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growth.
The investment has been used for the purchase of equipment, marketing their products and training of personnel.
Speaking at a Press briefing in Harare yesterday, co-owner and chairperson of the Star Lotto board, Mrs Letina Undenge said they had acquired 300 state-of-the-art machines that ensure transparency and accounting for every dollar that comes in. She said these would be installed in various outlets across the nation.
“We have engaged the services of various retail and Zimpost outlets where we will install our terminals and then train their staff to operate the machines,” she said.
Mr Undenge also noted that they would engage the Harare City Council for permission to build betting booths at all the termini in the city and then recruit and train airtime vendors who ply their trade on the streets to operate them.
“This is meant to empower the youths as they will have a new source of income while council also has revenue inflows from the rentals we will be paying, so it’s a win-win situation for everyone involved,” she said.
On top of creating employment, Star Lotto is also set to help the less privileged as 25 percent of the proceeds will go to charity.
Of the 25 percent, 10 percent would be remitted to the Lotteries and Gaming board while 15 percent will go directly to the underprivileged that would be chosen by an independent board.
Mrs Undenge also reiterated the need to reach all parts of the country including the rural areas where lotteries have not penetrated much due to accessibility problems.
“Zimpost will cover most rural areas as they have outlets in almost all areas in the country. This means that rural folk will not be left out as they also deserve to win the jackpot and their communities should also benefit from the proceeds,” she said.
Mrs Undenge said that Star Lotto had complied with the country’s indigenisation laws and would continue to empower the youths and less privileged.
“Star Lotto is different from other lotteries in that we have complied with indigenisation and empowerment laws as 51 percent of the company is owned by locals and we are working on empowering women and youths who need the jobs to sustain themselves,” she said.
Speaking at the same event, Star Lotto chief executive Mr Johann Claassen said his team of specialists from South Africa was already training locals that would take over from them within a year.
“At present, experts from India and South Africa are still in control of operations as we train locals on how to operate the machinery and the general running of the business. After a year, there will be a complete skills transfer and then the company will be wholly run by locals,” Mr Claassen said.
He noted that while the board comprises of two locals and three foreigners at the moment it would be completely local once the transfer is complete.
Online Reporter