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Leonard Ncube, Online Reporter

BULAWAYO Mayor Councillor David Coltart has said the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) is a platform to restore the City’s status as Zimbabwe and regional industrial capital.

The 64th edition of the ZITF kicked off on Tuesday at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre.

Giving welcome remarks, Councillor Coltart said one of the reasons why the ZITF was established in Bulawayo was due to the fact that it was Zimbabwe’s Industrial Capital and the industrial hub of southern Africa.

“It is my distinct honour to welcome you all to our great city for the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair 2024. If this is the first time that you have been to our city, I hope that you experience not just the trade fair but get to understand the amazing history of this city, its architecture, its people, its culture and its art,” said Councillor Coltart.

“We have a massive task ahead of us and we are pleased that you have come to the ZITF and it is our hope that by coming you will see the city’s potential. The City of Bulawayo understands that for any City to attract investment, there are certain prerequisites that are key for it to flourish,” he said.

Councillor Coltart said the city was facing water challenges due to climate change and the El Nino effect.

“We face a major challenge in water delivery. Our first priority in the coming years is to expand our water resources, and we are looking at construction of a new water supply dam and other augmentation projects that will allow us to guarantee our residents, stakeholders and investors adequate water supplies. Secondly, we are focused on addressing cleanliness and sanitation,” said Councillor Coltart.

He said the city had unfortunately in the last few years lost its status of being one of the cleanest cities in Africa.

The country’s second biggest city has a vision to restore the status and the local authority is working towards rehabilitating sewerage works and also looking at a waste management facility that can tackle the litter that degrades Bulawayo.

He said the local authority was also looking at capacitating informal markets on the outskirts of the central business district with a goal to cushion people who lost jobs due to closure of industry.

“We have started with Egodini Informal Trading market and we are expanding to other centres around the periphery of the City into suburban areas, with the anticipation that it will give hope to the informal sector and enable the formal sector to also flourish. These are the City’s immediate goals and I have faith that you will enjoy our City and that you will see it as a viable investment destination,” he said.

He invited exhibitors and visitors to visit various places of interest as the trade fair is a platform to enhance trade, business, and tourism relations among others.