Kabwe Mall slashes rentals

KABWE Shopping Mall has started attracting clients after reducing rental fees in an effort to keep the business running in the advent of Covid-19.

Seven of the 26 shops at the mall closed as the rentals had become exorbitant coupled with the economic shocks emanating from the Covid-19 outbreak. Centre manager, Raydon Lupeke, said an agreement with a new tenant had been signed and talks with two other clients who have shown interest to open up business at the mall had reached an advanced stage. Mr Lupeke said the mall was attracting new clients because the rentals had been reduced and flexible. “We are optimistic that the vacant shops will soon be occupied,” he said. Mr Lupeke said that business at the mall was ongoing contrary to speculations that the mall would become a white elephant following closure of Cashbuild, Ackermans, Kwesu and Pep Stores among others. “We have signed an agreement with a new local tenant who will fill up a gap where Kwesu was and it’s a pub and grill. They will be starting very soon and we are talking to two to come where Cashbuild and Ackermans where, it's still in process,” he said. Mr Lupeke said management was on the ground to ensure that business kept going and was getting inquiries on a daily basis. He said management was also considering partitioning some of the bigger stores to accommodate clients that had shown interest to rent smaller shops. “We are full time on the ground trying to do the gaps and we are getting inquiries from people wanting shops. We are considering partitioning to accommodate those who want something smaller so we have all these options open,” Mr Lupeke said.