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Mugabe officially opens ZITF 2014
25 Apr 2014 at 16:52hrs | Views
President Robert Mugabe has officially opened the 55th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo.
Mugabe thanked all the exhibitors, both local and foreign, for making the fair a success, saying the ZITF is one of the best platforms for business networking between industrialists and investors from Zimbabwe, Africa and beyond.
The President spoke on various issues but emphasised that Zimbabweans must remain steadfast and resilient against illegal economic sanctions imposed on the country by Britain, the US and their allies.
"Let us not crumble under sanctions and show the world that Zimbabwe will not die under sanctions and that Zimbabwe will never be a colony again," said Mugabe.
He said despite that sanctions have prevented many foreigners from exhibiting at the ZITF in recent years, there has been an improvement in their participation this year.
"Although the sanctions have in recent years led to the dwindling of foreign exhibitors at the fair, I wish to acknowledge the coming on board of 14 countries at the ZITF this year," Mugabe said.
He said it is unfortunate that the West has singled out Zimbabwe as a target for economic sanctions because of its economic policies that are meant to benefit local people, especially the land reform programme.
The President said the US views itself as the most democratic country in the world but fails to understand that Zimbabweans need control over their God-given resources.
"God has given us control and ownership over our natural resources, so who are we to disobey the command of the Almighty. That is what the Americans don't understand, Zimbabweans have the right to their resources," he said.
Mugabe also cleared confusion on the indigenisation law, saying the government has no intention to nationalise foreign owned companies.
"There is no nationalisation of companies owned by non-indigenise people in Zimbabwe. We have never done that since independence, we have never retaliated even after the imposition of sanctions on us. What we are doing is merely ensuring that local people are empowered," he said.
Earlier on, the President toured various stands at the fair where more than 400 companies are exhibiting.
The fair opened on Tuesday and runs until Saturday under the theme, 'New Ideas To New Heights.'
Mugabe thanked all the exhibitors, both local and foreign, for making the fair a success, saying the ZITF is one of the best platforms for business networking between industrialists and investors from Zimbabwe, Africa and beyond.
The President spoke on various issues but emphasised that Zimbabweans must remain steadfast and resilient against illegal economic sanctions imposed on the country by Britain, the US and their allies.
"Let us not crumble under sanctions and show the world that Zimbabwe will not die under sanctions and that Zimbabwe will never be a colony again," said Mugabe.
He said despite that sanctions have prevented many foreigners from exhibiting at the ZITF in recent years, there has been an improvement in their participation this year.
"Although the sanctions have in recent years led to the dwindling of foreign exhibitors at the fair, I wish to acknowledge the coming on board of 14 countries at the ZITF this year," Mugabe said.
The President said the US views itself as the most democratic country in the world but fails to understand that Zimbabweans need control over their God-given resources.
"God has given us control and ownership over our natural resources, so who are we to disobey the command of the Almighty. That is what the Americans don't understand, Zimbabweans have the right to their resources," he said.
Mugabe also cleared confusion on the indigenisation law, saying the government has no intention to nationalise foreign owned companies.
"There is no nationalisation of companies owned by non-indigenise people in Zimbabwe. We have never done that since independence, we have never retaliated even after the imposition of sanctions on us. What we are doing is merely ensuring that local people are empowered," he said.
Earlier on, the President toured various stands at the fair where more than 400 companies are exhibiting.
The fair opened on Tuesday and runs until Saturday under the theme, 'New Ideas To New Heights.'
Source - zbc
