adminafter getting their salaries.
“This development has prejudiced exhibitors of business for the greater part of the event while the gate charges have also become deterrent for most of us.
“We are now forced to scale down on the numbers of people coming here as the US$5 they are charging for an adult is not easy to come by,” Marondera farmer who is also exhibiting at the crop produce section, Mr Ephraim Mwanza commented yesterday.
Other farmers who did not want to be identified said business was this year slower than last year.
Some people have also attributed the low volumes of people to the issue of Given Matapure who disappeared last year saying many parents were reluctant to come on their own leaving children as they were not guaranteed of their safety. The Zimbabwe Agricultural Society has however, beefed up security this time around and installed Closed Circuit Television cameras while police have also increased their presence.
ZAS public relations manager Ms Heather Madombwe said her organisation did not have much say on the setting of the dates for the show, as there were many stakeholders who were involved in making the decision.
“There are provincial shows taking place across the country while we also have to agree on a date that is flexible for the guest of honour to be invited so this leaves us without much choice.
“We have to make sure that agricultural shows do not clash and there is a committee that is responsible for setting dates,” she said.
This year’s show is running up to August 27 under the theme” Innovative, Inspirational and Informative”.
Online Reporter
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