Bulawayo Community urged to 'unite to revive closing industries'

THE business community in Bulawayo has been encouraged to unite and work towards reviving industries whose closure has left thousands unemployed.

Speaking during the official opening of Photo Shop Studios recently, the Minister of Small to Medium  Enterprises, Sithembiso Nyoni, said people in Bulawayo had to unite and support each other before the revival of industries.

"Today in the community of Bulawayo rarely a month passes by without the closing down of a source of employment or service provision.

"It pains me as I drive down the Belmont streets because it reminds me of what was once an industrial hub. The sight of buildings abandoned by the employees because people in Bulawayo let their dream die is disturbing," said Minister Nyoni.

She said it was time the youths rose and used their resources to revive the industries and stop being crybabies. "Businesspeople in other cities are making fun of us because we are divided. Let the business community of Bulawayo unite so we retain our standards and improve the city which is bound to stay underdeveloped."

In an interview the owner of the company, Mr Bekezela Mabuza said he was privileged to be developing his hometown Bulawayo.

"I spent a number of years abroad and decided to come back and invest at home. Our city has gone through many challenges and it is the duty of the youths to do something and revive our industries.

"This company is the first one stop media company in Zimbabwe twinning together large format printing, photo processing, heat pressing, digital printing and graphic design under one roof," said Mr Mabuza.

He said he was going to work hard with many other youths to bring back investors who abandoned the city leaving thousands unemployed.