Whats happening with Bulawayo businesses

Many industries and companies in Bulawayo are shutting down and others are moving to Harare. Some  of the them include big companies like Dairy Board Zimbabwe, Gold Star, Merlin and many more. This has seen the Bulawayo business and economic side crumble much, especially the industrial aspect. This has also led to many workers to lose their jobs at their ages since most of them are nearing their retirement ages.

 Most of the Bulawayo uneducated young people are stuck with no jobs as there is no longer industry which used to employ people and give them jobs. The indegenisnation act was meant to boost the country`s economy as well as benefiting the region or area where a company has been indegenised. With Bulawayo its actually the opposite as the city is becoming even more industrially disadvantaged, and Harare is florishing and doing good businesswise.

Could this mean something somewhere is not alright or someone has a thing against Bulawayo?Lets discuss.

Bussiness Opportunity in Zimbabwe

The country might seem poor and miserable especially after the unfair and uncomfortable conditions that the country has encountered. Some investors might think its a waste of time to make business in Zimbabwe.

But  i say despite all this, people can still make money and business in Zimbabwe.

 If we consider that how many mines and mining areas this country has, agriculture and the whole lot of consumers. This combined with other factors shows that business is possible. In the mining and farming industry, foreign companies can import the equipment and machinery needed, and thus they make money in Zimbabwe

In the clothing and foodstuff department, neighboring countries can still import their goods or they can expand their businesses into the country, that is they build their shops in Zimbabwe. Shops like legit, jet, Mr Price, pick n pay and many more they can make more money by bringing their companies into Zimbabwe.

I can safely say there is really a chance for business in the country especially if reforms like indegenisation are implemented properly or ripped off totally, do you agree?

Will Buy Zimbabwe revive our industries??

Buy Zimbabwe is a reform meant to encourage Zimbabweans to buy and consume local products like olivine products, char horn biscuits and many other products we used to buy before the economy crumbled.

Its believed that many people began buying foreign products during that period when the local shelves wet empty and amiss.

This in turn made local shops to crumble and were forced to shut down, partly do to lack of customers and resources to keep them going.

Foreign companies found an opportunity to import their sub standard products and food stuffs into the country and Zimbabweans had to just consume them  because they did not have an option. Some went to the neighboring countries physical to buy products there.

Now that the economy is back on track and many local companies are opening and reopening, the policy makers saw it wise to impose this buy Zimbabwe reform so as to encourage production ad consumption of local products.

This has been successful because most local products like Olivine products are back on the shelves ad companies are reopening to produce quality local products.This also has opened a lot of job opportunities for Zimbabweans who were jobless. In other way the reform is benefiting the country.

This reform can boost the economy if implemented well and can teach Zimbabweans to be independent and do things on their ow, do you agree??

More Brazilian Exhibitors at ZITF

 

THE number of exhibitors from Brazil has increased this year compared to last year following a keen interest by companies from that country.In an interview, Brazilian Embassy Third Secretary Mr Felipe Ortega said about seven companies were participating in the fair this year.

“Last year one or two companies participated on their own without the Brazilian government.
“This year the government participated as a lot of companies showed interest in being part of the trade fair and we have a bigger presence as seven companies are exhibiting,” said Mr Ortega.

The companies are being said to have  were exhibited as they had seen several business opportunities at the trade fair, especially the agricultural sector as they will be interested in supplying machinery and they are also hoping to share agricultural information.

 "Zimbabwe agricultural sector is similar to that of Brazil, we have related weather patterns and soil structures. We are looking forward to forming partnerships and share information with other agricultural businesses in the country,” said Mr Ortega
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He said the Brazilian ambassador will attend the official opening of the trade fair tomorrow.
“The companies and the trade fair will receive support from the Brazilian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Marcia Maro Da Silva who will grace the official opening of the trade fair on Friday,” said Mr Ortega

Since Zimbabwe is largely agrarian, do you think this is an opportunity that could help Zimbabwe as a whole and also boost the economy??  

China taking over Bulawayo

It is now like old news that most companies and industries are shutting down in Bulawayo for the reasons which are not very clear. It is a problem to the rest of the Bulawayans who are affected by this as many get retrenched, forced into early retirement and others lose their jobs just like that.This goes on to affect their families as they will be breadwinners so the families suffer.

In the recently shut down down Kalbro company (which dealt with, upholstry, carpeting, car ports, blinds, curtaining etc), a Chinese shop is opening. The shop will be selling clothing, kitchen wear and other products like that.
Also there is a rumor that the whole space around Lobengula street to Egodini has bee to sold to a China company that will open China City, i resemblance of the one in South Africa.

Do you think that this is a good move to have Chinese taking over our city, can that be called good business?

Can Labour Market enhance investments prospects in a country?

Labor market information is critical in enhancing the country’s investment prospects, a Cabinet Minister said

Labour and Social Services Minister Paurina Mpariwa told participants at a workshop on labour market information systems that the availability of information about occupations and labour market trends could compel investors to consider Zimbabwe and most other African countries as important investment destinations.

“For investors and employers to make investment decisions they need information about the size of the labour force, the skills and qualifications, the output of training institutions, the age distribution and many other aspects,” she said.

