- Solid partnerships keep the Show going
This year’s edition of the Ghanzi Show was held last week in an episode which marked its golden jubilee, and also demonstrated its resilience in the face of adversity that has seen many shows around the country tumble along the way.
While many Shows have failed to make it past 10 years, for Gantsi Show, it appears to have been an easy one, and as the Chairman of the Gantsi Show Trust Thuso McKenzie largely due to the patronage that the event has continued to receive from people all over Botswana and across borders.
According to Mackenzie, this year’s event surpassed their expectations with many exhibitors coming through as compared to the previous years. It has become norm that hundreds drive from all corners of the country to attend the Show, boasting its prospects years yearly for long term partnerships and sponsors. Mackenzie foresees the Show making the another 50 years with ease.
Besides, Gantsi is known for its excellence if beef production – with cattle and small stork from the area predominantly boasting premium genetics and a dream for every farmer to have. This has seen thousands of commercial farmers descending into Gantsi for the Show, for a chance to scout for better breeds. Government has also declared Ghanzi a beef and leather Special Economic Zone.
The Show, was once again officiated by President Mokgweetsi Masisi, and attracted exhibitors from government departments to parastatals and the private sector also exhibiting massively. By keeping the event high profile, the Trust has over the years attracted an equally high profile exhibition, patronage and night life experience for the otherwise quiet town of Ghanzi.
One of the major highlights of the Gantsi Show, held on the last day, attracting multitudes of spectators remains the Horse Race. The Gantsi Show Horse Race brings together the best well bred horses from across the country.
The Race has for some years been and continues to be sponsored by Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO), which has given the event the prominence and sustainability it needed to attracted good quality horses and spectators.
BTO Chief Executive Officer, Keitumetse Setlang shared insights with the Show as sponsors of the Show, highlighting that there are now great potential sponsors who are willing to take over and move the event forward.
Setlang was quick to highlight that while her organisation was not about to leave the sponsorship role of the Show anytime soon, it was gratifying that there those that see the Race attractive to be sponsored. This is indicative of the BTO having successfully taken the race to a stage attractive for other sponsors.
She said the race grown exponentially, and currently with a new horse track, earmarked to be the permanent venue, allowing for development of the site to be of international standards.
“We intend to work with stakeholders to develop the track into a professionally run facility that can attract people from other countries,” she revealed. Other areas that are indicative of growth was that this year’s race had a medical doctor and a Veterinarian to ensure both the person and the horse are attended to timeously in the event of an accident.
