The Zambian Economist Analyst today embarked on a field check of economic activity across Lusaka, beginning at the 98th Agricultural and Commercial Show before proceeding to East Park Mall.
Field report by The Zambian Economist Analyst.
The exercise offered a street-level view of how people, vehicles and businesses were interacting on Sunday, 2 August 2026. At the Showgrounds, large crowds moved between exhibition stands. At East Park Mall later in the day, the parking area appeared heavily occupied, with vehicles navigating internal lanes as shoppers moved between stores, restaurants and service outlets.
From exhibition activity to retail activity
The Agricultural and Commercial Show brings farmers, businesses, public institutions and consumers together. The crowds observed there provided exhibitors with opportunities to demonstrate products, attract enquiries and make direct sales.
East Park Mall presented a different part of the economy. The photographs show rows of parked vehicles, shoppers near the retail frontage, shopping trolleys and continuous movement within the parking area. Shoprite, restaurants and other outlets were positioned to benefit from the visible flow of consumers.
Together, the two locations illustrate how economic activity can move through a city during a major public event: from exhibitions and product discovery to shopping, dining, transport and other services.
A busy afternoon at East Park Mall
The East Park Mall parking area was visibly busy at the time of the Analyst’s visit. Vehicles occupied much of the space captured in the photographs, while drivers searched for routes through the internal traffic.
People could also be seen walking near the shops and trolley bays. The scene indicated significant visitor movement around the retail centre, with activity extending across grocery shopping, food services and other businesses.
However, a busy parking area is not the same as confirmed growth in sales. Vehicle numbers and visible foot traffic indicate consumer presence, but they do not reveal how much each visitor spent, which businesses benefited most or whether the activity exceeded that of an ordinary month-end weekend.
Is the Agricultural Show supporting nearby businesses?
East Park Mall’s proximity to the Lusaka Showgrounds creates the possibility of commercial spillovers. Some showgoers may visit nearby malls for meals, shopping, transport connections or other services before or after attending the show.
The timing makes such spillovers plausible, but the photographs alone cannot establish how many people at East Park Mall had come from the Agricultural Show.
A stronger assessment would require information from retailers, restaurants, transport operators and mall management. Useful indicators would include customer counts, sales receipts, average transaction values and comparisons with a typical Sunday.
Line them up and the picture is simple: the Show pulled the crowds, and East Park caught a share of them on the way home, from shoppers circling for parking to trolleys filling at Shoprite and restaurants picking up the overflow. What it doesn’t tell us is how much of that foot traffic turned into money changing hands, or how it compares with any other Sunday.
The Zambian Economist Analyst will continue monitoring economic activity beyond official statistics, examining how households and businesses experience the economy in everyday commercial spaces.
Read the Analyst’s earlier field update on the crowds at the 2026 Agricultural and Commercial Show, or consult our complete show guide.
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