Chiredzi firms send SOS

THE business community in Chiredzi has challenged Government to help resuscitate some companies, which folded over the past decade mainly because of economic challenges.

Speaking during discussions with members of the Chiredzi Press Club, chairman for Chiredzi business community Mr Lovemore Makovere yesterday said the town suffered due to multiple company closures, while the remaining ones were operating below capacity, which increased its unemployment rate.

“We are very delighted that we have been given an opportunity to speak about issues relating to rebuilding Chiredzi to strengthen the economic capacity of Masvingo Province,” he said.

“The issue of company closures has created a lot of unemployment here. We were delighted when Government spoke of availing funds to distressed companies although we have not yet received them.”

Mr Makovere said they now expect the new councillors and legislators that would be elected during the forthcoming elections to represent them fully and ensure that they spearhead the revival of business in the town.

“We need representatives that take our concerns to Parliament, we want all the companies, which closed shop or are struggling to be given a new lease of life,” he said.

Mr Makovere said that while there were efforts to attract foreign investment there was also need to look inward.

“The Government is saying Zimbabwe is open for business,” he said.

“We must balance between foreign investors and our participation as locals.

“We cannot be a country in which locals are shop floor employees while foreigners are the employers. We want all our local companies to be revived.”

Vice chairman of the Chiredzi Small to Medium Light Industry Operators Mr Thagar Cader said Chiredzi Town Council must conclude the impasse with light industry operators over the payment of rates.

“Light industry operators have been at loggerheads with council over the payment of rates for the past three years because of its failure to provide services such as refuse collection and sewer yet they are billing us,” he said.

“This has frustrated some of the operators to the extent of not paying rates. It is important for all these issues to be tackled so that a new page for development and growth would be opened.”

Chiredzi used to be the hub of many engineering and construction companies, but most of the collapsed over the past decade due to various reasons.

Companies such as Catman Hydraulics, Jomo Engineers, Yagden Engineering, Whitro Engineering, T-Wadzi Bricks, Chicon Construction among others are operating below capacity, which resulted in them laying off some of its workforce.