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Michael Magoronga Midlands Correspondent
Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs Owen Ncube has challenged investors to take advantage of the investment opportunities in the province after it adopted the “Midlands is open for Business” mantra.

Speaking at the official opening of the Eat n’ Lick Kwekwe Branch recently, Minister Ncube said investors should take advantage of this initiative that was brought about by the new political administration.

“I urge investors to take this as an opportunities to spread their wings, and exploit the business opportunities that have been presented to them by the new Government. Everyone has a role to play in the resuscitation of the economy,” he said.

He urged Eat n’ Lick management to embrace local products and human resource.

“I expect you to employ local people and also buy farm produce from Kwekwe and the Midlands to empower your colleagues in other areas of trade,” said Minister Ncube.

He castigated machete attacks in the city, which he said were driving away potential investors.

“These machetes are bad for business, I urge police to arrest these people and have no mercy on them.

“They drive away potential investors,” he said.

Eat n’ Lick managing director Mrs Tsitsi Musabayana said the Kwekwe branch, the 13th across the country, has a staff compliment of 40 people.

“We have so far employed 40 people and 70 percent of those are from Kwekwe. We are looking forward to increasing the number to slightly above 60 as we grow,” she said.

Mrs Musabayana said the company has already engaged local producers for supplies.

“We have already started receiving inputs from local suppliers as a way of promoting local entrepreneurs and companies,” she said.

She also said the company, with the help of the local authority, is looking forward to engage in corporate social programmes like sponsoring to orphanages and clean-up campaigns.

Eat n’ Lick has 12 other branches in Harare (5), Mutare (2), Kadoma (2), Ruaspe, Chinhoyi and Karoi.