The Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural
Resettlement, Vangelis Haritatos has lauded this year’s Agricultural Dealers and
Manufacturers Association of Zimbabwe (ADMA) Agrishow which was held a
mid this month at the Borrowdale Racecourse in Harare as a success.
“I had the privilege of meeting the Chairman of ADMA Mr Marco Garizio and
his team at the just ended ADMA Agrishow held at the Borrowdale Racecourse,
Harare. I must say I was extremely impressed and would like to congratulate
each and every exhibitor for making this year's event a bigger and better event
than ever,” posted Haritatos on his Facebook wall late in June.
The minister praised the Davies Events-organised exhibition for its wide range
of exhibits among other aspects.
“With the goal of allowing industry players and farmers to compare products
that offer cost-saving innovative advantages and concepts, I truly believe that
this year's ADMA Agrishow was an overwhelming success. An impressive
array of machinery, irrigation, storage systems, implements, tractors, combines,
cutting edge technology, modern engineering, tyre suppliers, service providers,
fertilizer suppliers, chemical suppliers, just to name a few, were on show,” said
the minister.
Haritatos was also impressed by the agricultural technology and innovation
which was in evidence at the exhibition.
“I was extremely happy and proud to see that we have a great deal of
technology that has been developed by local, innovative Zimbabweans. We
have huge potential as a nation, and can certainly manufacture a great deal of
agricultural implements and machinery locally,” he said.
The minister, cognisant of the role which is played by organisations such as
ADMA in mechanising agriculture invited the association to work with his
ministry in its bid to revive the country’s agricultural sector.
“I extended an invitation to Mr Garizio and his team to take advantage of my
office in our ministry to ensure that ADMA plays a pivotal role in our push to
bring agriculture back to its rightful position of driving our economy,” he said.
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The Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS), the organisers of the 122-year old
Harare Agricultural Show, has re-branded the exhibition in line with its new
thrust to develop agriculture and align the exhibitiont with its national character.
This was revealed by ZAS Chief Executive Officer, Dr Anxious Masuka last
week in an address to journalists.
The show, whose 109 th edition is set to be held from 26 to 31 August was
renamed the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show. The ZAS President, Ngoni Kudenga
hinted at the re-branding last year when he indicated during last year’s official
opening ceremony that the show needed to be re-named to reflect its national
character which over the years has been obscured by inclusion of the word
Harare in its brand name. Kudenga also stated that the exhibition venue should
also be renamed which has already been done as the vast showground has been
re-named from Exhibition Park to the Business Hub.
The re-branding of the exhibition also comes with a new logo following many
decades of depending on the ZAS emblem as the show did not have its own.
The logo which is circular in form is made up of a bull at the top, the brand
name at the centre and a halved gear. The log also includes ZAS’ new pay off
line: “Facilitating agricultural development” which is the society’s new thrust.
The society tapped on and foregrounded its long history and rich heritage by
including the phrase “Since 1897” in the logo design.
Writing in the Marketers Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ) magazine, the
ZimMarketer May 2019 issue, ZAS head of sales and marketing, Cynthia
Tapera gave an insight into the revamped show.
“The ZAS109 shall be further broadened to encompass and highlight other
sectors of the economy with links to agriculture such as tourism, mining,
manufacturing, services and infrastructure, while retaining the character,
context and diversity of the Harare (Zimbabwe) Agricultural Show creating a
new ecosystem,” said Tapera.
Dr Masuka highlighted that the show was moving away from being “a display
platform to an ecosystem of opportunities.”
Regarding the preparations for this year’s edition of the exhibition Dr Masuka
gave out that they were at advanced stage.
“Preparations for this annual event are at an advanced stage and we are ready to
play our part in the revival of the country’s agricultural,” he said.
As part of ZAS’ efforts to improve visitors’ experiences at the show, Dr Masuka
indicated that the society had increased the number of entry points from 94 last
year to 153, a development which is set to be accompanied by a new ticketing
system.
Dr Masuka revealed that the society was building a new 2 000m 2 exhibition hall
and an 8 000m 2 open air to increase exhibition space in anticipation of increased
number of exhibitor and visitors.
The resort area of Binga and Masvingo are to get new conference facilities soon. This was
revealed by the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) this early this month
when it published requests for expressions of interest for joint venture partnership for the two
projects in the local print media.
The proposed Binga hotel is being pursued in partnership with the Binga Rural District
Council while the Masvingo project is part of the financial institution’s Clipsham Views
phase 1 low density housing development
“The Bank seeks to engage credible investor(s) and partners to develop an upmarket 32-bed
hotel and conference centre accommodating at least 100 guests on a 6 ha piece of land
overlooking the Zambezi River,” read part of the notice with respect to the Binga project.
“The site for the hotel and conference centre is part of a proposed ultra-low density housing
scheme with a magnificent view of the mighty Zambezi River and is adjacent to a built-up
area already serviced with electricity and water. The site is envisaged to be a tourism gateway
and a centre of leisure activities such as fishing and boat cruising,”
The development finance institution is also planning to build a hotel and conference centre in
Masvingo.
“The bank seeks to engage credible investors and partners to develop an upmarket 120-bed
hotel and conference centre at the top of a mountain overlooking the City of Masvingo and
the newly serviced low density suburb of Clipsham Views Phase 1, with a clear view of the
soon to be dualised Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu North-South Corridor Route.
The hotel will be sited at a convenient distance from the historical Great Zimbabwe
monument from which the country of Zimbabwe derives its name, and the magnificent Lake
Mutirikwi. Situated approximately 80 kilometres from the recently commissioned Tugwi-
Mukosi Dam, the site is ideal for both through travellers and holiday makers,” the bank said.
The developments are set to increase the number and spread of meetings, incentives,
conferences and exhibitions (MICE) venues beyond the traditional Nyanga and Victoria Falls
with the latter already being reported to be reaching saturation in terms of tourism activities.
The area is perfectly appointed given its halfway location between Victoria Falls and Kariba.
It is set to benefit from the launch of the Okavango-Zambezi conservation zone which is set
to increase tourist activity in the north west of the country.
