Bulawayo supermarkets out of Easter eggs

MAJOR supermarkets in Bulawayo are without Easter eggs and there is no activity in the city to suggest that Easter, a major holiday on the Christian calendar, begins tomorrow.
The holiday will end on Monday.

Over the past years, supermarkets would be awash with Easter eggs, bunnies and an assortment of Easter memorabilia, but this is not the case this year.

A snap survey conducted by Chronicle in the city revealed that supermarkets such as TM Jason Moyo, TM Hyper and TM Fife Street, OK, Buscod and Tashas did not have Easter eggs on their shelves.

The shops visited that had Easter eggs was TM's branch in Bradfield and a shop located in the Haddon and Sly building where a small egg was going for five rand and the largest on offer for $2.
The shop's owner who only identified herself as Mrs Gono said the Easter eggs were flying off the shelf.

"I have phoned my contact in South Africa to send more Easter eggs so that I can sell during the holiday. My stock levels are very low as people have been coming into the shop and buying them," she said.

Mrs Gono said she was not aware that there were no Easter eggs in the major supermarkets in the city.

Meanwhile, residents who spoke to Chronicle said they would spend their Easter holiday attending all night vigils at their churches while others said they would spend time with friends and relatives.

Gogo MaNdlovu of Nkulumane, who is self-employed, said she would be attending her church's national conference that would begin tomorrow and end on Monday.

"There would be a lot of people coming from all corners of the country converging on our church in Entumbane. Last year I had a blessed time and I came out feeling rejuvenated by the Word of God," she said.

Gogo MaNdlovu who attends Christ Life Church whose headquarters are in Entumbane said the youth should desist from promiscuity so as to curb the scourge of HIV.
Another resident, Mr Owen Longwe of Mpopoma suburb, said he would be out of town on business during the Easter  period.

"I will be in Ntabazinduna on business, which is unfortunate because I would be away from my family. As a man you have to look for money because I am self-employed.

"The holiday is very significant because of the death of Jesus Christ and my wife would be attending the holy mass on Saturday at St Patrick's," he said.
Miss Mandisa Dube of Hillside said she would spend the holiday relaxing at home.
"I will do my washing and ironing on Friday and then on Saturday I will be at home resting the whole day," said Miss Dube.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo urged people not to drink and drive and avoid being involved in violence.
He said people should not leave their homes unattended as thieves would take advantage to steal their property.

He said the police would be in full force to ensure peace and security and the reduction of crime in the city during the Easter period.

"We cannot provide a safe environment without the co-operation of the residents of Bulawayo. The public transporters should be extra careful when plying their routes to avoid fatal accidents," said Insp Moyo.

In Christian countries, Easter is celebrated as the religious holiday to mark the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, while some people during the same period are involved in feasting and merry-making.