Rethabile Pitso
MASERU Mall has added new high profile tenants following the shopping centre’s ongoing relocation of some businesses from its premises to other locations.
Maseru Mall Centre Manager Baholo Chimombe revealed that Multichoice, Vodacom Innovation Centre, Botho University, Elegant Homes and Mamindus Health Care Clinic are among the new businesses that would soon move into the integrated shopping mall with 2nd Wave Gym already operational.
Mr Chimombe said the coming on board of more tenants was part of their strategy to boost the mall’s business profile which had resulted in an 87 percent increase of the occupancy rate last year.
He added that they had also seen the mall’s visitor traffic increase by 16 percent between January 2014 and January 2015. He, however, pointed out that the political stability that characterised 2014 stalled their momentum.
“The process of filling up all the vacant spaces in the mall was slowed down by the political situation last year with some investors expressing reluctance to commit themselves,” Mr Chimombe said.
“But we are glad to announce that we recently signed up some big companies that will be operational shortly after the election period.”
He also assured customers that some shops would remain open during the National Assembly elections on Saturday, saying the decision to open or close shops would be made by individual tenants while the mall’s management had encouraged all its occupants to go and vote.
“We had a staff meeting with our tenants to discuss the opening and closing arrangements during the elections,” said Mr Chimombe.
“We agreed to open on the day of the elections, although it will be a voluntary thing on the tenants’ part. So I cannot say which shops in particular would be open or will be closed, but as management, we have encouraged everyone to go and cast their vote.
“We would like to assure our customers that it will be still safe to visit the mall during the election period and we will maintain our normal routine with regards to trading hours. We remain mindful of the need to offer services to our clients even on election day.”
Maseru Mall, which is three kilometres to the south of the capital’s central business district, was opened in November 2012. It offers a cross-section of department stores, financial services, clothing, grocery stores, health services, home wear, restaurants and line shops among other services.
