Patrick Chitumba,[email protected]
THE government has commissioned a US$1.6 million shopping centre, Yellowstone Mall, in Kwekwe, creating employment opportunities for 35 individuals.
The Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube, officially opened the mall on Friday morning.
Addressing businesspeople, residents and government officials, Minister Ncube said the development is expected to boost the local economy and provide a convenient shopping hub for residents.
He said the landmark investment by Sub-Sahara Capital, an indigenous portfolio, attests to the transformational modernisation and industrialisation trajectory and motivational mantra of Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatirwa nevene vayo, pursued by the champion of development and empowerment, President Mnangagwa.“The resuscitation of Metro-Peach and Browne Wholesalers, once under corporate rescue, into an enterprising rebranded Metro-Hypermarket with 13 branches—partnering with other big brands such as Texas Meats, Express Clothing, Bakers Inn, Mukuru, and House and Home—underscores the favourable investment climate created and promoted by the New Dispensation since its inception on 24 November 2017, ” he said.
Minister Ncube said the adoption of bold and strategic policy decisions to reform and open up the economy laid solid foundations for private sector-led economic growth and recovery as we pursue an upper-middle-income economy earlier than 2030.
Guided by the Devolution and Decentralisation Agenda, Minister Ncube said provinces have been tasked to ride on their comparative and competitive advantages to grow their GDP while ensuring communities benefit from their local resources.“In this regard, I commend Metro-Hypermarket for establishing one of its biggest branches—measuring over 3 600 square metres—here in Kwekwe, directly hiring 35 employees. This demonstrates the City’s compliance with corporate governance, ease of doing business, results-based management, and value systems of accountability and commitment towards service delivery, as directed by President Mnangagwa, under the Call to Action: No Compromise to Service Delivery blueprint,” he said.
Minister Ncube said Metro-Hypermarket adds to a growing inventory of impactful private sector-initiated shopping malls implemented in the Midlands Province under the Second Republic.“These include MIPF Shopping Mall in Shurugwi, Northpole Mall in Gokwe NorthSanja Conference Centre and Shopping Mall here in Kwekwe and the proposed shopping mall for Midlands Park Housing Project in Zvishavane,” he said
Minister Ncube said the Midlands Province is open for business and offers other lucrative opportunities for diversification into mining, agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and tourism.
Source: The Herald
