By Neo Kolane
Ten tenants renting business space at the Basotho Enterprises Development Corporation (BEDCO) premises at Sebaboleng have lashed out at Bedco after being forcefully moved to an alternative office block at the area.
One of the purposes of the corporation is the establishment and development of indigenous Basotho-owned business enterprises with particular emphasis on the promotion of entrepreneurial skills.
Bedco held a press conference at Sebaboleng on Monday to clear rumours that the tenants are being evicted, insisting they are only being relocated to different units.
Bedco Chief Executive Officer, Idia Penane, said in a bid to boost the economy and to promote other businesses, Bedco will be bringing in an anchor tenant whose identity she preferred not to divulge.
Penane said an anchor tenant is considerably a large tenant in a shopping mall, often a department store or retail chain and with a broad appeal, adding such a tenant is intended to attract a significant cross-section of the shopping public to the centre and bring traffic.
Penane said the presence of the anchor tenant will create more jobs for about 30 to 40 people, as well as contribute a large amount to BEDCO in rentals.
According to sources close to proceedings, the anchor tenant is believed to be South African chain store Shoprite U-Save.
One of the tenants, Liteboho Matepe, told theReporter that his business is relocating to a block where they are going to face new challenges as they are going to start afresh.
Matepe slammed Bedco for evicting small Basotho businesses in favour of an established one that can maintain itself.
