02 Oct 2018

 The Ghanzi Show is now registered as a community trust.

Ghanzi Show Trust chairperson, Mr Shane Kebadile said it was a new chapter that allowed the trust to own land and develop permanent facilities.

Presenting the trust’s report during a recent Ghanzi District full council meeting, Mr Kebadile said a task force should be selected compile the Ghanzi Show master plan.He noted that this year’s show was officially opened by President Mokgweetsi Masisi under the theme: Sustainable economic diversification beyond 50 years through green technology. 

He also noted that President Masisi committed government, through the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security to consider value adding activities derived from government programmes in the next show. 

He said the show had proven to be the best yet as it had managed to attract the highest number of exhibitors in livestock, horse racing and educational exhibitors as compared to the past two editions.

Mr Kebadile said kraals were expanded as a result of growth in the number of cattle exhibited.

He also noted that a young woman from Kweneng District joined the male dominated field of cattle breeding to compete for the first time.

The show trust chairperson said the trust was faced with challenges which included undefined powers of the chairperson, secretary general and treasurer. 

He said it made corporate governance a daunting task.

He said the poor ablution facilities were also a challenge which needed to be addressed as well as inadequate security personnel.

Mr Kebadile said they were concerned about the high consumption of alcohol during the show, and urged councillors to educate the community on the importance of the event.

He recommended that a memorandum of agreement be developed with the Ghanzi District Council for equipment. 

Mr Kebadile also noted that their three-year term as trustees had come to an end. 

He said proposed dates for the 2019 show were from 22^nd to 28^th July, and that stall bookings would resume on 7^th January 2019.Councillors commended what the committee had done and were thankful for the show as it marketed the district and promoted its activities. 

Specially elected councillor Mr Thato Tshweneyagae said the show was a national event and that it needed proper planning from all stakeholders. 

He urged the leadership to support the trust on the proposed dates so that the show could be included in Botswana Tourism Organisation calendar of events. 

He also welcomed the transparency of the trust as shown by the report and pleaded with the council to assist it with funds from the constituency fund to carry out developments.

Councillor Tshweneyagae urged the committee to also benchmark from neighbouring Namibia. ENDS