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Fradreck Gorwe and Kudzanai Sharara
The newly constructed Zimre Property Investments (ZPI) concern in Victoria Falls, Sawanga Mall, has been completed and is now fully booked by local brands with foreign brands off the map.
According to Zimre Property Investments managing director Edison Muvingi, the mall structure is fully constructed with a few finishings left as some tenant companies do their fit outs.
Of the occupying local brands, only Pick’ n Pay is already open with all others expected to have finished their preparations and open shop at the close of April.
A number of fast food outlets have been lined up to occupy the new mall and these include Innscor Simbisa Brands’ fast food outlets.
According to Muvingi, Simbisa Brands is expected to occupy a significant space bringing in about 4 of its brands. These brands include Chicken Inn, Pizza Inn, Creamy Inn, Bakers Inn, Rocomamas, Nandos, Fish Inn and Steers.
“Nandos is set to occupy half of the food court with Rocomamas and Steers taking a significant portion,” Muvingi said.
TV Sales and Home is also among the big names set to operate from the new Victoria Falls Mall. The furniture and appliances company is likely to have preferred Victoria Falls to Hwange as it seeks to get closer to its wide market.
“Most of these hotels get their staff from TV Sales and Home so it is like they are bringing themselves to the ready market,” said Muvingi.
Sawanga Mall has also attracted major local financial institutions as a number of banks are part of the occupants that have already secured space.
NMB Bank Limited, Nedbank and FBC Bank are among the financial occupants coming to the new mall. Econet Zimbabwe is set to bring its services to the mall as well.
As Muvingi put it, “the mix is very good”.
Foreign brands staying away for now
According Muvingi, foreign brands have stayed away from the race for the new market citing among other things, issues surrounding currency predictability and the obscure possibility of funds repatriation.
A lot of them who expressed interest, including some unnamed South African brands, maintained the same stance.
However, local brands have indicated some maturity and financial ability through fully occupying the new mall alone.
“For now we look forward to accommodate local but good tenant links,” said Muvingi.
The Government earlier mulled the transformation of Victoria Falls into a conference capital with state-of-the-art facilities.
The new construction of Sawanga Mall adds to about six existing malls in the tourist capital. Some include, Elephant Walk Mall, Phumula Centre, Wild Horizons, Landela Complex, and, Curio Shops and Creature World.
Bongani Ndlovu