via Bulawayo’s John Love Motors shuts down | SW Radio Africa 11 July 2014 by Mthulisi Mathuthu
Bulawayo’s John Love Motors has become the latest company to shut down, with observers saying the demise of one of the most popular firms will further diminish the city’s image.
John Love has been in operation for four decades and was one of the major firms associated with Bulawayo’s image as the country’s industrial hub. Until 2008, when it first experienced acute financial problems, John Love was the only Isuzu dealer in the Southern region servicing the Masvingo, Midlands and Matabeleland provinces.
According to state media reports, the closure of the firm was announced to workers by the owner Ashton Ndlovu. Workers, who were seen filling in pension forms, said ahead of the closure Ndlovu was already relocating company assets to Harare where he is based.
Hundreds of companies have closed in Bulawayo over the years while many have been downsizing, leaving thousands of people unemployed, something which community leaders say has significantly contributed to the crime rise. The collapse of Bulawayo’s industrial base has been so dramatic and evident that even President Mugabe once equated the country’s second largest city to ‘a big scrap yard.’
Company closures can be attributed to shortages of water, erratic power supplies antiquated machinery and of course the almost complete economic collapse. But most residents don’t accept these justifications, particularly as most of the firms relocate to Harare.
Many people in Matabeleland believe the ZANU PF government has a deliberate policy to destroy their region culturally, politically and at an industrial level and say this plan was crafted shortly before independence.
Ibhetshu Lika Zulu spokesperson Edwin Ndlovu gave a typical view saying their pleas for policies that would reverse the trend have fallen on deaf ears, leaving them with no option but to believe the sabotage theory.
He said: ‘It seems this is a calculated move to frustrate the people of Bulawayo and Matabeleland and is in keeping with the 1979 Grand Plan.’ He added: ‘They are saying there is no water in Bulawayo which is not true so definitely it shows that some people are sabotaging our region.’
Ndlovu, who is a senior member of the MDC-T, warned that the government was sitting on a time bomb because 90 percent of youths are not working. He said while many were scared of taking any action because of the memories of the 1980s genocide which left an estimated 20,000 people dead it won’t be long before an uprising erupts.
In November last year former Minister of State Enterprises and Parastatals, Gorden Moyo, told SW Radio Africa ZANU PF had a program to de-industrialise Bulawayo ahead of a ‘full takeover by state agents under the pretext of resuscitation.’ He said the people were being punished for persistently voting against Mugabe’s party.
COMMENTS
Well we have been talking about this for some time now on this forum. The problem is that even if investors come to this region the Government makes sure they don’t succeed. Look at the Evans/Deneke situation, and they are Zimbabwean. I do not believe the country should split, but those that do have a point. What is the point of being in a union that favors one side? These opposition politicians better wake up and get rid of Zanu or else the temptation of a Sunni/Shiite setup happening in Iraq will look very likely in Zimbabwe.
just go on destroying the town bufoons
Only fools use water and power shortages as an excuse for killing a beautiful town like Bulawayo for political reasons.If water shortage is true -Why have the city council increased our daily use from 350 litres per day to 750 litres per day as from the beginning of May this year?Secondly,power shedding is done to every city including Harare so these items or resources are common to all cities.What is not common is the local language,therefore those who punish Bulawayo are true tribalist who claim not to know Ndebele after staying for more than 40 years in Matebeleland.These people are a danger to society and to themselves because they fail to develop as human beings created in the image of God.Shame on their limited mentality and common sense.
Sad indeed.Bought my brand new Isuzu D/Cab there in 1997 for 97 000 zim dollars and sold it 2002 for 3.7 Billion.
Definitely Sanctions!!!!
John love failed to meet the conditions set out for them by dealers. A few meters from them is Autoworld now running the Isuzu dealership – supplying vehicles to Mimosa, Hwange and farmers and the general public – Not fully in picture of what really was happening at John Love – Ndlovu failed to turn around the company in the US dollar error.
Bulawayo is turning just that the economy shifted from manufacturing to trading! Uganda has very little industries and is people here are very resilient and innovative – i have seen we can do it.
Pragmatically this is not sustainable and acceptable.Let those on vantage points do something.
No comment from economists like Eric Bloch who has the economy at heart and other civic leaders why?
On the whole would be better if the region was annexed to another country if no one is prepared to save it. the country it is annexed to will probably do more for it how long are people expected to endure the hardships because of one evil person – one does not run a country like this
Why is it whenever such misfortune befalls Bulawayo, the tribalism card is quick to be raised. When companies in Mutare, Kwekwe or Masvingo close, we do not hear the same. I find really distressing that some people actually believe the conspiracy theories that out Matebeleland it is first world development.
What is a `company` a group of people employed to pull knowledge and efforts together to make progress in the services they provide to the public in exchange for wealth! So normally it is not the employer who fails its employees, yet the other way around. The reason the company fails is normally the employees feel they don`t have to abide by rules and regulations, and don`t have to apply the skills or efforts to their best of their ability that they were employed for, yet when the company fails its the employers fault for failing his employees. Teamwork is essential from top to bottom and although there may be many contributing factors we as Zimbabweans are feeling the pinch it normally is not 100% a reason to blame the country, economy or certain individuals for failure. However it could be as a result of ones own lack of foresight, drive, contribution and motivation to press forward for better or worse. In other words you as an employee or employer on get out what you are prepared to put in. So to cut a long story short, we are all in the same boat, yet some people and companies are making it work, so rather look to yourself for reasons of failure than to others to blame that failure on! “Change the way you think – Change your life!“