Ramaphosa to Officially Open Harare Agricultural Show 2025

President Emmerson Mnangagwa and President Cyril Ramaphosa(image source)

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will officially open the 115th Zimbabwe Agricultural Show (ZAS115) in Harare this Friday, 29 August 2025. His participation underscores the Show’s growing stature as a SADC agribusiness platform.

The Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS) confirmed the 2025 edition will run from 25–30 August at Harare Exhibition Park under the theme “Building Bridges: Connecting Agriculture, Industry & Community.”

Regional Significance

Government briefings and media reports this week confirmed Ramaphosa’s acceptance of a formal invitation, with Friday earmarked for the official opening ceremony. For organisers, the timing is deliberate: footfall peaks towards the final days, and the presence of a regional head of state reinforces the Show’s seriousness about value-chain integration, trade, and investment.

Independent agribusiness consultant Dr. Tapiwa Moyo says Ramaphosa’s attendance signals “regionalisation with intent.”

“Zimbabwe’s farm-to-factory recovery depends on stable inputs, competitive processing, and cross-border market access. A presidential platform gives investors confidence that trade bottlenecks, from permits to payments, are being taken seriously,” he notes.

Moyo adds that every dollar invested in post-harvest systems saves three dollars in prevented losses, urging delegates to lock in supply contracts and financing for irrigation, storage, and cold-chain infrastructure during the event.

Building Bridges in Action

The “Building Bridges” theme is more than symbolic. ZAS has framed it around partnerships between farmers, processors, financiers, and communities, as well as the adoption of agri-tech, precision farming, and climate-resilient practices.

This year’s programme features:

• Mechanisation demonstrations

• Climate-smart farming sessions

• Export readiness workshops

• Buyer–supplier matchmaking forums

Organisers anticipate hundreds of commercial exhibitors, SMEs, and smallholders, replicating last year’s strong turnout. Exhibition halls are expected to host B2B networking, industry showcases, and policy dialogues aimed at accelerating deal-making across inputs, processing, and logistics.

Policy & Market Outlook

From a policy perspective, ZAS115 comes at a critical time as governments balance food security with export ambitions. The Show’s neutral marketplace allows ministries, banks, farmers, and equipment manufacturers to test strategies against commercial realities.

Practical wins to watch include:

• Concessional finance for drip irrigation

• Off-grid cooling pilots

• Digital traceability systems to meet regional export standards

If even half the memoranda signed at ZAS115 convert into shipments by the next harvest, organisers say the Show will have met its mandate.

The Final Weekend Push

As the Show approaches its final weekend, exhibitors are in a race to turn aisle conversations into purchase orders. For many, Ramaphosa’s keynote appearance may be the catalyst needed to clinch deals and secure regional partnerships.