{"id":116619,"date":"2026-04-23T19:46:51","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T17:46:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/zim-sa-councils-showcase-cross-border-model-at-trade-fair"},"modified":"2026-04-23T21:56:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T19:56:16","slug":"zim-sa-councils-showcase-cross-border-model-at-trade-fair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/zim-sa-councils-showcase-cross-border-model-at-trade-fair","title":{"rendered":"Zim, SA councils showcase cross-border model at trade fair"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. <\/strong><\/span>THREE local authorities from Zimbabwe and South Africa have joined forces at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, using a shared exhibition stand to demonstrate how cross-border partnerships can drive local economic growth.<\/p>\n

Victoria Falls City Council (VFCC), Hwange Rural District Council and South Africa\u2019s Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality are exhibiting as one, in a practical expression of twinning agreements designed to deepen trade, tourism and investment links.<\/p>\n

VFCC spokesperson Leonard Ncube said the joint showcase reflects the similarities that bind the three jurisdictions.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have twinning agreements with the municipality of Ba-Phalaborwa in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Hwange Rural District Council also has a similar arrangement. We therefore decided to exhibit as one,\u201d Ncube said in an interview.<\/p>\n

He said Victoria Falls City Council and Hwange RDC share similar economic foundations centred on tourism and conservation, while Ba-Phalaborwa\u2019s economy is anchored on conservation, tourism and mining \u2014 sectors that also define Hwange.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo we thought it fitting to use this platform, in line with the trade fair theme, to activate and implement our twinning arrangements. That is why we are here together as three local authorities, exhibiting as one,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Beyond marketing their respective economies, Ncube said the exhibition highlights the interconnectedness of local communities and the role of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in driving growth.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are not only showcasing our economies, but also demonstrating their strength and interconnectedness, bringing our communities together,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He noted that SMEs \u2014 including women and youth-led enterprises \u2014 are central to this ecosystem, supported by local authorities through land allocation, business opportunities and, in some cases, tax incentives.<\/p>\n

Among the products on display are a range of value-added goods derived from natural resources, particularly baobab fruit from Hwange.<\/p>\n

\u201cBaobab fruit is processed into powder used to make porridge, while residue from the seeds is turned into stock feed mixed with molasses, which is effective for livestock,\u201d Ncube said.<\/p>\n

Other products include baobab-based skin oil and jam, underscoring the untapped potential of indigenous resources.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we were growing up, we consumed umkhomo without realising the wide range of products that could be derived from it,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Ncube said the joint stand also speaks to broader regional integration efforts under the Trans-Limpopo Spatial Development Initiative, which links Limpopo Province and Matabeleland North Province.<\/p>\n

The collaboration is further strengthened by transport linkages, including direct flights between Victoria Falls and South Africa\u2019s Kruger National Park, which lies near Ba-Phalaborwa.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth regions boast the Big Five \u2014 Hwange National Park and Zambezi National Park on our side, and Kruger on theirs. They have tourism, and so do we. They have mining, and we also have mining in Hwange,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The joint exhibition has drawn interest from visitors, including potential partners from South Africa, with Ncube saying this has already helped strengthen trade ties and relationships.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany people are impressed to learn that local authorities can exhibit together across borders. We have also received visitors from South Africa, which has strengthened trade and fostered relationships, thereby opening avenues for more twinning opportunities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He added that the initiative aligns with global development priorities, particularly the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).<\/p>\n

\u201cSDG 17 speaks to partnerships. This is how we are advancing and implementing that goal,\u201d Ncube said, noting that stronger partnerships also contribute to poverty reduction, gender equality, quality education and improved access to health.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough such partnerships, we can share ideas and work towards achieving these goals collectively,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Zimbabwe<\/span> Follow Africa-Press<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. THREE local authorities from Zimbabwe and South Africa have joined forces at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, using a shared exhibition stand to demonstrate how cross-border partnerships can drive local economic growth. Victoria Falls City Council (VFCC), Hwange Rural District Council and South Africa\u2019s Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality are exhibiting as one, in a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":116618,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,8,12],"tags":[19],"class_list":["post-116619","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-head-lines","category-policy","tag-zimbabwe"],"yoast_head":"\nZim, SA councils showcase cross-border model at trade fair - zimbabwe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"THREE local authorities from Zimbabwe and South Africa have joined forces at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, usin ...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/zim-sa-councils-showcase-cross-border-model-at-trade-fair\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Zim, SA councils showcase cross-border model at trade fair\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"THREE local authorities from Zimbabwe and South Africa have joined forces at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, usin ...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/zim-sa-councils-showcase-cross-border-model-at-trade-fair\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"zimbabwe\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-04-23T17:46:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-23T19:56:16+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/sites\/14\/2026\/04\/sm_1776974132.17274.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"960\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/zim-sa-councils-showcase-cross-border-model-at-trade-fair#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/zim-sa-councils-showcase-cross-border-model-at-trade-fair\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"cfeditoren\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/#\/schema\/person\/068c7ab4e9634ae78ec5d54ec46598bb\"},\"headline\":\"Zim, SA councils showcase cross-border model at trade fair\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-23T17:46:51+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-23T19:56:16+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/zim-sa-councils-showcase-cross-border-model-at-trade-fair\"},\"wordCount\":597,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/zim-sa-councils-showcase-cross-border-model-at-trade-fair#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/sites\/14\/2026\/04\/sm_1776974132.17274.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Zimbabwe\"],\"articleSection\":[\"all news\",\"head lines\",\"policy\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/zim-sa-councils-showcase-cross-border-model-at-trade-fair#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/zim-sa-councils-showcase-cross-border-model-at-trade-fair\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/zim-sa-councils-showcase-cross-border-model-at-trade-fair\",\"name\":\"Zim, SA councils showcase cross-border model at trade fair - 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