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Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
THE fast food business is the in-thing nowadays. The trade has not only been limited to major cities as it has grown to smaller towns like Plumtree. Fanisani Dube, 42, a Madlambuzi “boy” who is based in South Africa, spotted that opportunity and decided to invest R1,5 million in his home town, Plumtree. Last Wednesday the injiva, a popular name for Zimbabweans based in South Africa, opened a state of the art outlet named “Chicken King and Pizza”, which has become a magnet for customers from the town’s suburbs and surrounding villages.

Dube said he noticed an opportunity as food outlets in the town were not offering a variety of dishes.

“I decided to open this restaurant after noticing that other food outlets were offering isitshwala/sadza and rice dishes only. It became my desire to start a place with a style inclined to that of top food outlets in Bulawayo like Chicken Inn,” he said.

“People in Plumtree needed pizza and flame grilled chickens but they weren’t getting these meals. Therefore, I decided to open an upmarket food outlet although it’s still work in progress as it’s incomplete at the moment.”

Dube, who works as a project planner, said his food outlet was ideal as it served dishes that were prepared in a different manner.

He said a number of food outlets were serving oven grilled chicken but he had introduced flame grilled chicken to the residents of Plumtree.

Dube said in addition to these he also offered a variety of traditional dishes.

The food outlet also houses a bar.

He urged Zimbabweans in the Diaspora to invest in their home areas in order to promote growth.

Dube said established Diasporans had to identify gaps within their areas which could boost development.

“When I first went to SA the first job I occupied was as a waiter for three years and that’s where my love for food-related businesses started. Later I vowed to identify a gap within my area under that industry and address it.

“I started building my premises in July last year with a target to open in December. The entire investment is about R1,5 million. It took me longer than I had expected but I’m also planning to turn this place into an entertainment filled area which is suitable for families,” he said.

Dube said the response from clients was overwhelming.

He said he had a staff complement of eight people so far which was set to grow as he expanded his business.

Residents who appeared excited about the new food outlet said it was high time the border town had a variety of service industries.

One customer, Prince Sibanda, said responsible authorities should invite other investors to start businesses in the town.

“It was so depressing that we had to travel all the way to Bulawayo just to buy pizza and ‘chicken inn’. At least now we’ve a service of our own. I hope this is the beginning because we expect to see more investors bringing their businesses to the town.

“We live in a border town that doesn’t have quite a number of essential services. The town’s CBD has to grow and we need more banks, established clothing shops and food outlets operating in our area,” said Sibanda.

He said a number of travellers who were passing through the border town get stranded after failing to access services like food outlets.

“Food outlets like Chicken Inn are almost in every town and I believe that Plumtree Town deserves a branch too as a number of people pass through while in transit.

“The reason why some people rush by without passing through the town is because they know that it has nothing enticing to offer,” added Sibanda.