ELLEN MLAMBO
CHIPINGE TIMES REPORTER

CHIPINGE- Chipinge Chamber of Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) which is concerned by the lack of operating space for its members will soon approach council with plans to build a mall.
Chipinge district Chamber of SMEs chairperson, Violet Banda said a few of her organisation’s members own buildings and the rest are renting and the space is not adequate. As a result her organisation has resolved to approach Chipinge Town Council for land where they plan to build a mall.
Banda said that the project will be undertaken by the whole group.
The land will be acquired on a Built-Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement.
“As Chipinge SMEs, we have no operating space and we are planning to engage the local authority for a stand where we can put up a mall on a BOT arrangement. Most of the SMEs are renting premises or space, paying exorbitant rentals which is not conducive considering the profits they realise,” she said.
Banda said a similar arrangement was done in Chiredzi and they are likely to go for a similar arrangement.
Chipinge Chamber of SMEs has a membership of plus or minus 100 people.