Labour market information (LMI) services, Minister Mpariwa said, were important in analysing employment data such as registration, live registers, existing vacancies, placements and employer information in order to arrive at meaningful labour market signals.Economists say the phenomenon of globalisation was placing much emphasis on the importance of efficient labour market systems for nations to effectively compete in the international socio-economic value chains.They also suggested that as African countries devolved towards establishing a socio-economically integrated region, it was important for current labour market information to be known.

Do you think such a development can boost the African economies, lets discuss??

Lifestyle Holdings expands

Lifestyle Holdings has introduced a TN Virtual Mart  where it will deliver groceries to its clientele’s door steps.TN Mart sells food and non-food items. Foods items include mealie meal, cooking oil, non alcoholic beverages, teas and coffees, milk, breakfast cereals, biscuits and sweets, etc.Non-food items include washing powders and soaps, health and beauty products, toiletries, travel goods, kitchenware, stationery and polishers.

Lifestyle Holdings chief executive officer Tawanda Nyambirai told NewsDay Business yesterday that the development had been inspired by the demand of services by TN Mart customers.

He said to date 33 000 applications had been received with 7 000 coming from the Warren Park area.

In a statement over the weekend, TN Mart said the Virtual Mart was an exciting and convenient way of purchasing groceries.

The group recently expanded its product offering by launching a retail brand, TN Mart, and a fast-food chain, TN Grill.The group entered into a 12-year lease agreement with Rufaro Marketing for its former beerhalls which it intends to use to further expand its retail offering
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It is quite encouraging that other companies are doing good in Zimbabwe though others are not, does this mean for those that are not doing good something or someone is putting them at disadvantage, or they are just failing on their own?

Business oportunity at Trade fair

All is set for the 54th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo with a number of exhibitors and visitors already in the city ahead of the premier trade showcase which starts tomorrow.

The ZITF which ends on Saturday will run under the theme “Building Value, Enhancing Growth” and will be officially opened by Malawian President Joyce Banda on Friday.The Malawian President will have the opportunity to tour the stands accompanied by her host, President Mugabe before she officially opens the show.

Sixteen countries are expected to exhibit, with Ghana coming in as a new entrant, and Tanzania is making a comeback after a few years without taking part at the fair.

 Some of the foreign nations that are exhibiting include Zambia, Egypt, China, SA and Brazil. Iran which was part of the exhibiting countries last year is not represented this year.

It is a business opportunity for all business people ad they can get a opportunity to engage into business with foreign companies. Do you think this event can boost the economy of Bulawayo,? lets discuss

NSSA Hotel finished in Beightbridge

THE multi-million dollar hotel being built in Beitbridge by the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) in partnership with Rainbow Tourism Group is is now complete.

 

An estimated $25 million has so far been spent on the project that started in 2009.

“The greatest challenge has been for the contractor to bring in an adequately experienced labour force to carry out the works and to keep to the planned or scheduled work programme.

“The contractor has also been unable to fund the works in advance, relying on NSSA to finance   materials and payment of service providers,” said NSSA.

 

Construction giant Costain has built the three-star hotel.The authority entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with RTG to operate the hotel once it was complete.

It is hoped that the project would create jobs once complete as professionals are engaged in running the hotel.

 

The double-storey hotel has 150 rooms comprising single and double rooms as well as executive, diplomatic and presidential suites.The hotel also has a casino, gym and a swimming pool.

In line with keeping abreast with international trends, the hotel is the first almost totally non-smoking hotel in the country.

Provision has also been made for two banks to offer a banking service within the hotel.

 

This is a ghood move by NSSA to grow in the business field, but my question is who is going to benefit much from this project considering that NSSA is an organisation that works with the public?

YET ANOTHER COMPANY CLOSED IN BULAWAYO

Many companies have been shutting down in Bulawayo which made the Industrial site in ruins. Kalbro is one of the companies which was doing good businesswomen and had offices in town and in the Industrial site. It specialized in carpet making and fitting, canvas products, carports, blinds and many other products of the sort. The company kept on expanding and doing good in business until the 2000 period up to period before its  closure.

In 2002 the company saw the  retrenchment of hundreds of workers leaving most families in hunger considering that the retrenched workers were breadwinners in their families. The situation got worse in the 2005-2008 period where it closed all  its offices and was left with the town offices only. Most workers left without being retrenched or fired because it was no use to be in the comfort and the company could not provide much for them. They left without without theirs packages and the company could not do much because it was facing monetary challenges. The company MD Mr Mithal could not do much for them since the big guys in the company had left for Europe. The situation never got any better and the few remaining workers just hung on with the hopes that things will get better and they could go for months without any pay. 

  This went on until last week when the company officially shut down and workers were sent away with nothing, they were just promised by  word of mouth that they will get them

  

What worries me much is that most of the workers were elderly people who could do with the pension funds, but now they were sent home empty handed, im just wondering what would happen to them and their families. My question is why did the company owners lose interest in reviving the company after 2008, was it due to political reasons or the fear for indeginisation? If most companies do likewise how would the Bulawayo industry look like and what would happen too workers and their employees???

