The Sunday News
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
ABOUT 80 percent of exhibition space for the annual Matabeleland South Agricultural Show to be held in Gwanda this week has been taken up.
This year’s show that is running under the theme “Sustainable development through agriculture” will run from Thursday to Saturday.
Matabeleland South Show Society president Mr George Chipengo said preparations were at an advanced stage with some of the exhibitors putting final touches to their stands. He said 80 exhibitors were expected at the show.
He said this year’s show will be officially opened by PPC managing director, Mr Kelibone Masiyane.
“We are at the final stages of preparing for our annual agricultural show and come the 16th of August everything will be set for the show to begin. As a society we have done a lot to spruce up our venue, for example we have electrified the place, renovated our public toilets, drilled boreholes and right now we are working on our roads.
“Some of our clients are setting up their structures and we are sure they will be done come Thursday. Commercial farmers from all seven districts will be coming to exhibit in numbers and we hope to showcase good quality livestock that the province has,” he said. Mr Chipengo said there was hope that after this year’s show, farmers will be empowered and benefit from market linkages that will be created as they interacted with manufacturers and other established farmers.
“We want to facilitate dialogue between farmers and manufacturers to ensure that local farmers have more opportunities. If our agricultural sector grows then we will realise development and economic growth,” said Mr Chipengo.
