Perpetua Murungweni
Masvingo Agricultural Finance Corporation bank (AFC) commissioned its Nyika branch building in Bikita on March 20, where the financial institution expressed commitment towards their clients in the district.
The bank has been operating on rented premises at Nyika Growth Point for a long time before they built their own building.
Speaking on the official opening ceremony AFC bank Managing Director Keneth Chitanda said Nyika branch shows their efforts in assisting and coming closer to their customers as well as assisting the vision of making Bikita town a reality.
“The opening of this branch is part of our growth ambition and efforts to come closer to our customers and assisting the vision of making Bikita a town in 2030 by having a branch that is built according to world class standards,” said Chitanda.
The bank’s Executive Director Devine Ngwenya expressed his gratitude to Bikita Rural District Council (RDC) for giving them land to construct their fixed asset (the bank) on.
“We have been operating just across the road where we were renting a small building but council heard our cry and gave us land to build on and we are grateful for this chance to shine and expand our business,” said Ngwenya.
He also acknowledged their customers’ loyalty and said without their support ‘making it to this this day would have been a failure’.
“Without our customers’ support, the efforts of producing such a master piece of a branch would have been wasted and we are grateful for our customers’ support and they are the reason we are here today,” said Ngwenya.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira hailed AFC bank as an important industry contributing to the attainment of upper middle income society by the year 2030.
“AFC bank is an important industry in our province as it contributes to the attainment of upper middle income society by the year 2030. I am happy to witness AFC bank doing well towards providing funding to our industries and individuals as well as enhancing employment for people.
“We are grateful as a province that AFC bank is a critical partner in both provincial and national development and this helps agriculture to remain a critical sector in the economy,” said Chadzamira.
AFC Commercial bank provides retail banking services, discounting bills, treasury services and bridging finance and agricultural related loans to its customers by giving them access to affordable finance and farming equipment.
AFC bank also supports Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector through its one-stop offer of financial and agricultural support services.
