The half-day event gave CIRAD Zimbabwe a great opportunity to show-case its work and network with other institutions. CIRAD in Zimbabwe exhibited its projects through video documentaries and promotional materials such as banners, brochures, leaflets and booklets.

His Excellency the France Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr. Laurent Chevallier, senior Zimbabwe government officials, diplomats residing in Zimbabwe, university representatives, and Research Platform - Production and Conservation in Partnership (RP PCP) petal leaders were among those who visited the CIRAD exhibition stand.

For the past 30 years, CIRAD has promoted collaborative research between African, French and foreign universities and helped young African scientists advance their scientific knowledge and expertise in their work.

In addition to the overall CIRAD in Zimbabwe profile, projects showcased included the Sustainable Wildlife Management programme, a flagship programme of CIRAD in Zimbabwe, Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods (ProSULI) in Transfrontier Conservations Areas, PACMAN, and Livestock Production Systems in Zimbabwe (LIPS-Zim).

Speaking at the event, the ambassador applauded the work being done by CIRAD in Zimbabwe and its partners including French organisations such as AFD, IRD, CNRS, among others. He was particularly grateful for the work done by CIRAD in Zimbabwe to establish a biomolecular platform at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences at the University of Zimbabwe. Due to its varied equipment and services to build Zimbabwe’s capacity to improve the surveillance and control of important animal and zoonotic diseases, the platform is one of the best in Southern Africa.

Also gracing the occasion was Zimbabwe’s Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Mangaliso Ndhlovu, who commended the  sound  bilateral relations between France and Zimbabwe, He said: ‘’The cordial bilateral relations between the two countries should be nurtured as it has benefitted Zimbabwe in agricultural development as well as in cultural and academic exchange programmes.’’

For the French, 14 July is an opportunity to come together and celebrate. This tradition was established in 1790 with ‘’Federation Day’’, which brought together the French people in republican banquets to celebrate concord and restored national unity.

The, 14th of July was declared a national holiday in France in 1880, featuring military parades, fireworks, balls and other festivities. Since then, July 14 has provided a chance for French people across France and the world to meet and celebrate the ‘’awakening of freedom together.’’