Zimpapers Logo

Tafadzwa Musarara

Brighton Gumbo Business Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Food conference and expo kicks off in Bulawayo today with more than 50 registered food processing companies participating.

Following the launch of the expo in Harare in July, the two-day Bulawayo edition, organised by the Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ), will be officially opened by Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko at a city hotel.

Food processing companies will exhibit at the City Hall.

GMAZ chairman Tafadzwa Musarara said they were expecting a lot of corporates to attend the expo.

“The Bulawayo edition will be an interesting one as companies who’d been on a hiatus for years have confirmed their presence,” said Musarara.

“Companies such as Blue Ribbon, Victoria Foods and United Refineries are among those who’ve confirmed their participation.”

The convention, being held under the theme: “Enhancing Food Security,” will have its focus on maize and livestock production, in line with the country’s economic blueprint, Zim-Asset, objectives.

“The emphasis will be on critical issues that affect the Matabeleland provinces especially concerning the availability of cereal products and recovery of the livestock sector,” said Musarara.

He said the conference would provide a platform to key players in the food value chain to deliberate on pertinent issues of national interest especially those to do with food production.

“The conference will first identify where there are food shortages in the country then open up a platform of deliberation so that we can come up with home-based solutions for the shortage that is affecting our people, particularly in the Matabeleland region.”

GMAZ will today present an elaborate private sector maize importation programme for the period September 2015 to July 30, 2016 to participants.

The first edition of the conference and expo was held in Harare last month where participants tackled three thematic issues — the economic status of food processing in Zimbabwe, social and policy issues in the country with focus on pros and cons of genetically modified foods, the state of food fortification as a health issue and food relief, as well as expectations of the government and donor community.