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The chairperson of tourism organisations in Transvaal Mr Thabang Letlala stresses a point during a meeting at a local Bulawayo hotel yesterday. Inset Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperatives Development Sithembiso Nyoni addresses delegates at the meeting

Bianca Mlilo, Business Reporter
BULAWAYO-based Tshova Mubaiwa Transport Cooperative has sealed a partnership deal with South African Vita bus cooperative aimed at creating a regional transport conglomerate.

The two parties met in Bulawayo yesterday to discuss the modalities of the deal paving way for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding that will see the two cooperatives expand their business to also cater for the growing tourism business.

The creation of synergies will see the two transport operators servicing routes in the two countries and expanding footprint across the region.

Small to Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni was part of the meeting that was held at a city hotel.

She said the idea to implement the synergy came about during the International Cooperatives Day in July in South Africa, which drew representation from several countries that include South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Botswana. The minister told the gathering that it was essential to increase trade among cooperatives and MSMEs within the Sadc region hence the synergy in transport was crucial.

She urged the two partners to forge ahead and ensure that the deal was finalised and implemented.

“They (Vita Cooperative) are here to see how they can work together and strengthen each other. Both have strengths and assets and are looking at how they can expand regionally and chart a way forward,” said Minister Nyoni.

She said if the deal comes through, the two cooperatives would use each other’s facilities when they travel and would operate as one.

The chairperson of the tourism organisations in the Transvaal, who was leading the South African delegation, Mr Thabang Letlala, commended the two governments for facilitating this joint venture, which he said would go a long way in promoting cooperative activities.

“We are here to look at how best we can do it (the joint venture) so that they can be one in operation as small businesses. We are grateful to our ministers Lindiwe Zulu (South Africa) and Sithembiso Nyoni (Zimbabwe) for facilitating this for us,” he said.

Mr Samson Mabunda, who heads Tshova Mubaiwa, said: “We are looking forward to the success of this joint venture and to working together with Vita.”

If the joint venture deal goes through, part of Tshova Mubaiwa’s 200 plus fleet of kombis will ply the Bulawayo-Musina route with Vita buses also allowed to service the Zimbabwe route.

Cooperatives have become a critical player in the country’s economy with many groups of entrepreneurs now running successful businesses out of the initiative.

Bulawayo has emerged as one of the cities with a well organised urban transport system in line with the local authorities’ council.

The city has three official transport cooperatives — Bulawayo City Transit, Tshova Mubaiwa and Bulawayo Public Transporters Association (Bupta). These have helped bring sanity in the industry and have created many job opportunities.

@BiancaMlilo