William Ruto, the president of Kenya, has been to Zimbabwe to oversee this Sunday’s formal launch of the 2024 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF).
The Chronicle reported that on Friday, April 26, around 4:10 PM, Ruto’s presidential plane, Harambe One, landed at Bulawayo’s Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport.
Ruto was greeted warmly by President Emmerson Mnangagwa upon his arrival, and the two leaders then moved to the ceremonial podium. The Kenyan national anthem was played as they were received with gun salutes. After that, Ruto politely examined the honour guard.
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William Ruto and Mnangagwa returned to the podium to perform the Zimbabwean national anthem after the inspection. They then left the podium and went to welcome dignitaries, who included Cabinet Ministers, Service Chiefs, Vice President Kembo Mohadi, and Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for Bulawayo, Judith Ncube. The ZITF Company’s chairperson, Busisa Moyo, as well as members of the diplomatic corps and the ZANU PF Politburo were present.
Ruto’s visit was delayed by bad weather that affected East African nations, delaying the official inauguration of the 64th Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, which was originally scheduled for Friday. His visit to Kenya had to be postponed due to flooding.
Ruto’s visit is significant since it comes after Mnangagwa invited Ruto’s predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta, to inaugurate the 62nd Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in 2022. After Kenya’s former president, Mwai Kibaki, passed away, Kenyatta was unable to accept the offer.