ALL is set for the 89th Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show (ZACS) as the organisers have completed preparatory works ahead of the show’s opening today.
The Agricultural and Commercial Society of Zambia (ACSZ) has finished npaving and naming the streets while some tents have already been erected on demolished stands to accommodate more exhibitors this year.
A check by a Times of Zambia crew yesterday found some officials selling tickets while some workers were doing the finishing touches on various stands.
Some exhibitors like National Milling Company (NMC), Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and ZESCO had completed works on their stand by Monday this week.
Workers for other organisations like the Red Cross Society of Zambia, ZCCM-Investments Holding and Bata Stores were still working on their stands.
Some members of the public had already started flocking to the show-grounds and were found buying items at NMC while others were found making inquiries at the ECZ stand.
The prices for entry tickets have remained the same as last year’s to encourage more potential show-goers to turn up for the event this year.
The entry tickets are going at K20 per person for show-goers over the age of five years across the board while badges for adults are going at K90 each and K45 for junior adults.
ACSZ president Murray Anderson had said last week that the society had paved roads in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) area.
Mr Anderson said about 20 countries, among them Egypt, India, Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe, China, Pakistan, Japan, Tanzania, Germany, Ghana , Nigeria, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Malawi and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) had confirmed participation.
The 89th Agricultural and Commercial Show will held under the theme, “Innovation beyond the Golden Jubilee”, which will run up to August 3, 2015.
According to a notice by the ACSZ, the society has come up with stringent rules for motorists who will be found parking their motor vehicles in wrong places during the show.
Vehicles found parked in wrong areas will be clamped or towed away if causing obstruction and the owners will be fined.
The clamped or towed away vehicles will only be released upon the owners paying fees of K150 and K680 respectively.
Malawian President Peter Mutharika is expected to officially open this year’s show on Saturday.
The ZACS is organised by the ACSZ as the country’s premier show, held in the capital city Lusaka for six days.
Interestingly, the first show was held in 1919 and has been held every year since then save for  1921, 1941 to 1946.
Exhibitors at the show have over the years included companies from many countries.
The event provides a platform for exchange in agriculture, agribusiness, trade information and commercial as well as creating opportunities to showcase emerging farming technologies, product innovation and value addition.