150 000 people attended show

Politics
OVER 150 000 people attended this year’s Harare Agricultural Show which ended yesterday, according to the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS).

OVER 150 000 people attended this year’s Harare Agricultural Show which ended yesterday, according to the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS).

Report by our staff

ZAS spokesperson, Heather Madombwe said the attendance figure was slightly higher than last year’s 146 000.

“This year’s figures [150 000] include pre-paid and complementary tickets,” said Madombwe.

The show was officially opened on Friday by President Robert Mugabe, who urged Zimbabweans to stop “suckling on white people” and embrace the policy of indigenisation.

“We cannot continue working for white people when we don’t even know their origins, lets us embrace our empowerment and strive for the betterment of our economy,” he said addressing over 11 000 people who turned up clad in Zanu PF party regalia.

Mugabe said agriculture was key to the nation’s economy and the sector contributed 15-18% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), over 40% of national export earnings, as well as 60% of raw materials to agro-based industries.

The first lady, Grace Mugabe who also attended the show, told school children that the land belonged to the young, as they were the leaders of tomorrow.

“The land belongs to you young people, hence I am proud of you when you show such enthusiasm for farming, I hope you will continue in this stride that show your resilient support of our land,” she said.