WILDFIRES LEAD TO BUSINESS SHUTDOWN

 EZULWINI – ‘Wild’ fires have cost small businesses contracted to forestry companies a fortune.  One classical example is PMD Forestry Harvesting which had to shut down after wildfires gutted down the forests of then Mondi Forests in 2007.

Managing Director (MD) Petros Mnisi recounted how they closed shop in 2010 because they were no longer generating any revenue from forestry harvesting because their main contractor, Mondi Forests, could not give them any more business as a result of the wildfires.

Convened

Mnisi said their business, which had been financed by Industrial Development Company of Eswatini (IDCE) in 2002, had been sustained by the work which was being provided by Peak Timbers.

“From 2010 to 2014 the business was not operational as a consequence of the wildfires,” said Mnisi when addressing delegates who attended the IDCE seminar convened at Royal Villas yesterday.

The MD said their business was finally revived after they had been granted a tender forestry harvesting after expression of interests were issued in 2015.
Mnisi informed the gathering that he had sold all assets acquired by the business since it became operational which prompted them to rent equipment when it was eventually resuscitated.

“Thanks to IDCE who have the interests of local businesses at heart we now have assets valued at nearly E2 million. Had it not been for them, we would still be struggling even today,” Mnisi confessed.

Declared

It should be mentioned that Eswatini declared a national emergency in response to raging fires that swept through parts of the kingdom, engulfing as many as 300 homesteads, killing livestock and destroying crops and large swathes of commercial tree plantations.
At least a dozen people died, and firefighters sought to contain the blazes but high winds made extinguishing them an all but impossible task.

On other hand, Sincobanjalo Investments Project Manager Xolile Magagula also said had it not been for IDCE’s investments into farms where they grow sugar cane, they would neither be employed nor generating any income.
“Sincobanjalo would have collapsed if IDCE was not considerate of our financial position,” said Magagula.

Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund Director Bhekizwe Maziya also appreciated the partnership that exists between them and IDCE. He said it was the primary reason why they had recently opened up to the youth to make applications for funding.
“The partnership with IDCE enables us to provide funding beyond our financial limits,” said Maziya.                          

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