Call for growth point in Maranda grows louder

SAMUEL NJINGA IN MASVINGO

The business community in chief Maranda in Mwenezi district, Masvingo Province, have appealed to the government to establish a growth point in the area.

Business Times can report that business operators in Mlelezi, Marimuka, Vhongwe, Chirindi, Furidzi, Number 1, Marinda, Chengwe, Chemvana, Dhengenya, Dinhe, Shayamavhudzi, Bhoterere, Nikita and Gandahari, among others, that are in the Sovhelele belt are in desperate need of a central area where they can do business without any hindrances from transport.

They told Business Times that they have to travel a distance of more than 100km to Ngundu Growth Point or more than 200km to the city of Masvingo in order to do their bulk business orders.

“Business is made cumbersome by travelling long distances. Most of the time is wasted whilst travelling these long distances in order to purchase our orders. Time is expensive in business.

It is something that you can never buy back.

“We need to stock our shop shelves to the maximum if we are to beat our competitors,” a grocery operator in Maranda , Edison Mubhoyi  told Business Times.

Another businessman based at Marimuka,  Josaya Ngwenya said : “I seem to be incompetent before the eyes of those who see me yet it is this challenge that is bedevilling my business operations. Personally I don`t have my own car. I have to dance to the tune of those who provide me with transport. If they tell me we are going to Ngundu or Masvingo on such a particular day, I have to give in even if I no longer have some very crucial commodities that are in serious demand from my clients. It is during this particular time that my clients lose confidence in me and cast their eyes somewhere.”

Another businessman at  Mulelezi, Gracious Maphosa  told Business Times that doing business has become taxing.

“We end up preferring to go down to South Africa’s Musina  town so as to do our business. How can one spend his time travelling endlessly?

“This is why most of our prices are in South African rand. It defies business logic for someone to travel all the way to Ngundu or Masvingo to get shop orders,” Maphosa said.

“It is not cost effective as you can see. We are therefore appealing to the responsible authorities to establish a growth point within our proximity. Otherwise development might keep on being a dream if not a thing of the past.”