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George Maponga in Masvingo
Gutu Rural District Council (RDC) has formally applied to Government for Bhasera Business Centre to be upgraded into a growth point to spur investment at the remote centre. Bhasera is arguably the biggest business centre in Gutu district at the moment and there has been a sustained push for it to be accorded growth point status. Its upgrade into a growth point is expected to attract key services such as banking and other financial services in Masvingo province’s biggest district.

Gutu District Administrator Mr Vafios Hlavati yesterday confirmed they were still waiting for Government’s response on the status of the centre. “We applied to Government (Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing) a long time ago but we are yet to get a response on the status of Bhasera — that we want it to be upgraded into a growth point,’’ he said.

“It is our hope that Government will give us a favourable response because we have been pushing vigorously and we believe something positive is close to happening.” Mr Hlavati said Bhasera Business centre would serve as a commercial capital for the eastern parts of Gutu, where thousands of villagers are forced to travel for long distances to access services such as banking in Mpanda- wana.

Upgrading Bhasera would breathe life into the once-thriving business centre whose fortunes have since taken a nosedive in the wake of economic challenges affecting the country.