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Canditar Chapanduka, Chronicle Reporter

A 54-YEAR-OLD MAN who lost his sight in 2006 has established a retail outlet chain with five supermarkets.
Mr Tafuma Zhou (54) from Emakhandeni suburb in Bulawayo started with a a tuck-shop in 2005.

He now owns Buzim Investment Supermarkets that he established in 2006.
The businessmen, with the help of his wife Liza, has expanded into horticulture after recently buying land in Richmond and Killarney with the profits he got from his supermarkets.

Mr Zhou said he started by running a tuck-shop in Cowdray Park suburb where he realised there was high demand for groceries and he then opened four more tuckshops.

“It is from these four tuckshops that I managed to mobilise enough resources to open my first grocery shop in Pumula suburb,” he said.

Mr Zhou is now a proud owner of five supermarkets in the City Centre, Nkulumane, Nketa, Cowdray Park and Emakhandeni suburb.

Mr Tafuma Zhou in one of his shops

He said he employs 20 workers at his retail outlets.
Mr Zhou said he started running the businesses when he was 25 years old and that is when he also lost his sight.

“When I became blind I thought of giving up but I later told myself that losing my sight was a minor setback. My wife was by my side and she assisted me to continue with the business,” said Mr Zhou.

He said he has since ventured into farming after buying land in Richmond and at Killarney. “I grow vegetables, tomatoes and I also have pigs, chickens, rabbits and goats,” he said.

Mr Zhou said he plans to grow his retail business by opening more retail outlets even outside Bulawayo. – @NomqheleC.