Renamed annual agricultural show upgraded to provincial event

THE annual Matabeleland North Agricultural Show has been officially recognised as a provincial event, with the organisers, Whange Show Society, assuming the name Matabeleland North Show Society (MNSS).

The exhibition started in 1950, then known as Wankie Show Society before rebranding into a provincial show in 2019, renaming it Matabeleland North Agricultural Show. It is affiliated to the National Association of Agricultural Show Societies.

However, there has been little buy-in from some organisations and Government departments.

The agricultural exhibition brings together diverse audiences and businesses, giving a ready potential market for any product and service in the country and beyond.

MNSS recently sent a delegation led by its chairperson, Mr Misheck Marandu, to formally engage Matabeleland North provincial leadership on formally transforming it into a provincial event.

Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services provincial director for Matabeleland North, Mr Dumisani Nyoni said the province wants the event to be a must-attend for all Government departments and businesses operating in the province.

“The Government says no one and no place should be left behind and therefore, for us as Matabeleland North, we are looking forward to the Hwange show becoming a provincial event, so that farmers in all seven districts meet in the same way farmers meet at the Bulawayo Agricultural Show,” he said.

“We also wish that all those from Matabeleland North can come in numbers to Hwange, for the Matabeleland North Agricultural Show and work together to grow our province.”

Matabeleland North is one of the richest provinces in the country with vast natural resources and business opportunities.

The provincial economy hinges on agriculture, mining, wildlife, tourism and hospitality, making the show a melting pot for business opportunities and cross-pollination of ideas.

The expo complements the Government devolution and decentralisation agenda and also promotes the Matabeleland North Provincial Development Policy Strategy, which feeds into the National Agenda.

This year’s show will be held from 7 to 10 August under the theme: “Revolutionising the local resource capital through value addition and beneficiation.”

Mr Nyoni urged farmers and businesses to take the show as a learning platform.

“Government is expecting this to be a provisional show and as Matabeleland North, we want to remove the Hwange tag hence Government departments, private sector, development partners, farmers, mining companies in the province, the timber, tourism and wildlife sectors should be part of this,” he said.

“We need this to be able to develop the province and revive where we are lacking behind.”

Mr Nyoni bemoaned vandalism of Hwange Show Grounds infrastructure, the venue for the show.

Buildings and cattle pans were vandalised and the MNSS is now reconstructing buildings starting with the main office.

The show organisers implored exhibitors to consider taking up permanent stands and developing them into proper structures.

The show-grounds are in the Hwange Colliery Company concession area and the coal miner has over the years been maintaining some of the structures.

“We wish to revive that and this needs everyone from provinces including different Government departments, farmers, tourism players, the mining sector and local authorities to join hands and revive the show that we used to know,” said Mr Nyoni.