Datlabs has launched a new Camphor cream product

LEADING pharmaceutical company, Datlabs  has launched a new Camphor cream product called CamphaCare. 

 the new Zimbabwean Camphor cream which will reduce unemployment and boost economic growth and will be exported to neighbouring countries so as to reduce the high trade deficit being experienced by the nation.

 The Bulawayo factory has the capacity to produce 500 000 jars of Camphor cream every month with a market worth $10 million hence we urge our retail partners to take a share of the new product.

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Datlabs brand manager, Mrs Grace Mazinyani, said the thrust of introducing a new product was to give consumers a lotion that provides superior skin moisturisation and nourishment.

“We noted that consumers are dissatisfied with stringent lotions that make their skin look dry and cracked after application.

“Prior to the launch we conducted surveys, in which consumers complimented the new product for its elongated skin moisturising and nourishing effect"

Mrs Mazinyani said over the next six months, teams will be conducting massive sampling activities on the new product, offering consumers the opportunity to try out the new product.

Datlabs is a pharmaceutical and personal care company which has ties with the South African pharmaceutical company, Adcock Ingram, which manufactures and distributes an extensive range of pharmaceutical and personal care products.
 CAN YOU IMAGINE IF MOST OF BULAWAYO COMPANIES WERE DOING LIKEWISE, WOULDNT BULAWAYO BE FAR BY NOW? WHAT AND WHERE IS THE PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE?

Women urged to venture into business

BULAWAYO women in business have been challenged to take their social responsibility roles seriously in order to uplift their communities.

Speaking during a belated International Women’s Day celebratory dinner held at a city hotel last week, Lupane State University student Ms Siphathisiwe Sibanda said women were supposed to contribute towards the development of communities.

The event was held under the theme, “Driving the future success”.

“Women must strive to empower their communities in everything they do, it is not about money but about putting your body, mind and soul into reaching out to the sick and underprivileged. Development can be there if we all take it upon ourselves to offer our services in the communities we live in,” said Ms Sibanda.

She said the greatness of being a woman was measured by the love and services they offered people in their communities.

“Women are special people when they invest in the upliftment of their communities rather than taking away from the communities,” she said.

Speaking at the same occasion, writer and motivational speaker, Ms Jacqueline Ndongwe said women should be an inspiration to one another.

She said women were supposed to ground their work in good ethics.

“Individuals must be the driving centre in their success and ground themselves in ethics. What you speak to yourself you propel it into your life.

“Women must build sustainable networks and be around people who inspire them,” said Ms Ndongwe.

The event was co-hosted by Women in Business Connect and an event management firm, Total Eclipse Events.

Women In Business Connect is a network of women in business and those aspiring to be in business.

It seeks to provide a platform for businesswomen from various sectors and regions around the country to share information, learn from each other, network and run efficient and effective businesses. International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8 March each year to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women.
 Is the business world conducive enough for women? say out your views

Farmers in Matabeleland taken for a ride due to desperation

UNSCRUPULOUS cattle buyers have descended on farmers around Lupane taking advantage of their desperation to buy cattle at give away prices.
This came to light during a Lupane farmers’ forum organised by Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) at Masenyane Primary School on Wednesday last week.

“Lack of access to the right information about market prices helps city buyers take advantage of us. We sometimes sell our cattle for $250, as we will be desperate for money,we also sell our cattle to middlemen, who give us less money for the value of our cattle, as we have no money to transport the cattle to town and sell them directly to reliable buyers” said Ms Adelaide Ndlovu, a farmer.

Farmers also say  reliable buyers like GMB delay to pay them and thus they end up selling to scrupulous buyers who give them money instantly. Farmers  are also forced to exchange  2kg of sugar to a bag of maize due to desperation and the need for food

What kind of business is this practiced by these cattle buyers, should the government intervene, what do you think, lets discuss.

Zimtrade challenges Bulawayo companies to invest in Mozambique

BULAWAYO — Zimtrade (an export support and promotion arm of the government) has challenged Bulawayo companies to move with speed and take advantage of trade and investment opportunities that exist in  Mozambique’s Tete province, currently dominated by mining companies from Brazil and India. Tete province, located in North-West Mozambique on the banks of the Zambezi River and 833 kilometres from Bulawayo, had untapped mineral resources and an  abundance of coal, iron ore deposits and natural  gas.

A number of companies in Bulawayo are facing viability challenges while others have closed shop.The Zimtrade technical adviser said the Bulawayo-based small to medium scale enterprises (SMEs) should take advantage of a Rio Tinto coal mine business center catering for small businesses to also venture into the Tete  market. Bulawayo -based companies could supply fuel lubricants, mining tools and spare parts, building equipment and plumbing materials, among others.

Rio Tinto, a global resources firm, had set up a coal mine in the province, while Jindal and Vale coal mines of India and Brazil had operations in Tete.

Zimtrade is planning another trade promotion trip to the Nyasa province of Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Limpopo and Gauteng provinces of South Africa this year in a bid to assist Zimbabwean companies to strategically position themselves in those markets.

Can this be the answer  to the Bulawayo business problems, lets discuss.