ZITF scheduling threatened by Zimbabwe’s uncertain political climate

By Wilson Watson

HARARE, Zimbabwe- One of Africa’s biggest trading event the- Zimbabwe International Trade Fair- that is set to begin in two weeks time is hanging in the air due to the uncertain political climate in the country that have been caused by the late release of presidential results.
A number of local and international exhibitors have expressed concern over the political situation that is prevailing in the country.
ZITF Company general manger Daniel Chigaru however said they will get to know when the time comes.

“We will see when we get there but at the moment we are still hoping that the event would go ahead,” he said.
Mr. Chigaru however confirmed that there were a number of exhibitors who have been making inquiries about whether one the ZITG would take place this year.
Every year, either the President or an invited head of states is invited to officially open the fair.
Last year President Mugabe officially opened the trade fair.
The country is still waiting for the March 29 elections results and exhibitors are not sure what will happen.

Some business people pointed out that even if the results are announced, it was almost certain that there would be a run-off between President Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai and the trade fair period would fall during the time when there would be intense campaigning by both parties.
“It is tricky now, with political violence starting to emerge no one would want to exhibit when we do not know the future. It is now tricky because whatever the immediate outcome, the ZITF would be affected. If the results are not announced, we wonder who will officially open the fair or welcome guests and if there is a run –off, exhibitors will be worried about violence that might emerge during the period,” said a business leader who refused to be named.

Political analysts said the ZITF issue was now complicated because officially the country did not have a president.
“First even if President Mugabe decided to open the fair, people would not view him as the head of states because officially his term ended on 29 March and some say he lost the elections to Tsvangirai. He also faces another tricky situation as other head of states from the region were likely to refuse to come to the fair because this would be seen as an endorsement of President Mugabe when the whole world know that there are no official results to that,” said an analyst Despite this uncertainty, President Mugabe has ordered that the cabinet that was in place before the elections continue work as usual.
Even those Members of Parliament and Senate who were officially declared winners have not yet been officially sworn in.
It is not only the ZITF that faces an uncertain future, but Zimbabwe is set to host a COMESA summit at the beginning of May and it remains to be seen how the political situation would be by that time.