By Francis Mukuzunga WINDHOEK The Windhoek Industrial and Agricultural Show is ready to go and huge queues are anticipated from 10h00 tomorrow, when the gates open to the public. The eight-day event can be regarded as the pinnacle of the country’s regional industrial and agricultural shows and could perhaps be described as the mother of all national shows. Show organisers and exhibitors alike were busy yesterday putting the final touches to their stands and show spaces when New Era visited the show grounds yesterday afternoon. Managing Director of the Windhoek show, Harald Schmidt, told New Era yesterday that he was excited about this year’s event as all previous exhibitors had turned up while new participating organisations have pushed the exhibitors’ number up by 40 percent. He said that for the first time this year a new concept of ‘Theme Halls’ has been introduced. This means that exhibitors would be grouped along their line of business as opposed to previous years. “Every hall this year brings a fresh new theme and this is very refreshing, although there was some resistance from some who had occupied the same stand for more than 20 years. But of course, they now appreciate the benefits,” he said. New Era also caught up with one of the exhibitors who was already set up and ready for the public tomorrow. Nevison Mutasa, the managing director of Zebra Publishing, was busy inspecting the company’s stand in one of the new halls. He told New Era that people should expect to learn about a new concept of publishing educational and academic books in the country when they visit their stand. The company’s key products are the ‘Excellent’ and ‘Discovery’ range of school textbooks especially designed for Grades 7 to 12. “Research has indicated that there is need for locally developed educational materials that should benefit the learners,” he said. In this respect, Zebra Publishing has come up with the two brands to augment the educational needs of the Namibian school syllabus at both primary and secondary levels. “The Excellent Grade 11 and 12 texts are based on the New NSSC syllabus, have revision notes and cover multiple choice questions and practical activities,” said Mutasa. Because Grade 10 is the bridging and examinable grade in this country, Zebra Publishing has also in its range the Excellent texts specifically for this core group. These include JSCE Business Management, History, Accounting, Physical Science, Geography, Mathematics, Life Science, English and Agriculture. The books can be obtained from Zebra Publishing at a reduced cost. The company’s motto for the products is: “Excellent Books For Excellent Results” and this is so true when one looks at the range of products on offer. “When learners use our products they are assured of excellent results in their examinations as the books are user friendly and can be taken step by step with or without the teacher’s assistance,” said Mutasa. Mutasa added that it is very important for parents and teachers alike to asses the performance of their children using the manuals as they contain notes and practical tests at the end of each book. Zebra Publishing was launched in Namibia in 2002 and its first publications came on the market in 2003.