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VP Mphoko

Midlands Correspondent
Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko will open the 90th edition of the Midlands Show on Saturday at Gweru Show grounds. Midlands Show Society president Mr Paska Muringani said this year’s edition would be held amid a sharp decline in the quality of life and economic stagnation.

Mr Muringani said the most disappointing thing about this year’s show was the absence of perennial exhibitors.

Some of the companies that have failed to exhibit are; leather shoe manufacturing company, Bata, steel maker Zisco Steel now New ZimSteel and Size Investments.

Mr Muringani said Midlands Show had also seen a decrease in the number of exhibitors compared to last year.

He said there were 142 exhibitors that had registered by Tuesday.

Over 160 companies exhibited last year.

He said most of the exhibitors were small to medium enterprises (SMEs) as most companies failed to extricate themselves from economic hardships that bedevilled the country in the past few years.

Most industries in Midlands Province either closed down or scaled down production as a result of the economic meltdown.

He, however, said the society had pulled all the strings to make sure that the show would be a success.

“In 2015 we hold our 90th edition of the Midlands Show yet again against the background of sharp decline in the quality of life and economic stagnation. Reports of the dead deal between Zisco Steel and its suitors are disappointing to say the least.

“This once icon of the Midlands business community seems dead forever.

“Perhaps its time the Government turned to the people for support to resurrect this and other companies.

“We no longer have Zimcast, ZimGlass, Anchor Yeast, Zim Alloys and Bata.

“These companies have either scaled down operations or shut down.”

Most exhibitors are now SMEs and other small businesses.

Mr Muringani took a swipe at “the inept” Gweru City Council for failing to promote and encourage investment.

“Councils around the country including our own sleepy and inept Gweru City Council show lack of imagination when it comes to ideas on how to promote and encourage investment,” he said.

The show will run between today and Sunday.