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Marvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
THE 56th edition of the Matabeleland South Agricultural Show started on a low note yesterday with some companies still putting final touches to their stands. When Chronicle visited the site yesterday afternoon, some exhibitors were seen grouped together with their exhibits just outside a hall which was still under renovation as they waited for the completion of the renovations for them to display their products.
There was a low turnout by members of the public but it was expected to improve today and tomorrow.
“We arrived yesterday but we are yet to display our products as our hall is still under renovation. However, I am looking forward to a fruitful show that would help me enhance my farming skills so that I can be able to produce more and sustain my family,” said Mrs Patricia Mangena from Dwala area in Gwanda District.
Another exhibitor Mrs Khethiwe Ncube said the show would pave way for good business opportunities through interacting with farmers from other areas.
“This show presents a platform for women to be economically empowered because we learn a lot from other exhibitors and presents opportunities for trade,” she said.
While some companies were still putting final touches, a first time exhibitor, the Gwanda Community Share Trust, was among a few organisations whose stands were done and had started receiving inquiries from people who were visiting their stand.
The trust’s administrator, Mr Coster Nkala, said despite the low turnout of people, he was happy with the progress they had made within a short space of time at the show.
“Today is the first day and the show is not yet at its peak but looking at the number of people who have visited our stand, we are happy. Our company is just a year old but people were impressed with the impact we have made in communities.
“We have programmes that we want to sell to the community considering that there are some people who have been against the indigenisation programme. This show will help us market our borehole drilling rig to the communities. We are however not going to commercialise the rig 100 percent,” he said.
Meanwhile, cattle being showcased at the show started arriving at around 2pm.
The show society president, Mr Misheck Ndlovu, said cattle would be auctioned today.
He said a total of 43 exhibitors had arrived by yesterday while others were expected to arrive before the end of the day.
Despite that Gwanda is a mining town, no mining company was showcasing its products at the show as it is believed that the show did not give them much mileage.
“Mining companies are supporting us behind the scenes. They sponsored the tug-of-war competitions and even supported by transporting communal farmers from all the districts,” said Mr Ndlovu.
The annual show will run until tomorrow when it will be officially opened by prominent businessman Mr Obert Sibanda. The show is running under the theme “Promoting Innovations that work”.
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