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Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
A REDCLIFF youthful businessman Mr Madro Matiza has opened a new retail business trading under the name JABN Supermarket, which has created 40 jobs.

The supermarket is part of a business network that operates under the Join Africa Business Network (JABN) empire, which includes a hardware shop in Kwekwe, a hotel in Gokwe and a mini supermarket as well as a food outlet in Kwekwe.

The network employs more than 200 youths. The new supermarket is set to cut costs for Redcliff residents as they no longer have to travel to Kwekwe for shopping.

Officially opening the grocery store in the satellite town last Wednesday, Minister for Women Affairs, Community and Small to Medium Enterprises, Dr Sithembiso Nyoni, said it was encouraging to see youths playing their part towards reducing poverty and economic development.

Minister of Women Affairs, Community and Small to Medium Enterprises, Dr Sithembiso Nyoni, touring the JABN Supermarket in Kwekwe last Wednesday. She was accompanied by retail business owner and Kwekwe entrepreneur, Mr Madro Matiza and his wife Mwanaisha

“Government recognises that youth economic empowerment is a critical area, which needs support. My ministry, therefore, together with that of youth and that of higher and tertiary education, is prioritising implementation of strategies and programmes to promote SMEs development and economic growth in Zimbabwe,” she said.

Dr Nyoni said the SME sector had grown to become a contributor to economic growth in the country. She also said it was high time the number of jobs created by the informal sector and the SMEs are factored in the mainstream economic statistics.

“SMEs and the informal sector are contributing to job creation. The formal statistics are saying Zimbabwe has 80 percent unemployment yet if we factor in the SMEs, we find that it reduces only to 5,7 percent unemployment,” said Dr Nyoni.

The SME sector, she said, continues growing despite a number of challenges, but the Government is working flat out to ensure the challenges are addressed.

“Government is doing what it can to address challenges faced by SMEs to ensure that the youths and informal sector become economically self-reliant,” she said.

Redcliff Mayor, Cllr Clayton Masiyatsva said the new supermarket will go a long way in the local authority chasing the dream of being a city by 2030.

“This comes as we are chasing a dream of becoming a city by 2030. We are really glad to see youths playing a leading role in the empowerment drive and help attain the status,” he said.

“We encourage more youths to emulate Mr Matiza and start their business as they contribute towards economic development,” said Clr Masiyatsva.