Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – ZANU PF Secretary for Administration, Obert Mpofu, officially opened the Karan Fuel Station in Belmont, Bulawayo. The Southern Petroleum Fuel Station is owned by Bulawayo businessman and ZANU PF Politburo Member, Elifasi Mashaba. Southern Petroleum has partnered with the Karan Group, led by CEO Deepak Mahajan.
During the opening ceremony, Secretary Mpofu expressed his pleasure at the development, stating,
It is my greatest pleasure to be with you this morning to officiate the opening of Karan Fuel Station. I wish to thank Cde Mashaba and his partner, Mr. Deepak Mahajan, for inviting me to this auspicious occasion in Bulawayo.
Secretary Mpofu
He further emphasized the significance of the development, particularly in light of Bulawayo’s economic potential.
I have witnessed a lot of development in other cities of the country. Bulawayo, with a 12% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) this year, has the potential to be an industrial hub. However, many industries remain idle due to a lack of investment. I am happy that Deputy Minister of Industry Raj Modi has successfully navigated the challenges of business and has recently completed the construction of one of the best hotels in town on Park Road in Khumalo.
Secretary Mpofu
Mpofu concluded by officially opening the Karan Fuel Station, highlighting the collaborative effort with Indian partners.
Elifasi Mashaba, the owner of Southern Petroleum, emphasized the partnership with the Karan Group as a step towards realizing Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030.
This is the first outlet to be opened in Zimbabwe as part of a partnership between Southern Petroleum, which has been operating for the past 20 years, and the Karan Group. This collaboration aligns with President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030, which aims to achieve a middle-income economy and attract foreign direct investment (FDI). This is our small contribution to this vision,
Mashaba said.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Deputy Minister of Industry Raj Modi, Permanent Secretary Nyoni, and various ZANU-PF officials.
