VP Mnangagwa
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
THE 91st edition of the Midlands Agricultural Show starts today minus one of its main attractions, the cattle exhibition, for the second year in a row due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the province.
For the past year, the Veterinary Services Department has failed to contain the disease, forcing suspension of cattle trade in parts of the province.
Affected areas include Zvishavane, Gweru and Mvuma, which are known as ‘red zone’ districts.
“The cattle exhibition has been suspended due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. The veterinary department has failed to contain the disease,” Midlands Show Society chairman-marketing – Mr Patrick Chademana said.
“Unfortunately, this is a last minute decision to ban cattle exhibition because some parts of the province still have foot-and-mouth disease.
“We had wanted to exhibit livestock this year for the first time in almost three years but we later learnt that foot and mouth disease had been detected in some parts of the province. Because we don’t want to risk the farmers’ cattle, we decided to go against cattle exhibition.”
He said the annual show was kicking off with a total of 142 stands taken. Twenty one exhibitors were new comers.
Mr Chademana said the increase in exhibitors was an indication that despite persistent economic challenges, players in the Midlands province were committed to making efforts to revive the economy.
The show, which runs from July 28 up to July 31, will be held under the theme, “Enhancing Economic Growth in a Dynamic Environment”.
He said the Indian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Rungsung Masakui will officially open the event.
Mr Chademana said Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the show patron, will also grace the event.
“We’ve already held business seminars and have drawn judges from across all sectors of the economy. We have exhibitors in manufacturing and construction among other spheres of the economy and we’re looking forward to a fruitful four day event,” he said.