Tanja Bause
2 October 2008
There will be no fireworks display as part of the Windhoek Industrial and Agricultural Show this year or in the future.
The fireworks were cancelled this year because of the construction of the third phase of the Maerua shopping complex, known as Maerua Crossing.
The construction has started with the demolition of the old putt-putt course and surrounding houses.
The envisaged Maerua Crossing buildings will be closer than 100 metres from the Windhoek Showgrounds, and by law no fireworks may be detonated within 100 metres of buildings.
Harald Schmidt, the Vice President of the Windhoek Show Society, says the fireworks were always a small part of the show and complaints about the noise and the effect on domestic animals had increased in recent years.
Compared to the last two years, there has been a slight drop in the number of visitors to the show since its opening on Friday.
From Friday until Tuesday, 38 402 people passed through the gates compared to 41 212 last year and 42 163 in 2006.
More show stands will be created next year by opening the Karakul Hall to commercial exhibitors.
In response to complaints that the show has become a flea market or 'Chinatown', Schmidt said local small businesses had just as much right to exhibit and sell their goods at the show as big companies.
"On a micro level these vendors have a place and a right to be here," he said.
The vendors paid for their stands just like the other exhibitors and there seemed to be a market for them, as they made good profits at the show, he said.
In Schmidt's view, the overall standard of the exhibits in the halls is increasing.
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