Big superstore for Mbabane
MBABANE – Another Superstore store to be opened in the coming weeks in Mbabane.
The store will be located on Betfusile Street, opposite Chumana Cellular, where FNB Eswatini once resided.
According to local investors of the franchise who preferred to comment anonymously, over E2 million was spent on development, and they would employ more than 20 people. He said the investment was made to cater to low and middle-income earners, who could not afford the price of larger stores.
Items
“We are targeting individuals who cannot afford to purchase items from other vendors, as we are of the view that our pricing is fair,” he said. When asked about the retail shop competition in Mbabane, the investor mentioned that they encourage competition, as it increased the visibility of a business. Worth noting, the superstore will be an addition to big supermarkets like Pick n Pay, Superspar, Shoprite, and OK Foods, that are already available in the country. The business desk visited the location where the superstore is currently being developed, and it was noted that there was limited parking space. The construction employees on-site requested not to talk to the media as advised by their supervisor. The investor mentioned that more investments were coming to Eswatini, especially in the Manzini-Mbabane corridor. Worth noting, a multimillion Emalangeni investment by Manzini Arch (Pty) Ltd is expected to bring hundreds of jobs.
Report
An environmental impact assessment report has already been done in a bid to usher in the project. The exact cost of the investment was yet to be established at the time of compiling this report.
The company behind the project, Manzini Arch (Pty) Ltd, is a subsidiary of African Alliance. It is proposing to establish a mixed-use development in Manzini. According to the document for the proposed project, the vision is to develop a premium mixeduse precinct that is accessible, uplifting, and beneficial to every citizen of Eswatini. The site of the project is Farm 838 in the Manzini Region.
It includes the development of a regional shopping centre, residential apartments; two hotels to be developed in phases, a private school, two fast food restaurants, commercial offices, as well as a large park and a recreational area. Once established, the project would play a significant role in helping the country meet the most economically feasible goal of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
These include promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth; employment and decent work for all; as well as sustainable industrialisation and fostering innovation. The retail and mixed-use sectors include the development of shops, restaurants, and drive-throughs.
This part of the proposed project is planned to overlook the MR3 and the Manzini bypass road for ease of access to customers and to minimise disturbances to current residential properties, especially during the operational phase of the project.
This will be developed into two phases.
The recreational facilities, on the other hand, will include a park, cycle tracks, a soccer pitch, and other recreational facilities.