Mutare businessman Raja dies

MUTARE – The founding director of Raja’s Dry Cleaners, Mr Vallabh Govind Raja, passed away last week on Thursday after a long illness.

He was 83.

According to the family spokesperson, Mr Hamesh Raja, the late businessman was cremated last Saturday in accordance with their Hindu religion.

Raja’s Dry Cleaners was a long-standing family business that dates back to 1901.

It grew from a small family business in 1901 to become the leading laundry and dry-cleaning business in Manicaland until 2007 when it was sold following the myriad of challenges during the hyper-inflation era.

“George, as he was commonly known, was an outstanding resident of Mutare and a long-serving director of Raja’s Dry Cleaners. The business was started in 1901 by our grandfather and was sustained by our late father, Govind Raja, and later continued by Vallabh himself.

“In 1948, Vallabh left school to join the family-run business and it was his sharp business acumen that steered the business to become the largest laundry and dry-cleaning business in Manicaland,” said Mr Raja.

Raja’s Dry Cleaners served local hotels, hospitals, schools, shops and households. The late Vallabh managed the business for 59 years until 2007.

“It was during the period of Raja’s Dry Cleaners that Vallabh became very well known in Mutare and no doubt won the hearts of many with his loving and caring personality.

“He enjoyed talking and joking with everyone he met and for this reason he will definitely always be remembered and cherished. He was also an active and prominent member of the Mutare Hindu Society and will be missed by the community,” Mr Raja said.

The late Raja left behind four children and 11 grandchildren. Manica Post