ZITF 2026 gets underway

By Andile Vundla

The 65th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF 2026) commences today in Bulawayo, running from April 20 to 25 under the theme “Connected Economies, Competitive Industries.”

Business days will run from April 20 to 22, with the official opening scheduled for Thursday 23 April. Botswana President Duma Gideon Boko is expected to officially open this year’s event.

ZITF stated that this year’s exhibition has recorded strong uptake, with exhibition space reaching 97 percent capacity. A total of 49,810 square metres has been taken up out of the available 51,170 square metres.

There are 485 confirmed direct exhibitors, including 100 leaseholders, while international participation includes 46 exhibitors from 29 countries across Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Business visitor registrations have also increased, with 10,472 recorded so far, up from 8,142 last year, reflecting growing interest in the trade showcase.

Exhibitor participation is dominated by the private sector at 58 percent, while government accounts for 42 percent of the occupied space. All permanent exhibition halls are nearly fully booked, with additional space created through a purpose-built marquee to accommodate excess demand.

Organisers say the high uptake levels signal strong market confidence and continued relevance of the ZITF platform in promoting trade and investment.