While agricultural fairs are a common practice in the work of extension officers and agricultural development projects, fairs organised for high-profile visitors, such as government ministers, often bend the truth of their success in achieving agricultural development. Anxious local government officials, eager to show that they are making progress towards central government’s goals, often resort to ‘borrowing’ successful crops or farming fields. Just like president Nyusi’s visit, former governor of Sofala province, Helena Taípo, abruptly interrupted a visit to an agricultural fair in Nhamatanda district, where she found that products being exhibited had been brought in from the neighbouring province of Manica.