Tourism sector in no show at Mat North Agricultural show

Sibongile Dube

Matebeleland North Agricultural Show organizers have expressed concern over the absence of tourism players at this year’s Show.

The 2022 edition of the Matebeleland North Agricultural Show attracted over 60 exhibitors from Hwange district and other districts in the province. However, the province  only had one exhibitor from the tourism sector despite boasting of tourism attractions like the Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park.

Praise Moyo the Chairman of the Show Society said the tourism sector has let down the province’s Agricultural show.

“It is rather sad that we only had one exhibitor on the tourism sector which was ZIMPARKS. The rest of the tourism  industry ignored us and when we approached them, they were not  responsive,” said Moyo.

Moyo said the show organizers will engage the Ministry of Tourism to touch base on encouraging the industry to participate in the annual  event.

Hwange is within the Victoria Falls Special Economic Zone (SEZ) green belt corridor, which stretches from Kazungula on the border with Botswana and Zambia, covering Lupane, and Binga up to Kariba along the Zambezi River. The implementation of the Victoria Falls SEZ whose thrust is tourism, has  seen the government  launching a $1,2 billion convention center in the prime resort town. Events such as the Matebeleland North Agricultural Show have potential to stand tall as Matabeleland North’s brand expo if the business community comes on board.

Member of Parliament for Hwange central constituency Hon. Daniel Molokele also expressed concern over the non-participation of the tourism sector.

“As Hwange central constituency, we are the  host of the show and again the constituency  has  a number of tourism players operating  in Hwange. We really need to pull up our socks as economic drivers of the district, as the tourism sector let us make efforts to participate in the show.

“This is a very important event for the province but we hear that the tourism sector have their attention on their own show which is scheduled next month in Victoria Falls. 

Clement Mukwasi  a Tourism  Executive said the absence of tourism players at the agricultural show was a consequence of the ineffective communication strategy on the part of the Show Society Organisers.

“The organizers must shoulder the blame. They must have clearly indicated that the show would be an inclusive business show. Our understanding as the tourism sector is that this show was only for agriculture,” said  Mukwasi.

Over the years the show has failed to live up to expectations due to lack of support from Government departments and the tourism sector, which makes up the bulk of businesses in Matabeleland North province.