Companies snub mayor’s Christmas cheer fund

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THE business community in Gweru snubbed this year’s mayor’s Christmas cheer fund launch, with only a handful attending, as the economic situation continues to affect the few operating industries in the city.

THE business community in Gweru snubbed this year’s mayor’s Christmas cheer fund launch, with only a handful attending, as the economic situation continues to affect the few operating industries in the city.

Stephen Chadenga OWN CORRESPONDENT

The city’s beer concern, Go-Beer was recently shut down, with some workers going on forced leave, while a host of other companies are failing to pay salaries as well as meeting other operational obligations.

Last Friday’s Christmas fund launch managed to raise $2 000 including pledges, against a target of $15 000. In 2013, the cheer fund was short of $4 000 against a target of $15 000 and only managed to raise $11 000.xmas_tree_

Gweru mayor Hamutendi Kombayi pleaded with stakeholders to assist the less privileged with the little they can afford.

“The economic situation might not be that rosy, but as city fathers we are appealing to organisations as well as residents in general to extend the hand of giving for the cause of the under-privileged,” he said.

Kombai paid tribute to the companies and individuals who continued to help the less privileged despite the economic challenges being faced in the country.

In recent years, Gweru has been facing de-industrialisation with the collapse of Ziscosteel triggering the closure of downstream industries based in the city.