The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa:Business Correspondent
THE National Social Security Authority (NSSA) last week on Thursday officially opened a state-of-the-art shopping centre worth millions of dollars in Chipinge town.The shopping centre, which took 16 months to be completed, is the first major construction development in Chipinge town over a decade. The mall is attracting leading retail shops in the country with listed retail giant OK Zimbabwe having already relocated to the new structure with improved facilities.
NSSA general manager Ms Liz Chitiga said the organisation would continue to actively invest in assets that bring an economic return and that are socially driven to benefit the community in general.
“We are driven to improve service delivery in Zimbabwe guided by the key tenants of Zim-Asset. As per invitation by people in Chipinge, NSSA is set to make a one top shopping experience here.
“The building we constructed will provide basic shopping requirements, banking facilities, medical facilities, beauty salon facilities and fast food operations on the building floors. Of course, the NSSA sub-regional offices is located there too with modern facilities to provide better services,’’ said Ms Chitiga.
She added that NSSA had made the building accessible by foot, wheel chair and elevator for the elderly. During the construction of the centre, an average of 25 Chipinge employees were always working on the site every month, thereby providing jobs and income for local workers and their families.
Officially opening the building, the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Mrs Priscah Mupfumira hailed NSSA for constructing the building early and challenged the local authority to support the new shopping mall with the relevant utilities.
“My ministry is grateful on the work being done by the new board chair Mr Robin Vela. The board hired executive management, creating a blend of new talent and seasoned, experienced executives under the leadership of its female general manager, Ms Liz Chitiga to achieve NSSA goals.
“I hope to see the Chipinge Town council support this new development by improving service delivery such as refuse collection, water supply as without these basic services the commercial centre is likely to deteriorate,” said Minister Mupfumira.
Chipinge business community chairperson Mr James Gabaza welcomed the NSSA gesture and urged some key parastatals to come to the town and develop.
“As Chipinge business community we are saying well done NSSA for beautifying our town. We are inviting companies and parastatals to come here and invest since there are many business opportunities here,” said Mr. Gabaza.
