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ZVISHAVANE businessman, Mr Antony Clever Pote, was rewarded for his hard work when Megafest named him among Zimbabwe’s Top 20 Outstanding Men in Business for 2013 at a colourful event held in Harare recently. A number of top corporates in the country were also honoured for their various contributions at the same event.

Mr Pote dedicated his award to the community of Zvishavane, his staff and the Midlands province. He said he was humbled by the recognition bestowed on him as one of the country’s top businesspeople.

“This award is a result of team work. At Pote Holdings, we have a team of dedicated staff that is hard working. This has seen us winning a number of awards in the past. I am grateful to my workforce because for me to be where I am today, it’s because of them. I am also grateful to our many suppliers who never fail to bring our orders on time. To the community of Zvishavane and the corporate world that deal with us, this award is for you,” said Mr Pote.

The Zvishavane-based businessman is not new to winning awards as he has a number of awards under his belt.
Pote Hill Lodge emerged as winner  in the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce Hospitality Category awards recently. In August, Mr Pote was chosen to lead a Midlands Youths Empowerment Retail Association and impart entrepreneurial skills to the group.

“I am grateful and humbled by the awards that come my way. I, however, feel I can still do more. I want to appeal to the Government to fully utilise all top 20 businesspeople and make use of them in turning around the economy. These are people with entrepreneurial skills and talents. The Government should not leave out such group in its economic projects, if our country is to prosper. We are all committed and willing to help our country,” said Mr Pote.

He said the businesspeople can help develop the infrastructure of the country, if Government partners them. Mr Pote said Government should help business people get land from local authorities to develop commercial stands for shops.

Other prominent companies that do business with Pote Holdings are mining giants like Mimosa Mining Company, Shabanie Mashaba Mines, Sabi Mines, Murowa Diamond Mines, schools, hospitals, churches and various other organisations.

Mr Pote’s business empire employs 400 people.  This translates to over 1 000 people who directly and indirectly depend on the Pote business empire for a livelihood, if one includes the workers’ families.

He operates a world class lodge, Pote Hill Lodge, a chain of supermarkets and wholesaling businesses in Zvishavane, Mberengwa, and in his home area, Chivi in Masvingo.

Mr Pote’s business empire also includes a transport company with 26 trucks (30-tonne), a borehole drilling company and small-scale mining. He is also into farming.

On his future, Mr Pote intends to expand his business to other parts of the country with his first stop being in the mining town of Shurugwi. He also intends to construct and run a private boarding school in Zvishavane.

“These plans are at an advanced stage. We have already acquired land for the shopping mall in Shurugwi which we intend to start constructing on next year. We are also working on constructing a boarding private school for both primary and high school pupils. It will be one of the best in the country because we at Pote have always been on top of everything we engage in. We intend to expand our farming activities next year as well,” he said.

Pote Holdings always ploughs back to the community which supports its businesses as part of its social responsibility.  The company donates food hampers to Jairos Jiri in Zvishavane every month and it also drilled boreholes for Zvishavane residents to alleviate water shortage in the asbestos mining town.

“We also make regular donations to schools, hospitals, churches, soccer teams and youths who seek to embark on income generating projects. We also hold regular draws quarterly for our customers where the top winner drives away a brand new car. The supermarket side of our business is running a Christmas Drive Promotion and lucky shoppers stand to win six cars.

Some of the cars were donated by our suppliers and there are lots of other top prizes to be won. This is our way of thanking the community for supporting us,” said Mr Pote.

In 2008, Mr Pote’s drilling company sunk a number of boreholes in Marecha, Virikai and Mhosva Villages under Chief Chivi as a drought mitigation strategy.