What to expect at this year’s show

heads turning.
Entertainment Diary
In previous years the ZAS has striven to bring in seasoned singers, who are usually crowd- pullers, or other significant entertainment acts to expose show-goers to experiences they would normally not have access to the rest of the year or elsewhere.
This year’s entertainment promises to be sensational as seasoned star – Oliver Mtukudzi is billed to perform together with legendary dendera maestro, the late Simon Chimbetu’s son, Suluman Chimbetu.
Music lovers will not be left wanting as Tongai “Dhewa” Moyo is also scheduled to perform at this year’s event.
Other events such as amateur athletics, displays by the various arms of the defence forces and fireworks, another perennial crowd favourite will entertain crowds this year.
Children will also have their own fair share of the fun as drum majorettes will display their fine antics while face painting will also be offer.
A clown or two will also be around to provide the much needed laughter for the kids.
Livestock
Children on will not have to wait to go to the rural areas to see cattle and other forms of livestock as different types of animals will be exhibited at this year’s show as large numbers of exhibitors have expressed interest in bringing their animals for display.
Animals are a perennial favourite of show-goers and and the vastly reduced numbers in the last few years due to the foot-and-mouth disease have been very disappointing.
Cattle, sheep, goats and chickens are some of the animals that will be on display at this year’s event.
The Zimbabwe Agricultural Show hopes that the entrance of large numbers of animal exhibitors is the beginning of a new era in the sector.
Horses
As the equestrian events have been a perennial crowd-pleaser, the Horse Society will be providing their horses at this year’s show.
Children and adults can finally get the opportunity to go on horse riding expeditions, a usually very expensive pastime that is, however, on offer at a reasonable price.
The police will also add on to the flair as they parade with their brilliantly groomed horses.
Exhibitors
The trend in recent years has been that the big companies with “permanent stands” exhibit every year and this year is no exception. The only difference is that small and emerging companies are now coming out of their shell and will also be part of this year’s proceedings.
In the past, small and large-scale farmers have dominated proceedings, showing how agriculture in Zimbabwe impinges on everything, the rebranding exercise by ZAS has finally awarded the much needed recognition to the corporate sector, who also contribute significantly to the country’s gross domestic product.
The corporate sector will open satellite offices away from their usual places of business to provide services to their customers or clients at the Exhibition Park.
This year, people can do their banking transactions, bill payments and enquiries at their service provider stands. Show-goers will get an opportunity to get more insight regarding their service providers. Farmers will showcase their produce were budding and emerging farmers can get free advice from seasoned farmers and experts. ZAS agricultural produce chairman Mr Ivan Craig said about 350 farmers are expected to participate in this year’s event.
He added that judging of the produce would be done on the first day of the show (today), when produce would still be fresh.
Foreign exhibitors from South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Iran, Ghana and for the first time from Netherlands and China will be part of the proceedings confirming the assertion that the show is growing in leaps and bounds.
While only 10 foreign countries exhibited at last year’s show, two more countries have signed up, which is another feather in the ZAS’s cap.