News / Regional
Obert Mpofu's empire collapses
01 Aug 2015 at 13:28hrs | Views
TRANSPORT minister Obert Mpofu's business empire in Hwange has crumbled after several of his operations in the mining town either closed down or relocated to Victoria Falls.
Mpofu's Minus restaurant, Matetsi meats butchery, KST Bypass fuel service station all leased from Hwange Colliery Company (HCC), KoMpofu sports bar and KoMpofu butchery at Mpumalanga high density suburb in Hwange closed last month.
The Minus restaurant and Matetsi meats butchery reportedly owe the HCC a substantial amount of money in outstanding rentals, although the figure could not be independently verified by Southern Eye.
The HCC estates board, which leases the coal mining company's properties could not be reached for comment to confirm the outstanding monies as the estates manager, a Mr Mapanga was repeatedly said to be out of office since Tuesday.
Mpofu yesterday confirmed the collapse of his businesses operatons in Hwange saying the HCC rentals were unsustainable. The minister said he had relocated his butchery and restaurant together with his employees to Victoria Falls.
The closure of Mpofu's Hwange companies came less than a month after the former Mines minister was dragged to the Labour Court by security guards at his Moya Security firm over salary arrears.
His financial institution, Allied Bank, surrendered its operating licence in January this year due to lack of capital.
Mpofu's Minus restaurant, Matetsi meats butchery, KST Bypass fuel service station all leased from Hwange Colliery Company (HCC), KoMpofu sports bar and KoMpofu butchery at Mpumalanga high density suburb in Hwange closed last month.
The Minus restaurant and Matetsi meats butchery reportedly owe the HCC a substantial amount of money in outstanding rentals, although the figure could not be independently verified by Southern Eye.
The HCC estates board, which leases the coal mining company's properties could not be reached for comment to confirm the outstanding monies as the estates manager, a Mr Mapanga was repeatedly said to be out of office since Tuesday.
Mpofu yesterday confirmed the collapse of his businesses operatons in Hwange saying the HCC rentals were unsustainable. The minister said he had relocated his butchery and restaurant together with his employees to Victoria Falls.
The closure of Mpofu's Hwange companies came less than a month after the former Mines minister was dragged to the Labour Court by security guards at his Moya Security firm over salary arrears.
His financial institution, Allied Bank, surrendered its operating licence in January this year due to lack of capital.
Source - Southern Eye
