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Agricultural Show, arguing such charges only applied to those who registered after the March deadline and for stands that were 750 square metres and above in size.
Some exhibitors have, however, said the charges were unaffordable and were contemplating boycotting the annual event.
ZAS general manager Mr Les Mallett on Wednesday said the society was charging US$12 per square metre to exhibitors who registered in March.
Those that came as late as June were paying US$20 per square metre. Registration for participation at the show ends on June 30 every year.
“Last year those who registered in March paid US$10 per square metre, while those who came later paid US$15 per square metre.
“We, however, are open to exhibitors who cannot afford the charges and we can negotiate for affordable amounts since we all know that the economy is currently reeling from serious liquidity challenges,” explained Mr Mallett.
One exhibitor who preferred to remain anonymous had alleged that ZAS was giving preferential treatment to members of the show society who were not paying anything yet they were occupying vast acres of exhibition space.
“It seems they want the event to be elitist and not accommodate upcoming farmers and indigenous business people who will obviously fail to raise that amount of money,” he had complained.
Mr Mallett, however, defended the charges saying they were meant to cushion the show society from the high costs of staging the annual event that run into a minimum of US$1m this year.
“A lot depends on the size of the stand. We charge different rates for different stand sizes and different times of registration as well. Our charges are even lower than what exhibitors at this year’s
Trade Fair were asked to pay. “The registration average for exhibitions in the region is US$60 per square metre, which is way farther than we are charging here,” added Mr Mallett.
He revealed that each year they set aside free stands for 25 charitable institutions that included Red Cross, St Giles, Mars, Zimbabwe Amputees Association and St John Ambulance among others.
ZAS spokesperson, Mrs Sibonginkosi Muteyiwa, said the show society was open to negotiating charges and had even accepted something as low as US$150 for a stand for the nine-day showcase.
She said 1 000 exhibitors had so far registered to participate at the show this year. There will also be cattle, goats, sheep and chicken on display.
Of 1 000, 320 are farmers while there will be 12 foreign exhibitors from South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Iran, Ghana and for the first time from Netherlands and China.
“At this point we are encouraging exhibitors to put final touches to their stands as judging will start on the first day at 8.00am in the morning and those who will not be ready by then will lose precious points.
“We are expecting at least 130 000 people, children and adults to grace this year’s show and this will actually boost business for exhibitors,” she said.
Mrs Muteyiwa said shows were bringing a lot of business to Harare as all renovations and construction works at the exhibition park were being done using locally acquired material.
This year’s show will start on August 19, 2011 and runs until August 27. It is running under the theme “Celebrating Agricultural Growth and Promoting Green Business.”
Charges will be US$1 for kids and US$2 for adults on any other day but will rise to US$5 only for adults for days that will have fire works and music entertainment by local musicians including Tongai Moyo, Sulumani Chimbetu and superstar Oliver Mtukudzi.
Online Reporter