Staff Reporter

The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Board Chairman, Busisa Moyo has once again postponed the ZITF to a later date in September 2021.

The decision to postpone the event follows the extension of Level 4 national lockdown as pronounced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa following the escalation of infections and deaths due to the Covid 19 Delta variant.

Speaking through a Press Statement, Moyo announced: “Following the extension of the national Level 4 lockdown announced by His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe Cde E.D Mnangagwa last week, the ZITF Company Board and Management wishes to officially advise exhibitor, service providers, registered buyers, business visitors and other stakeholders of the decision to postpone the 2021 edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair from 21 to 24 September 2021.”

ZITF stressed that the decision to postpone the dates was not an autonomous one, but one which involved all stakeholders including Government in order to ensure stakeholder safety and to allow out-of-town exhibitors to effectively plan their participation.

“The decision to postpone the fair was reached with the approval of the Government of Zimbabwe and after consultation with a wide cross-section of stakeholders. 

“In the meantime, we urge all our participants to take advantage of this extended planning horizon and continue to prepare for their participation to ensure that the show is of the excellent standard, which ZITF has been traditionally known for,” Moyo said.

Moyo further added that “ensuring stakeholder safety at our events and venues remains at the top of our agenda.”

Meanwhile, since the onset of the Covid 19 pandemic, navigating business has been a challenge, with many companies barely staying afloat.  As a result of the new Covid 19 variant, the ZITF has had to be postponed thrice from 20 to 23 July 2021; 23 to 27 August 2021 and now 21 to 23 September 2021.