Rupiah to visit birth place in Zimbabwe

Rupiah to visit birth place in Zimbabwe
Written by Kingsley Kaswende in Harare and Kabanda Chulu in Lusaka
Wednesday, April 29, 2009 3:32:59 PM

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda is on Friday expected to take his family and several senior government officials to his place of birth at Manama Mission near Gwanda town, south-east of Bulawayo. President Banda was born at Manama Mission in Gwanda in Matebeleland South Province, in the then Southern Rhodesia, in 1937 while his father worked for West Nicholson gold mine just outside Gwanda.

According to a programme of his four-day state visit at the invitation of President Robert Mugabe, President Banda is scheduled to arrive in Harare Wednesday afternoon where he is expected to hold talks with President Mugabe and other officials from the inclusive government before attending a state banquet later in the evening.

He, along with his 49-member delegation, is expected to travel to the second largest city of Bulawayo on Thursday where he is expected to officially open the 50th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair before travelling to Gwanda on Friday.

He is expected to return to Zambia on Saturday.

This year's trade fair opened yesterday and will run to May 2, and is being held under the theme "Golden opportunity for dynamic takeoff".

A number of African countries that include Zambia, Namibia, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Mozambique and Tanzania have already confirmed participation.

International Co-operation minister Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga urged stakeholders at the exhibition to tap into the positive atmosphere that had been generated by the all-inclusive government and had seen a number of positive developments accruing.

"We should not continue to be victims of self pity but to embrace the new dispensation sweeping the country and ensure that as Zimbabweans we have a part to play in the recovery of our own economy," she said.

Misihairabwi-Mushonga said the Zambian government was elated by the decision to invite President Banda.

"The Zambian President, Honourable Rupiah Banda will be our official guest of honour at this year's international exhibition," said Misihairabwi-Mushonga.

And Zambia's Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Felix Mutati said 150 Zambian companies and entrepreneurs were participating at this year's Zimbabwe International Trade Fair to exhibit their merchandizes and various products.

Mutati said the overwhelming response indicates that Zambian entrepreneurs and business entities were courageous enough to explore the regional markets.

"This development shows that Zambians are ready to take advantage of the regional markets and this willingness to show-case Zambian goods is a courageous sign by our people to explore what is currently missing on the Zimbabwean market," Mutati said.

And the participating companies would meet their individual costs of participation while the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) is providing incentives and support through covering costs of the exhibit hall, shipment, clearance of displays and samples.

Other incentives include, free exhibition booths, promotional materials, publicity and technical assistance while in Zimbabwe.