BY MBONGENI NDLELA
MBABANE – It’s back to business for OK MiniMark.
Residents of Luyengo and surrounding areas can now enjoy buying groceries and other accessories at the now rehabilitated OK MiniMark.
This shop closed its business after it got burnt down by arsonists during the June 2021 unrest that left many businesses affected.
Indeed, the Reconstruction Fund launched by His Majesty the King has managed to get back many businesses on foot. Evident is OK Group which suffered combined damage worth E67 million due to the unrest damages.
Today, hopes were revived in Luyengo when the acting Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Trade Dr. Thambo Gina officially relaunched the shop.
It has since been stated that the business now relaunches bigger and better.
EPN has gathered that previously, the shop covered about 200 square metres, with only 10 employees.
However, its rehabilitation has increased its space to cover 650 square metres, bringing employment to 39 emaSwati.
Speaking during the launch, Minister Gina said “Government, through the Reconstruction Fund, has been able to assist this business to rebuild and be back to business. Under the Fund, the business has benefitted to the tune of E7 Million covering also other stores under the Linac Investments.”
He continued: “It is not only OK Foods that was affected but also their suppliers through a decline in the volumes of orders and they also had to lay-off and retrench staff as a result.”
The minister, who also doubles as Lubulini Member of Parliament stated that the industry as a whole suffered major stock shortages due to the unrest because many manufacturers lost their businesses and could not produce enough to sustain the demand.
“….this, in turn, saw price increases across a number of basic commodities,” he said.
