The Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA) was one of the headline sponsors at the Ghanzi Agricultural Show, held in the Ghanzi township from 25-30 July.
Established in 1974, the Ghanzi District Show attracts between 3000 to 5000 people daily on the last two days of the event, and attracts over 300 Exhibitors from both government and private institutions. According to SEZA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lonely Mogara, the Authority found it fit to sponsor the Ghanzi Show because the Ghanzi township is key to the development of the agriculture sector in Botswana.
“We are tasked with developing key sector of the economy as a way of boosting economic development and employment creation. We intend to boost agro-production in the Ghanzi districts because it is a key feeder to the Lobatse SEZ. Ghanzi is the hub of cattle production in Botswana,” said Mogara. SEZA has zoned Lobatse as a meat and leather city at which key economic activities will include canning, food processing, manufacturing of leather products as well as dairy production. “Meat and leather, the key ingredients needed to ensure the success of Lobatse SEZ, are mostly found in Ghanzi. That is why the cattle industry in Ghanzi is very key to economic development,” he said.
According to the 2015 agro-production census, at 3.9 percent, Ghanzi is the national beef production centre. SEZA perceives Ghanzi as a livestock cluster under the Lobatse SEZ; with potential to supply meat, milk and leather for processing and further beneficiation. SEZA has undertaken to work closely with the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure that support programs like LIMID and ISPAAD are fully utilised to increase output and support the Lobatse meat and leather city.
