ZNyaya Business Desk

Zimbabwe has landed a surprise diplomatic and economic win: Harare will be the permanent headquarters of the Intra-African Trade Fair, beating out rival African nations for the right to host what has become the continent’s premier trade marketplace. The victory, sealed with an initial US$28 million seed fund from Afreximbank, is being hailed as a milestone—but it comes with a hefty responsibility.

The IATF isn’t just another trade show. Since 2018, it has grown into a continental engine of commerce, connecting businesses, governments, and financiers under the African Continental Free Trade Area. Past editions have attracted tens of thousands of participants and billions in signed deals, spanning agriculture, manufacturing, services, fintech, and even creative industries. The 2025 edition alone is expected to generate US$44 billion worth of trade and investment agreements, drawing 35,000 visitors and 2,000 exhibitors from 140 countries.

With Harare now designated as the IATF’s permanent home, the initiative will shift from being a biennial event to a year-round institution driving Africa’s push towards value addition and industrialization. For Zimbabwe, this is both a diplomatic feather in the cap and an economic stress test.

What the HQ Means for Zimbabwe

• Tourism and services boost:: Hosting thousands of corporate travelers annually could breathe life into Harare’s struggling hospitality and aviation sectors. Hotels, restaurants, and even small tour operators stand to benefit.
• Trade opportunities: Zimbabwean firms, long locked out of continental supply chains, could plug directly into new buyers and investors. If leveraged properly, the HQ could become a gateway for scaling exports beyond traditional markets.
• Infrastructure challenge: Power, roads, and digital systems will now face intense international scrutiny. The IATF HQ could either trigger overdue upgrades or expose Zimbabwe’s chronic infrastructure gaps.
• Soft power dividend: Symbolically, Harare could reposition itself as Africa’s convening capital for trade, much like Addis Ababa is for politics. This is a chance to reset narratives that have long painted Zimbabwe as isolated and unstable.

The Day 2 Take: From gloss to grit

The win is clear, but so are the pitfalls. Past IATFs have signed eye-popping deals—yet only a fraction have materialized into bricks, machinery, and jobs. Harare must prove it can be more than a glossy stage. That means aligning policies with AfCFTA ambitions: cutting border delays, stabilizing currency, and making it easier for investors to do business.

If Zimbabwe fails on delivery, the HQ risks becoming a hollow symbol. If it succeeds, it can vault Harare into the same mental map as other “convening capitals.”

Joining the club of convening capitals

Gravitas follows countries hosting important organizations such as

• Addis Ababa (AU HQ): Political heartbeat of Africa.
• Abidjan (AfDB HQ): Financial nerve center of the continent.
• Geneva (WTO HQ): A small city that became synonymous with global trade talks.
• Abuja (ECOWAS HQ): Power base for West African integration.

Harare could now join this club—but only if it makes the IATF HQ matter beyond ceremonial ribbon-cuttings.

The stakes

Zimbabwe has cashed the credibility check—now it must prove it won’t bounce!