Agric Show mania grips Harare

Tanaka Kadenge
The 108th edition of the Harare Agricultural Show, which begins tomorrow, will prioritise local business promotion, and more than 400 Zimbabweans firms have already registered to participate.

After two decades of economic decline, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has set about reviving agricultural, industrial, manufacturing and tourism, and the Zimbabwe Agricultural Soceity – organisers of the annual show – will seek to contribute to this turnaround. ZAS head of programmes and public affairs Miss Roberta Katunga recently said the Harare Show – running from August 27 to September 4 at its traditional Exhibition Park venue – had attracted great interest. “About 412 companies have registered for the 108th edition of the Harare Agricultural Show as compared to 371 in same period last year,” she said.  “We expect over 500 exhibitors to participate with a limited number of foreign exhibitors. Our focus as the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society is to promote local companies and to have them showcase their products and services to the over 200 000 people that visit the show.

“We have increased the number of business interfaces that take place from Monday to Thursday from the five that were held last year to nine this year.

“The new interfaces include a power and energy discussion, local government breakfast discussion focusing on local authorities as an accelerator for economic development, and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe @100-business dialogue.”

Ms Katunga said they were introducing a new concept where companies could showcase their brands through entertainment in the main Glamis Arena.

She said ZAS had beefed up security and safety measures, especially for children who will be tagged with identification particulars as they enter Exhibition Park.

The annual Harare Agricultural Show is ZAS’s premier event, helping local and foreign businesses enter new markets and to network.