sustainable trade, trade that is of mutual benefit.

16:31-Only political will, will result in an Africa without borders.

16:31-Complementary strategies should be put in place to achieve sustainable integration.

16:26-Integration of Africa requires political will. It cannot happen without action.

16:25-Integration is long-held African dream. Africa was divided by colonialism and we inherited a fragmented Africa as a result.

16:22-Innovation can be achieved through education, efficiency, through public – private partnerships, poverty reduction strategies in rural areas. Such innovations will improve livelihoods.

16:21-Africa must do away with the barriers to competitive trade and the theme of the trade fair is the key.

16:20-The theme of the trade fair highlights the vision to integrate Africa in international trade.

16:19-ZITF did not depart from its reputation of quality which is testified by the strong geographical diversity of participants and through the scope of the theme.

16:18– He adds that the invitation to officially open ZITF is an invitation of friendship by Zimbabwe to the people of Togo.

16:17-President Gnassingbé says President Mugabe is the elder President of Africa and thanks him for inviting him to officially open ZITF (Translated).

16:16-President Gnassingbé is speaking in French . . .

16:15-After a glowing introduction, Minister Bimha calls President Gnassingbé to officially open ZITF.

16:14-President Gnassingbé has two major hobbies – reading and sports. He is also a wrestling champion in his homeland.

16:12-President Gnassingbé is serving his third term of office as President of Togo, reveals Minister Bimha.

16:11-He reveals that President Gnassingbé is a proud  holder of a number of degrees.

16:10– Minister Bimha says he is honoured to introduce the guest of honour President Gnassingbé.

16:05 – Bimha reveals that President Gnassingbé is accompanied by a number of ministers.

16:04 – Mike Bimha the Minister of Industry takes to the podium.

16:03 – ZITF Business Conference had a record attendance, says Mr Nkomo.

16:02 – ZITF is necessary for the growth of companies – he says.

16:02-Mr Nkomo is pleased with the quality of the exhibits. He says it is certainly the best the fair has seen in recent past.

16:00– He says industrialisation will result in value addition and reduction of exportation of raw materials.

15:58 – Mr Nkomo says without industrialisation Zimbabwe will always lag behind. He says industrialisation is the key to economic revival.

15:55 – ZITF  chairman Mr Bekithemba Nkomo takes to the podium to give his welcome remarks.

15:49 – The Guard of Honour has been given the right to dismiss from the parade. It is now marching off the arena.

15:42– President Gnassingbé has finished the inspection of the Guard of Honour. Everyone stands at attention for the national anthem of Zimbabwe.

15:37– Meanwhile President Mugabe stands at attention and watches President Gnassingbé inspecting the Guard of Honour.

15:34 – President Gnassingbé is now inspecting the Guard of Honour.

15:30 – Loud cheers as President Mugabe and President Gnassingbé arrive at the ZITF main arena!

15:30– Enter Vice President Mnangagwa, accompanied by his wife too.

15:29 – Vice President Mphoko and his wife have arrived at the main arena. The President of the Senate has also arrived.

15:26 – Service  chiefs arrive at the main arena.

15:25 We await the arrival of the two Presidents at the main arena. We will be back shortly…

15:07 The official opening ceremony is about to start. Security chiefs are making their way to the main arena.

1438 Meanwhile  President Mugabe and his counterpart President Gnassinbe have left  Hall 1  for lunch before the official opening ceremony.

14:32 South Africa is the biggest foreign exhibitor at ZITF. About 32 companies are exhibiting.

14:04 Some kids are here to ride horses, police bikes and for the eats. It’s their last time to have fun for now – schools open next week . . .

13:57 Not everyone is here for the trade fair. Interviews with various parents and guardians show that a good section of the populace at the fair are here to see President Mugabe . . . 13:25 The impressive turnout by the participating countries is expected to project a positive international investment image as ZITF will allow foreign exhibitors to see for themselves that there is indeed rule of law in Zimbabwe.

13: 19 Despite spirited attempts by the West and its media to turn Zimbabwe into a pariah state, nineteen nations are participating at the ZITF and these include Botswana, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.

13:17 After the tour of the stands the two Presidents will break for lunch, however proceedings will not stop as a packed entertainment schedule has been lined up. Different entertainment groups who include the  Police and Military bands, drum majorettes and arts groups will keep the crowd at the ZITF main arena entertained.

13:01 Before he delivers his speech, President Gnassingbé will inspect the guard of honour.

12:50 The theme is also in tune with with the vision, successfully pushed by President Mugabe during his tenure as Chairman of AU and Sadc between 2014 and 2015. The theme also resonates well with Bulawayo, a city that is worst affected by the industrial decline that is bedeviling Zimbabwe

12:49 This year’s annual event is themed “Innovate-Integrate-Industrialise”, in line with the Sadc industrialisation road-map and the broader African Union vision that is anchored on leveraging natural resources for improved economies.

12: 48: Today’s event is the pinnacle of the five-day trade deliberations that saw key economic figures, both local and international, engage in production, investment and trade talks since Tuesday.

12:44 After officially opening the fair, President Gnassingbé will hand awards to traders who excelled.

12:10 Already thousands of people are trooping into the giant exhibition centre — joining the business executives and foreign exhibitors to witness the official opening ceremony this afternoon. President Gnassingbé  will officially open the international five-day business event.

11:59: President Robert Mugabe and his Togolese counterpart, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé have arrived in Bulawayo at ZITF and are currently touring the stands at the fair. 1110:  President Mugabe and his Togolese counterpart have arrived in Bulawayo for the official opening.

1029: A total of 19 countries are taking part in this year’s trade showcase which is being held under the theme ‘Innovate, Integrate and Industrialise.’

1022: All is set for the official opening of the 57th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo today. The trade show will be officially opened by Togolese President Faure Gnassinbe at the invitation of President Mugabe. Gnassinbe arrived in the country yesterday. Togo is a West African which gained independence from colonial rule on 27 April in 1960. Before the official opening ceremony, President Mugabe together with his Togolese counterpart will tour various ZITF exhibition stands.