News / National
Harare bustles with last-minute Christmas shoppers
13 hrs ago | Views
Harare was a hive of activity yesterday as shoppers crowded the city's stores for last-minute Christmas purchases, while hundreds of travelers rushed to rural areas to reunite with their families ahead of the festive season.
The central business district (CBD) was flooded with people scrambling to buy Christmas goods, clothes, and gifts. The shops were busy, with long lines of customers waiting to pay for their purchases. Hair salons and beauty parlors were also packed as many sought to look their best for the holiday.
Long queues were a common sight at banks, with people trying to withdraw cash from ATMs in order to make purchases where cards or bank transfers were not accepted. Money transfer agencies such as Paisa, Mukuru, Homelink, and Western Union also had long lines as people collected remittances from relatives abroad.
The streets in the CBD were jam-packed with vendors selling their goods on the pavements, making it difficult for pedestrians to walk freely. The crowded conditions also created an opportunity for pickpockets to strike, with several pedestrians seen in distress after realizing their wallets or phones had been stolen.
Business owners spoke of running low on stock as a large number of customers flocked to their shops. Ms. Chenai Wimbo, who supplies women's hair products, said that sales picked up dramatically from the second week of December. "During the first week of December, it was slightly quiet, but in the second week, things became hectic. It seems like people only just remembered it's Christmas and started coming in numbers," she said.
Tariro, a shop worker at the corner of Sir Seretse Khama Street and Augustinho Neto Avenue, expressed her exhaustion after a long day. "This is not my shop, but my boss is making money. Since last week, I haven't cashed anything below US$1,000 daily, and I guess it's because we're selling kids' clothes, which parents prioritize for Christmas."
Meanwhile, the usual 15-minute drive from Herald House to Mbare bus terminus turned into a grueling hour-long ordeal due to heavy congestion. Roads were packed with cars, taxis, and buses trying to make their way to the bus rank, where travelers scrambled to catch long-distance buses heading to rural areas.
The situation at the bus rank was chaotic, with touts jostling for customers. Some bus operators had increased their fares for the festive season, with fares to Buhera rising from US$10 to US$15, Masvingo from US$10 to US$15, and Ngundu from US$15 to US$20. Passengers traveling during the festive period can expect further fare hikes as the season progresses, with bus operators justifying the increases by citing the additional weight of luggage and higher fuel consumption.
Ms. Sarudzai Chaipa, a passenger heading to Chiredzi, expressed frustration after missing a direct bus. "I'm waiting for a bus that can take me directly to Chiredzi, but the ones available are going via Ngundu. Just getting to Ngundu costs US$20, and I might end up paying US$30, so I'm hoping to find a direct one," she said.
On some routes, however, fares remained unchanged. Mr. Tinashe Gwekwe, who was traveling to Chinhoyi, said, "If you look, Chinhoyi and Bulawayo routes are still the same. I hope they won't increase tomorrow."
Pushcart operators were also benefiting from the congestion, as they became the most preferred option for carrying goods through the crowded streets. "I'm targeting US$100 a day, and I'm praying that this congestion will persist, so that people will be dropped far from the bus stop, allowing us to charge them handsomely," said Tindo, a pushcart operator.
At the Simon Muzenda Street bus terminus, some operators had marginally increased their fares, with pirate taxis being the worst offenders. "You are hesitant to board this kombi, we're going to increase the fare to US$8 from US$5 at 6 pm," a tout was heard mocking passengers bound for Shamva.
With Christmas only days away, the bustle of activity in Harare is set to continue as more shoppers and travelers prepare for the holiday.
The central business district (CBD) was flooded with people scrambling to buy Christmas goods, clothes, and gifts. The shops were busy, with long lines of customers waiting to pay for their purchases. Hair salons and beauty parlors were also packed as many sought to look their best for the holiday.
Long queues were a common sight at banks, with people trying to withdraw cash from ATMs in order to make purchases where cards or bank transfers were not accepted. Money transfer agencies such as Paisa, Mukuru, Homelink, and Western Union also had long lines as people collected remittances from relatives abroad.
The streets in the CBD were jam-packed with vendors selling their goods on the pavements, making it difficult for pedestrians to walk freely. The crowded conditions also created an opportunity for pickpockets to strike, with several pedestrians seen in distress after realizing their wallets or phones had been stolen.
Business owners spoke of running low on stock as a large number of customers flocked to their shops. Ms. Chenai Wimbo, who supplies women's hair products, said that sales picked up dramatically from the second week of December. "During the first week of December, it was slightly quiet, but in the second week, things became hectic. It seems like people only just remembered it's Christmas and started coming in numbers," she said.
Tariro, a shop worker at the corner of Sir Seretse Khama Street and Augustinho Neto Avenue, expressed her exhaustion after a long day. "This is not my shop, but my boss is making money. Since last week, I haven't cashed anything below US$1,000 daily, and I guess it's because we're selling kids' clothes, which parents prioritize for Christmas."
Meanwhile, the usual 15-minute drive from Herald House to Mbare bus terminus turned into a grueling hour-long ordeal due to heavy congestion. Roads were packed with cars, taxis, and buses trying to make their way to the bus rank, where travelers scrambled to catch long-distance buses heading to rural areas.
The situation at the bus rank was chaotic, with touts jostling for customers. Some bus operators had increased their fares for the festive season, with fares to Buhera rising from US$10 to US$15, Masvingo from US$10 to US$15, and Ngundu from US$15 to US$20. Passengers traveling during the festive period can expect further fare hikes as the season progresses, with bus operators justifying the increases by citing the additional weight of luggage and higher fuel consumption.
Ms. Sarudzai Chaipa, a passenger heading to Chiredzi, expressed frustration after missing a direct bus. "I'm waiting for a bus that can take me directly to Chiredzi, but the ones available are going via Ngundu. Just getting to Ngundu costs US$20, and I might end up paying US$30, so I'm hoping to find a direct one," she said.
On some routes, however, fares remained unchanged. Mr. Tinashe Gwekwe, who was traveling to Chinhoyi, said, "If you look, Chinhoyi and Bulawayo routes are still the same. I hope they won't increase tomorrow."
Pushcart operators were also benefiting from the congestion, as they became the most preferred option for carrying goods through the crowded streets. "I'm targeting US$100 a day, and I'm praying that this congestion will persist, so that people will be dropped far from the bus stop, allowing us to charge them handsomely," said Tindo, a pushcart operator.
At the Simon Muzenda Street bus terminus, some operators had marginally increased their fares, with pirate taxis being the worst offenders. "You are hesitant to board this kombi, we're going to increase the fare to US$8 from US$5 at 6 pm," a tout was heard mocking passengers bound for Shamva.
With Christmas only days away, the bustle of activity in Harare is set to continue as more shoppers and travelers prepare for the holiday.
Source - The Herald
