Online Reporter
Mrs N Adlam, Show director
THE 114th edition of the Bulawayo Agricultural Show proved to be highly successful, with numbers up in most sections, making it a full and busy event.
Cattle Category
Forty-two head of slaughter stock were entered at this year’s show — a decrease of 16 from the last show. However, the quality was better than that of 2024, and most head qualified for the competition.
The Champion Ox was won by Wholesale Beef, with an animal that weighed a hefty 562kg and realised US$2 400 at auction — double the price fetched by the previous winner! The animal was bought by Bulawayo Abattoirs. These cattle were once again competently judged by Zeph Dhlamini.
Pedigree cattle were showcased by seven breeds: the Afrikaner, Brahman, Holstein, Nkone, Simbra, Simmental and Tuli. A total of 61 head were entered, down from 86 in 2024.
The Senior Champion Bull was won by Umvutshwa Ranching with their Nkone bull — the first time an indigenous breed has won the top bull prize! The Senior Champion Cow was won by Sifela Brahmans with his Red Brahman. The Champion Junior Heifer was won by the beautiful grey Brahman of Hlango Ranching, and the Champion Junior Bull was won by another lovely grey Brahman owned by Otan Brahmans. Two new exhibitors showcased their cattle, and both did well with their respective entries. This section was judged by John Crawford from Chinhoyi, who did a commendable job.
Crops category
(2024 entries shown in brackets): Cotton classes: 11 (3) entries; crop section: 1,422 (709) entries; 26 (33) commercial; and 9 (12) groups made up this section for 2025. Farmers were represented by Binga, Bindura, Bubi, Bulawayo, Bulilima, Figtree, Gwanda, Hwange, Insiza, Lupane, Mangwe, Marondera, Matobo, Mazoe, Nkayi, Shamva, Tsholotsho, Umguza and Umzingwane — three districts were represented for the first time. The overall group winner was Wenlock Group from Gwanda. This section had a good entry, considering the late rains. We thank Felistus Ndawi-Garujena of Seed-Co for taking the time to be our Guest of Honour at the prize-giving ceremony.
Sheep & goats
Thirty (38) sheep and 45 (74) goats were entered. The Champion Boer Goat Buck was won by Doglasdale Boer Goats, and the Doe was won by Vodloza Farm. Both the Champion Indigenous Goat Buck and Doe were won by Matopos Research Station. The goats were judged by Xolisani Mpofu and Ntandoyenkosi Gatsheni. The Champion Dorper Ram and Ewe were both won by Butho Dube. The Champion Indigenous Ram was won by Lewis Mutsatsa, and the Ewe was won by Matopos Research Station.
The Champion Any Other Breed of Sheep Ram and Ewe was won by Sibindi Nkululeko. The sheep judge was Adolf Dube.
Poultry category
A total of 466 (156) birds were shown, a significant increase from 2024 — a fantastic effort by the farmers. The Champion Indigenous Cockerel (Insingizi Emnyama) was won by Christopher Lunga, and the Hen (Isikhova Imathendele) was won by Lupane State University. The Champion Exotic Cockerel (Brahma) and the Hen (Brahma) were both won by Tafanana Chiwashira. The judges were Daniel Nkomboni, Lucky Musarandega, Max Nyathi and Gugulethu Dube.
Home industries
Judging was done in the junior art and craft entries, with the winning pre-school being St Thomas Aquinas Primary School and the winning junior school being Whitestone Primary. The Best Senior Art exhibit was won by Kadmier Nyathi of Christian Brothers College, with his excellent artwork of a crested crane.
The Society’s main arena was once again filled, with sponsor companies showcasing their farming implements, tractors, vehicles, seed, veterinary products, etc. The Best Agricultural Stand was won by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Settlement, followed by Seed-Co.
The Society was privileged to receive visits from His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe, His Excellency E. D. Mnangagwa, and his Guest of Honour, His Excellency, the President of Mozambique, D. Chapo and His Excellency, the Vice-President Hon. K. Mohadi. We thank them for their time.
The Society continues to work hard to fulfil its mandate, which is to promote or stimulate interest in agriculture, industry and commerce in any of their branches and departments. We will continue to support and endorse their government programmes and future endeavours.
The Show ran smoothly and we would like to thank our sponsors, exhibitors and judges for continuing to support agriculture and the Society.
It is always much appreciated. Special thanks always to the ZITF Board Chairman, Busiso Moyo, the ZITF Chief Executive Officer, Nick Ndebele and the staff at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, for our congenial working relationship — always a pleasure!
We look forward to a bigger and better 2026 Show.
