Detergent producer seeks funding

FOR many people, the mere thought of losing a job evokes frightening emotions as one ponders how to put food on the table without a source of stable income.

It was the same for Mr Ernest Kudakwashe Chikata (30) when he was retrenched from Arenel, one of the top companies in Bulawayo where he had served for seven years from 2014, working in the packaging department.

Instead of searching for another job, he ventured into the production of detergents and supplying honey and other consumer products to different buyers, and the business has opened new horizons.

To date, Mr Chikata is a proud owner of E K Chikaz Investments, a young company that was established in 2021 and produces five different products. These include honey, foam bath, vinegar, dishwashing liquid and pine gel for cleaning surfaces.

Although he is still operating from home due to lack of proper working space, his is an inspiring story of entrepreneurship and resourcefulness as he was able to take the risk and scan the market, taking note of what was lacking and deciding to fill the production and supply gap.

Mr Chikata is now supplying some supermarkets and says there is high demand for detergents and vinegar.
“Our raw materials are sourced from Redtec in Belmont, Bulawayo and they sometimes give us these at zero deposit. The products are then sold and we pay them back once our products are sold,” he said in an interview.

“We are therefore seeking funding to enable us to increase production in order to meet the growing demand. We have the potential to expand operations and increase our customer base and all that is needed is funding,” said Mr Chikata.

He said he is now supplying products to supermarkets in Bulawayo, Gweru, Masvingo, Kwekwe, Gwanda, Chiredzi, Plumtree and Gokwe.

Mr Chikata has seven workers and said the staff complement can be increased if the company gets funding to increase production given that there is high demand for the company’s products.