The Sunday News
Dumisani Nsingo, Senior Business Reporter
LEADING multi-franchised automotive dealership, Croco Motors has poured in massive capital towards the setting-up of a state-of-the-art vehicle workshop and showroom in Bulawayo as it joins a bandwagon of investors to show renewed confidence to the city as an investment destination of choice.
Croco Motors Bulawayo business unit manager Mr Johanne Mutamba could not be drawn to divulge the capital that would be injected into the facility, which is expected to be opened next month.
“A significant investment has gone into this project and this is an optimum time to invest in Bulawayo as we anticipate a massive response from the community. The investment comprises the cost of acquisition of the premises, investment in equipment and technology as well as the renovations needed to get the facility up to world class standards.
“The nature of the project is that it offers scope for incremental growth as the Bulawayo community positively responds to this initiative. In addition, the fact that Croco Motors has chosen to invest in this project at a time most companies have decided to put their CAPEX (capital expenditure) projects on hold demonstrates the special place Bulawayo and Matabeleland hold in our hearts,” said Mr Mutamba.
The company has hired a South African consultant to put up highly automated machinery at the workshop. He said the company was forced to set up a new facility in Bulawayo’s Central Business District as its existing one, which is situated at the Belmont Industrial site, had proved to be too small and inadequate to fully cater for and satisfy the requirements of its Matabeleland region customers.
“The Bulawayo branch has always been the key heartbeat of the whole of Croco Holdings and we will forever continue to invest in this market. We view this in line with the mantra that ‘Zimbabwe is Open for Business’. New jobs will be created directly from this investment while a significant number of others have been created downstream during the various stages of the project,” said Mr Mutamba.
He said despite vehicle sales for the period January to April showing a drastic plunge of 52 percent compared to the same period last year, the company remains buoyant.
“Clearly the market is challenged but we remain resilient and we see a bright future ahead of us. However, as Croco Motors we believe the issues are transitory and are therefore investing in preparation for when Zimbabwe rises again . . . When we open doors of this new facility we will run a programme for a month which will give free checks on vehicles which visit our workshop,” said Mr Mutamba.
@DNsingo
