Bar and Grill: Chegutu's youngest entertainment jo...

Bar and Grill: Chegutu's youngest entertainment joint

Eddie Zvinonzwa

Correspondent

The sweltering October heat that sapped energy out of most people in the serene mining-cum-farming town of Chegutu, about 100km from the capital, Harare, last week Friday, coincided with the birth of the town's youngest entertainment joint - the Chiyedza Bar and Grill - "KwaSoko".

Located on the western side of Chegutu, the new joint, which promises a complete and wholesome environment to unwind for the Chegutu community and beyond, was filled with pomp and fanfare as patrons were treated to lots of give-aways, discounted drinks, T-shirts and several other items that were being given for free on its official opening on October 25.

In an interview with Zim Now on the sidelines of the official opening, Chiyedza Bar and Grill manager, Terry Mazango said standards had been set where patrons are assured of unique entertainment in a serene environment offering all the convenience to anyone travelling along the Harare-Bulawayo highway given the outlet's location in the city centre.

The opening of the outlet, complementing the already functional Multifresh Butchery and Josh's Chips Takeaway, located next to each other.

Mazango said, was a way of promoting jobs in the town of Chegutu.

"We are giving an opportunity to young people from around the town to showcase themselves. We are also ready to groom the employees, some of whom are coming from university.

"We are bringing convenience as we are in the centre of town. We really appreciate the community of Chegutu for supporting us through thick and thin because we started off with Multifresh Butchery. Therefore, as Chiyedza Bar and Grill, we appreciate the support we got from the Chegutu community and other places over the years and this gives us confidence as we go ahead with our plans to open more and bigger places which will create employment for Zimbabweans.

"So far, we have 22 employees at Chiyedza Bar and Grill, 90 percent of whom are drawn from Chegutu. In other words, we are empowering the people of Chegutu, one of the major towns in Mashonaland West Province.

"There are 20 employees in Josh Chips Takeaway and seven in Multifresh Butchery.

"What we are doing here is that we have a VIP lounge, but we do not segregate. We welcome everyone and do not charge people for being in the VIP lounge."

The spacious tented general area offers adequate sitting space while the canteen serves traditional as well as an array of other dishes, over and above the braai.

One other plus is the secure parking space available at Chiyedza Bar and Grill as opposed to other leisure spots in the city centre.

However, setting up a new business in Zimbabwe has always had its own fair share of challenges, especially those related water and electricity.

"We have to ensure all our systems are working perfectly, including the toilets and as such, we have to bring in water in bowsers and other containers. We have also drilled a borehole in the park adjacent our premises and we have since spoken with Chegutu Municipality so that we adopt the park.

"Power shortages affect everyone, ourselves included. Our back-up power, both solar and generator failed us in a big way today (last Friday) and almost marred our launch," said Mazango.

Revellers also spoke highly of the venue. Theresa Machiona, who said she was on her way to Gweru said she stopped over to buy chips when she could get drinks from next door.

“The music attracted me and I decided to walk in. It is a marvellous place and I will most definitely call again on my way back to Harare when I will most likely have more time. I like the space,” she said.

A former employee of David Whitehead Textiles - the giant that propped the Mashonaland West town for years - who now works at a mine near the town, said the opening of Chiyedza Bar and Grill was crucial in that it is giving people variety in a spacious environment.

"The patron experience is unique and very different. These are things we hear about taking place in Harare, Bulawayo and such other big places. Personally, I'm thrilled we now have this in outlet in our own backyard," he said.

Benjamin Magaya, 54, who works in Chegutu commented the space and variety offered at Chiyedza Bar and Grill.

"The braai that I ordered was done while I sat here. It is quite an experience, my brother. This is the place to be in town,” Magaya said.