News / Local
'Tallest man' to visit Bulawayo
14 Sep 2015 at 06:36hrs | Views
ONE of the world's tallest men, Billal Heyder, who has been turning heads wherever he goes, is expected in Bulawayo today. Pakistani Heyder, 22, who is 2,4m tall, jetted into the country last month at the invitation of local paint manufacturer Splash paints.
Splash Paints Bulawayo manager Johnson Mangwiro yesterday told The Chronicle there was a crisis at a city hotel where Heyder was booked as their beds could not accommodate the lanky man.
By the time of going to print last night, the hotel was reportedly making frantic efforts to make a temporary bed to accommodate Heyder who is expected in the city at around midday. "Billal is coming tomorrow. We're going to host a welcome event at Ascot shopping centre at 3PM.
"On Tuesday, we've an official opening of one of our branches along Fort Street and Billal will be among the guests. The Minister of State (for provincial affairs in Bulawayo) Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo and Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo are on the guest list," said Mangwiro.
He said after the official opening, they would conduct road shows at Bradfield Shopping Centre, Sekusile, Entumbane and the central business district.
"We've got police clearance and the officers will escort the convoy during the road shows to avoid commotion. Bulawayo residents will also get a chance to rub shoulders with one of the world's tallest men," said Mangwiro.
The towering Pakistani caused a stir in Harare when he went on a walkabout in the central business district last month.
Heyder has been touring various parts of the country in the last two weeks.
Mangwiro said: "For Heyder to fly in an aeroplane they had to remove a seat so that he could sit comfortably."
Heyder, who has been growing by one and half inches (about 4 centimetres) since he was 10, 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 a jacket.
The tallest man in the world is 29-year-old Sultan Kösen of Ankara, Turkey whose height stood at 2,51m as at February 8, 2011.
In an interview with our sister paper The Herald, 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, five loaves of the Pakistani bread and a kilogramme of rice. I eat the same food for dinner," he said.
Splash director Anis Patel said the company invited Heyder to the country as they were inspired by his outstanding figure.
"Mr Heyder is an international figure and we want our brand to be international as well. We're proud of our high standards as is Mr Heyder is proud of his height," he said.
Heyder is single.
Splash Paints Bulawayo manager Johnson Mangwiro yesterday told The Chronicle there was a crisis at a city hotel where Heyder was booked as their beds could not accommodate the lanky man.
By the time of going to print last night, the hotel was reportedly making frantic efforts to make a temporary bed to accommodate Heyder who is expected in the city at around midday. "Billal is coming tomorrow. We're going to host a welcome event at Ascot shopping centre at 3PM.
"On Tuesday, we've an official opening of one of our branches along Fort Street and Billal will be among the guests. The Minister of State (for provincial affairs in Bulawayo) Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo and Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo are on the guest list," said Mangwiro.
He said after the official opening, they would conduct road shows at Bradfield Shopping Centre, Sekusile, Entumbane and the central business district.
"We've got police clearance and the officers will escort the convoy during the road shows to avoid commotion. Bulawayo residents will also get a chance to rub shoulders with one of the world's tallest men," said Mangwiro.
The towering Pakistani caused a stir in Harare when he went on a walkabout in the central business district last month.
Heyder has been touring various parts of the country in the last two weeks.
Mangwiro said: "For Heyder to fly in an aeroplane they had to remove a seat so that he could sit comfortably."
Heyder, who has been growing by one and half inches (about 4 centimetres) since he was 10, 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 a jacket.
The tallest man in the world is 29-year-old Sultan Kösen of Ankara, Turkey whose height stood at 2,51m as at February 8, 2011.
In an interview with our sister paper The Herald, 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, five loaves of the Pakistani bread and a kilogramme of rice. I eat the same food for dinner," he said.
Splash director Anis Patel said the company invited Heyder to the country as they were inspired by his outstanding figure.
"Mr Heyder is an international figure and we want our brand to be international as well. We're proud of our high standards as is Mr Heyder is proud of his height," he said.
Heyder is single.
Source - chronicle
