The Zimbabwe Agricultural Show is set to be held at the end of this month with an emphasis on business and COVID-19 prevention measures, the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS) has announced.
“The Zimbabwe Agricultural Show (ZAS110) will be held (from) 28 to 31 October 2020. This will be a unique show as ZAS is celebrating its 125th anniversary,” said the ZAS Acting Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Enkelbert Makaure today when he addressed a media conference at the association’s offices in Harare.
“ZAS110 will be a show with a difference as it will demonstrate the resilience of the Zimbabwean people and their determination to succeed under the most trying conditions especially the unprecedented challenges triggered by the (COVID-19) pandemic.
Eng Makaure highlighted that the exhibition, whose theme is “Synergies for growth – co-operate, collaborate (and) complement,” would a hybrid show as some of its aspects would be virtual.
“The show will be a hybrid show with some aspects being virtual,” he said. He, however, did not explain the aspects of the event which would be conducted virtually.
Turning to the preparations for the show, Eng Makaure indicated that the market had expressed interest in the event.
“There is broad interest from companies as we have received a lot of enquiries and some companies are already on the ground working on their stands,” said the ZAS boss.
Regarding the programme of events during the four-day event, Eng Makaure announced that the show would be officially opened on 29 October but did not disclose the guest of honour.
“The official opening (of the show) is planned for Thursday 29 October. Arrangements are have been made to ensure that this is a high profile event,” Eng Makaure said.
“ZAS in partnership with the Daily News shall host a Business Breakfast Forum on 28 October 2020 to provide an opportunity for the government, food relief organisations and key stakeholders to convene, discuss and come up with solutions to the current food security situation and ways to make Zimbabwe food secure regardless of the various inhibiting factors,” he said.
Eng Makaure also announced that the event’s programme included a mining and agriculture breakfast.
“ZAS in partnership with Minex shall host a Mining and Agriculture Breakfast focusing on leveraging linkages and synergies for sustainable economic growth on 30 October 2020,” he said.
ZAS promised visitor convenience through improved ticketing experiences and enlarged parking space.
Addressing fears of the spreading of COVID-19 during the event, Eng assured visitors and stakeholders of some measures. He said that the show would be strictly a business show only to facilitate social distancing where face mask-wearing and temperature checks would be enforced at the gates. He assured that sanitiser booths would be placed at all entrances and that halls and grounds would be disinfected before and after business hours during the show days. Additionally, no motor vehicle would be permitted in the fairgrounds while drone surveillance would be used to manage the event.
