Gweru (New Ziana) –Harare based Bentach Resources has started constructing a shopping plaza in Gweru which will see 48 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) benefiting during the first phase.
Dubbed the Kudzanayi Bus Terminus Plaza, the cubicles are expected to be complete at the beginning of next month.
Bentach project manager David Kudakwashe said they embarked on the project after realizing that Gweru had a shortage of retail space for SMEs.
“We have seen the need, and similar to what we have done at Kudzanayi Bus Terminus by creating decent space where those who are selling their wares have shopfronts.
Bentach Resources renovated the Kudzanayi Bus Terminus, which President Emmerson Mnangagwa commissioned in 2021 and which has seen a number of local authorities expressing interest in copying the concept.
It renovated the bus terminus under a Build-Operate-Transfer arrangement with the Gweru City Council.
“We have created cubicle shops from what were previously containers after we were inspired by the Qatar World Cup. If you remember, the stadiums were of containers,” Kudakwashe said.
“This space was crawling with streets kids, people using drugs and some urinating here, which made it quite an eyesore, but we have decided to create shops where people create employment and service their commercial needs.”
Kudakwashe said they tailor made the cubicles so that they had adequate space, enough aeration and electricity.
“We have tried to provide decency and dignity for our retailers,” he said.
Apart from the 48 shopfront spaces, there would be 8 kitchenettes, small restaurants and a toilet at the back.
“Our focus is on small entrepreneurs; they need to have affordable space that is decent before they go into bigger shops.”
Kudakwashe said they were still waiting for the Gweru City Council to reconsider their proposal to put up a state-of-the-art shopping mall at its works yard premises near the long-distance bus terminus.
“We had put a proposal to build a shopping mall under works yard and had mobilised the resources. It is under reconsideration after it was initially declined,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kudakwashe said they were currently constructing a multi-million-dollar shopping mall in Kwekwe at the new CBD.
New Ziana
