By Kudakwashe Tirivavi
ZimTrade is facilitating the participation of local companies, for the second consecutive time at the Windhoek Agricultural and Livestock Show (WALS), running from 30 September to 4 October 2025.
The Show remains one of Namibia’s largest exhibitions, attracting more than 100,000 visitors annually, including buyers, government representatives, farmers, and consumers from across the region.
Its unique combination of trade exhibition, cultural showcase, and livestock displays makes it an essential platform for countries seeking to access the Namibian market and wider Southern African region.
Zimbabwe’s participation last year marked its 4th coordinated presence at WALS in recent years.
The pavilion attracted considerable foot traffic last year and generated positive interest in the quality of Zimbabwean products.
Exhibitors secured promising leads, held direct engagements with Namibian retailers, and established distribution contacts.
The show also provided invaluable market intelligence that informed this year’s strategy, highlighting sectors where Namibia’s import demand was high and where Zimbabwe could realistically supply competitively.
That foundation has set the stage for a stronger and more targeted participation in 2025.
What makes WALS unique is not only the sheer size of the audience but also its regional reach.
The show attracts buyers and businesses from Namibia as well as neighbouring Angola, Botswana, and South Africa.
This provides Zimbabwean exhibitors with a platform to access not just one market but several.
With ZimTrade coordinating business-to-business meetings and facilitating introductions to key distributors, the expectation is that this year’s participation will move beyond raising awareness to closing tangible deals and building long-term trade partnerships.
This year’s delegation will include thirteen companies spanning leather and footwear, agri-processing, horticultural inputs, poultry, beverages, and lifestyle products.
Compared to last year, which had fewer exhibitors and a more exploratory focus, this year’s group is more diverse and sector-specific.
Leather producers from Bulawayo and Harare are expected to build on last year’s visibility by negotiating concrete supply agreements in a market where imports of leather goods continue to grow.
Food and beverage companies specialising in honey, fruit spreads, ice cream, and gin will showcase heritage-based products that resonate with Namibia’s demand for differentiated, high-quality goods.
In agriculture, poultry producers and hydroponics specialists will introduce technologies and livestock inputs that respond to Namibia’s emphasis on food security and sustainable farming practices.
Trade statistics from Trade Map reveal that Namibia imported goods worth US$8,8 billion in 2024, with processed foods, beverages, and agricultural equipment featuring prominently.
Zimbabwe’s exports to Namibia in the same year were still modest in value terms, but the alignment between Namibia’s import profile and Zimbabwe’s current export offerings highlights clear potential.
For example, imports of processed foods and beverages exceeded US$500 million, yet Zimbabwe’s footprint in that category remains small.
By positioning honey, fruit spreads, and specialty beverages through WALS, Zimbabwean SMEs have the chance to capture a share of this demand.
Similarly, the growing imports of horticultural inputs create a pathway for hydroponic solutions to secure buyers.
