GOBABIS: The Omaheke Trade Fair, which suffered a blow when a prominent partner association withdrew from the coalition, will go ahead as planned
This was the view of the Special Advisor to the Omaheke Regional Governor, Pio Nganate, who also serves on the organising committee for the envisaged trade fair.
He told Nampa on Tuesday that the committee has made favourable progress in the organisation of the trade fair.
“Everything will go ahead as planned, and we are on track. We meet frequently to touch base with each other to make sure that everything flows smoothly,” he noted.
The Omaheke Trade Fair organising committee confirmed that efforts to convert the Legare Stadium at the town into a trade fair ground to accommodate the fair have also shown remarkable progress.
The Omaheke Trade Fair is billed as a unification platform for all trade and agricultural shows in the region, as per the initiative of the Regional Council.
Prominent livestock auctioneer Floris van Niekerk has opted to go on his own, and host the annual Gobabis Agricultural Show under the auspices of the Gobabis Show Society.
The fair was originally planned to be hosted at the local show grounds, managed by the Gobabis Show Society.
Since both shows will be running concurrently, such venue thus became unavailable to the trade fair committee.
It also emerged that many of the white commercial farmers in the region did not buy into the idea of the trade fair, but rather preferred the annual agricultural show hosted by the Gobabis Show Society, which they have been participating in since its inception close to 50 years ago.
The Regional Council has, however, stood by the initiative to host the trade fair, and has confirmed that the withdrawal of the Gobabis Show Society will not deter the hosting of this trade fair.
The trade fair’s organising committee will host a gala dinner as part of their fundraising activities for the event on 31 August.
Topping the list of entertainment will be the crowing of Miss Omaheke Trade Fair, while cultural and musical performances will round up the entertainment side of the trade fair.
Top-class riders are also expected in Gobabis for the trade fair, where they will compete for top honours in a horse-racing tournament.
Boxing enthusiasts will then be thrilled with a boxing bonanza, which will feature yet-to-be named boxers.
The Omaheke Trade Fair will be hosted on 21-26 September, while the Gobabis Agricultural Show is slated for 24-26 September 2012.