By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
BULAWAYO – Econet Wireless Zimbabwe has been named the overall Supreme Zimbabwean Exhibit winner at the 2026 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), as the country’s premier trade showcase closed on a high note Saturday.
The telecommunications giant edged out National Foods Limited (second place) and Proplastics (third place) to claim the top honour, sponsored by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA).
The award recognises overall excellence in visual presentation, thematic alignment, staff quality, and relevance to this year’s theme: Connected Economies, Competitive Industries.
In the international category, the European Union Delegation to Zimbabwe took home the Supreme International Exhibit trophy, sponsored by People’s Own Savings Bank (POSB).
Limpopo Economic Development Agency placed second, while Belarusian exhibitor Berlinterexpo finished third.
Among other major winners, Old Mutual was named the Best Zimbabwe Financial Services Exhibit, while the World Food Programme topped the Best Non-Profit Exhibit category.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police claimed the Best Security Services Exhibit award, with the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services and Zimbabwe Defence Forces taking second and third places respectively.
The Best Thematic Exhibit prize went to Forever Associates Zimbabwe, while Geo Pomona Waste Management won the Best Zimbabwean Energy Exhibit, sponsored by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA).
In agribusiness, Blue Ribbon Foods emerged victorious in the category sponsored by Tongaat Hullett, beating Grain Marketing Board (second) and Dairyboard Zimbabwe (third).
Tourism and travel honours went jointly to the Airports Company of Zimbabwe and Transvaal Corporation, who received the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Trophy. Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority placed third, with Victoria Falls Safari Collection in second.
Mapfura Marula Value Addition Factory won the Best Biotechnology Application and Commercialisation competition, while the City of Bulawayo was recognised as the Best Zimbabwean Local Government Exhibit.
In the Rural Enterprise category, Kushinga Phikelela claimed top spot, while TelOne won the Best Postal, Courier & Telecommunications Exhibit ahead of Econet (second) and Liquid Telecom (third).
Botswana won the Chairman’s Award for the country with the most individual corporate and private sector exhibits, finishing ahead of South Africa and Mozambique. ZimTrade received the Minister of Industry and Commerce International Trade & Engagement Award.
The Bulawayo Agricultural Society also announced two winners: Wesley Jared took the Capital Foods Floating Trophy for Champion Slaughter in the Fatstock category, while Andrew Muvengwa won the Poultry category for Indigenous Chicken Pair.
The 2026 ZITF ran under the theme Connected Economies, Competitive Industries, drawing exhibitors from across Africa and beyond.
Full List of Winners – ZITF 2026
Best Zimbabwe Financial Services Exhibit
- Winner: Old Mutual
- Second place: BancABC
- Third place: FBC Holdings
Best Non-Profit Exhibit
- Winner: World Food Programme
- Second place: United Nations Zimbabwe
- Third place: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Best Security Services Exhibit
- Winner: Zimbabwe Republic Police
- Second place: Zimbabwe Defence Forces
- Third place: Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services
Best Small to Medium Scale Enterprise Exhibit
- Winner: Home of ZANU PF
- Second place: Sol-A-Away
- Third place: Pipeline Fashions
Best Thematic Exhibit
- Winner: Forever Associates Zimbabwe
Best Zimbabwean Energy Exhibit (sponsored by ZERA)
- Winner: Geo Pomona Waste Management
- Second place: National Oil Infrastructure Company
- Third place: Rural Electrification Agency
Best Zimbabwean Agribusiness Exhibit (sponsored by Tongaat Hullett)
- Winner: Blue Ribbon Foods
- Second place: Grain Marketing Board
- Third place: Dairyboard Zimbabwe
Best Tourism and Travel Exhibit (sponsored by Zimbabwe Tourism Authority)
- Winner: Airports Company of Zimbabwe and Transvaal Corporation
- Second place: Victoria Falls Safari Collection
- Third place: Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority
Best Biotechnology Application and Commercialisation Exhibit (sponsored by National Biotechnology Authority)
- Winner: Mapfura Marula Value Addition Factory
- Second place: University of Zimbabwe
- Third place: Finealt Engineering
Best Zimbabwean Local Government Exhibit (sponsored by NetOne)
- Winner: City of Bulawayo
- Second place: City of Gweru
- Third place: City of Harare
Best Rural Enterprise Exhibit (sponsored by National Competitiveness Commission)
- Winner: Kushinga Phikelela
- Second place: Valley Visions
- Third place: Agricultural and Rural Development Agency
Best Zimbabwean Postal, Courier & Telecommunications Exhibit (sponsored by POTRAZ)
- Winner: TelOne (Private) Limited
- Second place: Econet Wireless Zimbabwe
- Third place: Liquid Telecom
Chairman’s Award (country with most corporate/private exhibits)
- Winner: Botswana
- Second place: South Africa
- Third place: Mozambique
Minister of Industry and Commerce International Trade & Engagement Award
- Winner: ZimTrade
- Second place: Botswana International Trade Center
- Third place: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Supreme Zimbabwean Exhibit (sponsored by ZIMRA)
- Winner: Econet Wireless Zimbabwe
- Second place: National Foods Limited
- Third place: Proplastics
Supreme International Exhibit (sponsored by POSB)
- Winner: European Union Delegation to Zimbabwe
- Second place: Limpopo Economic Development Agency
- Third place: Berlinterexpo (Belarus)
Bulawayo Agricultural Society Winners
- Fatstock – Capital Foods Floating Trophy (Champion Slaughter): Wesley Jared
- Poultry – Capital Foods Floating Trophy (Indigenous Chicken Pair): Andrew Muvengwa
- Commercial Stands – Caltex Floating Trophy: Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development
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