Masvingo (Masvingo Star –New Ziana) –The Masvingo Agricultural Show this year defied the odds as it attracted large numbers of people despite the economic hardships that the country is facing.

The large turnout was particularly evident at the official opening and second public day on Saturday much to the delight of the organizers, the Masvingo Agricultural Show Society, whose president Philip Mauta expressed his pleasant surprise.

Briefing the media about the show, whose theme was ‘Practical Solutions for Economic Growth’, Mauta said they had not expected the huge attendance considering the economic hardships being experienced in the country with some people travelling from the surrounding rural areas.

There was brisk business particularly for food vendors and those that operated jumping castles that attracted hordes of children.

Besides the jumping castles, other sites that were popular with the children were swimming pools and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces stand where the young show goers had a chance to fire guns.

Other popular stands included the First Mutual Life Assurance Company whose messages were accompanied by popular local music, the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services where the popular
Mutimurefu Prison Traditional Dance group were making regular performances, local radio station Hevoi FM and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority which showcased some of the country’s wildlife that included a python, crocodile and some fish.

The show had on the first public day started on a low note raising fears that it would flop, especially considering that the number of exhibitors had gone down compared to last year.

There were 115 exhibitors compared to 120 last year.

New Ziana