Londile Moyo
Online Writer
TSHOLOTSHO District has once again stamped its authority as a hub of innovation and enterprise after two of its exhibitors were selected to represent Matabeleland North at the National SMEs Event, set to take place at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) later this year.
The selection was announced during the Matabeleland North SMEs Expo held from 27 and 29 May in Lupane, which ran back-to-back with commemorations for the International Day of Families.
Officiating at the three-day provincial exhibition was Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development. She was joined by Cde Dora Msimanga, the ZANU PF Matabeleland North Provincial Women’s League Chairperson, alongside government officials and heads of departments who toured the stands and engaged with entrepreneurs.
Provincial Chairperson Mr Vet Tshuma confirmed that Mathunga’s Pride and Rub-Logistics from Tsholotsho were among the institutions recommended for the national event following their outstanding exhibitions.
Mathunga’s Pride, run by the Siakubuzia family, was hailed for skills and quality.
It is a Tsholotsho South-based sewing company and it drew praise for its clothing line, which visitors described as second to none. The company has also built a reputation as the province’s top training institute, producing more than 20 exceptional tailors annually from underprivileged backgrounds across the district.
The institute is the brainchild of Tsholotsho South legislator Cde Musa Ncube, who is also the Deputy Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities. Minister Mutsvangwa and Cde Msimanga commended the initiative for empowering women and youth through skills development.
Rub-Logistics, owned by Mr Rodney Rubvuta, impressed with a display that fused technology and culture. The stand showcased a drone system, CCTV solutions, and Wi-Fi services tailored specifically for SMEs.
The drone, suited for photography, security, and agricultural monitoring, was operated by Tsholotsho-born media and drone technology expert Mr Divante Mabhena. The unit can cover a radius of more than 5 kilometres at a height of 150 metres, and can be used to monitor farms and livestock, or to assist police operations.
To mark Culture Month, which was officially opened by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Bulawayo recently, Rub-Logistics also ran a cultural-themed photoshoot. Scores of people queued for instant, framed portraits in traditional attire, while others contracted the team to document their stands.
Addressing delegates, Minister Mutsvangwa said SMEs contribute around 60 per cent of Zimbabwe’s GDP and employ millions, with women making up 56 per cent of the sector. She added that the government is rolling out infrastructure, such as regulated markets, to support entrepreneurs.
Cde Msimanga urged women in Matabeleland North to enrol at training centres like Mathunga’s Pride and to formalise their businesses in order to access funding from institutions such as the Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank and SMEDCO.
The annual Expo gave local SMEs a platform to showcase products, network with parastatals, and engage with financial institutions.
With Mathunga’s Pride and Rub-Logistics now among the select institutions carrying the provincial flag to the HICC, Tsholotsho has once again shown that it remains a centre of excellence in Matabeleland North.
Online Reporter