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Bongani Ndlovu, Chronicle Reporter
PROMINENT Bulawayo businesswoman and multi-award winner, Ms Beauty Mpofu, who founded and owned ‘Sis Bee Kitchen’ chain of restaurants, has died.
She was 67.
Ms Mpofu died in the early hours of yesterday at Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo due to renal failure after a long battle with kidney ailment.
Her son, Mr Alile Yusufu, confirmed the death of his mother who has been described as a pillar of strength and a motherly figure.
He said the family was devastated by his mother’s death and would miss her dearly.
“My mother passed on this morning.
She has had a kidney problem for some time due to medication that she was taking after she was involved in an accident in 2013,” said Yusufu.
He said the heavy drugs that she was taking might have taken a toll on her.
“We will advise people on the burial arrangements in due course,” said Yusufu.
He said his mother did not only assist family members but also the needy in the community.
“We have brothers that we inherited over time because she enjoyed assisting the needy.
I cannot describe it but she had so many children that she adopted,” said Yusufu who described his mother as a strong woman.
He said she inspired a lot of ladies and even men and it was therefore difficult to try and describe the person she was.
Sis Bee’s eatery was a very popular outlet as it served traditional dishes such as isitshwala with beef, amalusu, road-runner chicken, amangqina, amasi, amacimbi among other foods.
During the Kalawa Homecoming, some artistes would eat at Sis Bee’s and the brand was also found during the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair serving food to exhibitors and visitors.
Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce past president, Mr Obert Sibanda, said the business community has lost a brilliant cadre.
“Sis Bee had a great business acumen and we have therefore lost a businesswoman who had brilliant ideas,” he said.
Mr Sibanda said the chamber had lost someone who had a vision.
“I worked with her during my time at the ZNCC as president. She had grown her brand so much that it even stretched out of Bulawayo,” he said.
Mr Sibanda said Sis Bee’s business acumen was exhibited when they travelled to South Africa during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) head of corporate communications, Mr Godfrey Koti, said Sis Bee’s death was a serious blow to the tourism and hospitality sector.
Mr Koti said Sis Bee died when the ZTA was working to leverage on her experience as she grew her business from zero to become a thriving restaurateur.
Born September 13, 1954, in Mbaulo Filabusi, Sis Bee attended Mbaulo Primary School and Matopo High School.
She came to Bulawayo and worked at Lancashire, which specialised in women’s undergarments.
It was in 1998 when she retired and started the food business operating from her home in Emakhandeni suburb.
In 2002 she opened her first outlet in the city centre along Fort Street between 3rd and 4th Avenue.
In 2010, Sis Bee was selected to provide food for tourists at Limpopo Province during South Africa’s world cup and in the same year, she represented Zimbabwe at the Swaziland Reed Dance, providing catering services there during Swaziland International Trade Fair, which coincides with the reed dance.
In 2011 she opened the Parkade Centre branch and in 2019 opened the third branch at NICOZ House corner 8th Avenue and Fort Street.
Sis Bee has won numerous ZNCC, Mega Fest, Zimbabwe Investment Authority awards and this year she won the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Service Excellence Award in the fast-food sector.
Ms Mpofu is survived by four children, 10 grandchildren.
Mourners are gathered at 12 Ellenbogan Road in Ilanda. — @bonganinkunzi
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