Tallest man charms Zanu-PF officials

ONE of the world's tallest men, Billal Heyder, has been charmed by Zimbabweans' hospitality and the beauty of the country. Heyder yesterday caused a stampede in Bulawayo's Central Business District as residents jostled to be taken pictures with him. The Pakistani, a brand ambassador by profession, was brought into the country by local paints manufacturer, Splash Paints, as part of an advertising strategy.

"I've been to many places in the world but I had the best reception here in Zimbabwe. This is a beautiful place and there are beautiful people as well. I didn't know much about Zimbabwe before," Heyder told The Chronicle. Soon after his arrival, Heyder went to the Zanu-PF provincial headquarters where party members could not get enough of the towering 22-year-old.

Splash Paints managing director Anis Patel formally introduced the 2,4m tall Pakistani before his entourage moved to the company's shop along Fort Street. Residents watched with bated breath as Heyder got into the car with the general feeling it was too small. Patel said his company would paint the Zanu-PF provincial headquarters as part of its community social responsibility.

Zanu-PF provincial chairman Dennis Ndlovu appealed to Patel to move his company headquarters to Bulawayo. "We would like to thank Splash Paints for pledging to paint our offices but we're urging them to move their headquarters to Bulawayo. There are plenty of opportunities for them here," said Ndlovu.

Excited chattering reached fever pitch as the ever-smiling Heyder met scores of people who had waited to see him at the Splash paints outlet. "Can he talk?" "What shoe size does he put on?" were some of the popular questions. In an exclusive interview yesterday Heyder said he was delighted to be in Zimbabwe.

Talking about his extraordinary height, Heyder said he had become comfortable with it. "I've learnt to adjust but it was hard at the beginning. Wherever I go people stare at me but I don't take offence. It's part of my life," said Heyder speaking through an interpreter. Heyder says he went as far as Form Six and makes a living by being a brand ambassador for different companies as well as advertising and modelling.

"I've been to Dubai, New Zealand, France, Japan, and United States and I'm planning to visit South Africa," he said. Heyder who is still single says he has no intention of getting married soon. "According to our culture marriages are arranged by parents but as of now I'm not in a relationship," said Heyder.

The lanky Pakistani has been growing by about four centimetres since he was 10 and is expected to continue growing taller. He wears a size 16 shoe and needs 10 metres of fabric to make a pair of trousers and jacket. The tallest man in the world is 29-year-old Sultan Kösen of Ankara, Turkey, whose height stood at 2,51m as of February 8, 2011.

Heyder revealed that for breakfast, he eats two Pakistani loaves of bread, 10 eggs and drinks two litres of milk. "For lunch, I drink five litres of water and five loaves of the Pakistani bread and a kilogramme of rice. I eat the same food for dinner," he said. The towering Heyder said he spends about $600 on food every month.

Heyder drives a sponsored vehicle specifically made for him and has to book a front row seat in the business class when he is flying. "My favourite sport is cricket and my wish is to join the army, I've always wanted to be a soldier since childhood," he said. Today Heyder will visit Bradfield, Sekusile and Entumbane Shopping Centres as well as the CBD as part of his road show after the official opening of Splash Paints in Fort Street.