By Donald Dube (ZNFPC Marketing and Communications Manager)
Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) participated at this year’s 115th edition of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS) exhibition from the 25th – 30th August 2025. ZAS theme was, ‘Building Bridges: Connecting Agriculture, Industry and Community’ while ZNFPC theme is ‘Quality integrated Family Planning services for sustainable socioeconomic development’. The exhibition was officially opened by the President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa and His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa on 29th August.
ZAS is Zimbabwe’s leading annual business expo that brings together local, regional and international exhibitors for opportunities in trade, market development and networking which in turn enhances socioeconomic growth. The exhibition was undertaken on the backbone of government’s blue print, National Strategic Development (NDS1) (2021 – 2025). In essence, government’s thrust is to transform the country into a knowledge driven and industrialized economy towards a, ‘Prosperous and Empowered Upper Middle Income Nation by 2030’. ZNFPC’s participation at ZAS exhibition was premised on identified strategic priorities espoused in the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Strategy (2022 – 2026) targeting the two goals that is, reduce unintended pregnancies among women of reproductive age and reduce adolescent pregnancies.
The ZNFP Board Member, Colonel Dr. Lioba Gunduza attended the official opening ceremony utilizing the opportunity to network with top government and corporate officials. High profile business engagements were undertaken with ZNFPC Human Resources Manager, Mr Michael Gahadzikwa attending the Annual National Agri-Business Conference (ANAC). These occasions were attended by top government officials and captains of industry for Public Private Partnership engagements. Government officials, development partners, civil society and community members visited the ZNFPC stand at the ZAS exhibition.
In total 4130 passed through the ZNFPC stand to access information and clinical services as compared to the 3790 that visited the previous year. Categorizing the numbers, a total of 1080 youth females and 700 youth males from the age 10 – 24 years visited the stand while 1610 adult females and 740 adult males above the age of 25 years passed through the stand. Topical issues raised by clients included drugs and substance abuse, teenage pregnancies, child marriages, school drop outs and mental health amongst young people. Adult females highlighted the benefits of family planning. The main concerns from most clients were side effects of contraception.
In line with the ZNFPC broad mandate, the organization offered free clinical services including Family Planning contraceptives, HIV testing services (HTS), STI screening and management, cervical cancer screening fertility management and information dissemination on all FP/SRH issues. The organization engaged young people through a stand-alone information booth manned by youthful Peer Educators. Resource mobilization through engagements with corporate and stakeholders formed the basis of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show exhibition. The organization co-exhibited with Reddot Brands under their Carex and Fantasy reproductive products and services. Mass media publicity was witnessed through radio publicity engagements with social media cross-overs increasing audience interaction.
The stand-alone Adolescent and Youth Sexual Reproductive Health (ASRH) Youth-friendly exhibition booth was the highlight of the exhibition as people of varying ages visited the stand to discuss and interact with the Peer Educators and youth-friendly trained staff. The information displayed was on Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), Parent-Child Communication (PCC), Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM), Mental Health, Drug and Substance Abuse as well as Young people and social media. Parents, guardians and youth visited the stand to learn more on youth issues.