MATSAPHA – African Alliance has officially opened the E140 million retail centre in Matsapha. The centre directly creates 250 jobs in this first phase of the development, as announced by Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Trade Manqoba Khumalo.
Speaking during the opening, Minister Khumalo said “The total cost of this project is E140 million, which is inclusive of the interiors. This is only phase 1 of the Matsapha Link retail centre, and I’ve been made to believe that phase 2 will commence immediately after this launch. Phase 2 is going to be estimated at E280 million. This is a sign of confidence, in not Matsapha, but Eswatini as an investment destination. It also creates jobs which are needed by our community.
Echoing the Minister’s words, Matsapha mayor Lucky Sukati said “we are alive to the fact that during the day, we have a population in the region of 35,000, and at night about 7,000. That says to us that Matsapha is indeed the place where you get the employment of Emaswati, Emaswati do invest in Matsapha, and that prides us as an authority.”
Sandile Khumalo spoke on behalf of the shareholders of Greystone, Inala, Lojaf and the Alliance Foods Umbrella brands, which include KFC, OBC and Westpack Lifestyle. He said that, “Through combined baragaining efforts, Emaswati today own brands that we have long associated with foreign capital and foreign ownership. We are however today witnessing the ownership of business ownership Eswatini return to Emaswati – Emaswati are taking charge of their own economic recovery”.
It is expected that as the second phase of the project development continues, a further 200 jobs will be created for the people in Matsapha.
