News / National
Bulawayo thrives with festive shopping and holiday preparations
25 Dec 2024 at 08:20hrs | Views
Bulawayo was buzzing with energy yesterday as last-minute Christmas shoppers filled the city, creating a festive and vibrant atmosphere. Banking halls, supermarkets, and beauty salons were packed, while vendors and businesses recorded brisk sales.
In the central business district (CBD), long queues formed outside banks as residents withdrew money to cover their festive season expenses. Popular money transfer agents like Hello Paisa, Mukuru, Homelink, and Western Union were overwhelmed with customers collecting remittances sent by relatives abroad.
An elderly woman, Gogo Mpofu, expressed her happiness after receiving money from her children overseas. "It's heart-warming to receive something from our children abroad, especially during Christmas," she said. Ms. Sibongile Dube, who received money from her niece in Canada, added, "This will help me cover expenses and enjoy Christmas like everyone else."
Meanwhile, Ms. Joyce Muleya, a 69-year-old pensioner from Ntabazinduna, praised her bank, CBZ, for its reliable service. "CBZ has been consistent with pension deposits, and the staff is always courteous," she shared.
The city streets were heavily congested with vehicles and pedestrians, and vendors at the 4th Street marketplace enjoyed booming sales. One vendor shared, "Christmas shopping has kept me busy all day. The most sought-after items are butternuts, potatoes, tomatoes, and cucumbers."
Supermarkets like OK, Pick n Pay, and Greens were bustling, with shoppers pushing trolleys filled with groceries. Pushcart operators were also busy, competing with cars as they ferried goods to taxi ranks and bus termini.
Edgars Stores CEO, Mr. Sevious Mushosho, commented on the mixed performance of business. "Volumes are slightly below expectations, possibly due to the drought and delayed salary payments for civil servants. We hope for better sales as the day progresses," he said.
Fast food outlets and shopping malls were similarly crowded, while popular hiking spots also saw high activity as travelers sought transport to different destinations.
At the Beitbridge and Plumtree border posts, Zimbabweans, affectionately known as injiva, returned home to spend Christmas with their families. The Beitbridge Border Post saw a significant influx of people, with authorities deploying additional staff to manage the surge. Between December 16 and December 21, 85,846 people entered Zimbabwe, with 75,096 being returning residents. Vehicle traffic was also high, with 3,087 light vehicles, 2,403 buses, and 3,525 trucks crossing into the country. Assistant Regional Immigration Officer Mrs. Canisia Magaya confirmed the daily average of 13,976 entries.
"Although traffic has surged, statistics show a slight decline compared to last year. We've deployed adequate personnel to ensure travelers don't spend long hours at the border," she said.
Travelers praised the introduction of the electronic Temporary Import Permit (eTIP) system, which significantly reduced waiting times for vehicle clearance. "This is a game-changer," said one traveler.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Dr. Takaruza Munyanyiwa, visited the border to assess operations, noting, "Feedback from travelers has been positive. The categorization of traffic lanes into cargo, buses, pedestrians, and light vehicles has greatly improved efficiency."
Plumtree Border Post, where injiva crossed from Botswana, saw similar activity. To ease the process, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) extended operating hours to 24/7 during peak periods. A statement from Zimra noted, "The extension of operating hours facilitates the movement of private travelers during the festive period."
The 24-hour extension ended yesterday, but it will be operational again on January 4th and 5th, 2025. Zimra also encouraged travelers to use the eTIP app to streamline vehicle clearance, facilitating smoother border processes.
The eTIP system is a mobile or web-based application that allows foreign-registered private motor vehicles to apply for a Temporary Import Permit before reaching the port of entry, ensuring a quicker clearance process.
In the central business district (CBD), long queues formed outside banks as residents withdrew money to cover their festive season expenses. Popular money transfer agents like Hello Paisa, Mukuru, Homelink, and Western Union were overwhelmed with customers collecting remittances sent by relatives abroad.
An elderly woman, Gogo Mpofu, expressed her happiness after receiving money from her children overseas. "It's heart-warming to receive something from our children abroad, especially during Christmas," she said. Ms. Sibongile Dube, who received money from her niece in Canada, added, "This will help me cover expenses and enjoy Christmas like everyone else."
Meanwhile, Ms. Joyce Muleya, a 69-year-old pensioner from Ntabazinduna, praised her bank, CBZ, for its reliable service. "CBZ has been consistent with pension deposits, and the staff is always courteous," she shared.
The city streets were heavily congested with vehicles and pedestrians, and vendors at the 4th Street marketplace enjoyed booming sales. One vendor shared, "Christmas shopping has kept me busy all day. The most sought-after items are butternuts, potatoes, tomatoes, and cucumbers."
Supermarkets like OK, Pick n Pay, and Greens were bustling, with shoppers pushing trolleys filled with groceries. Pushcart operators were also busy, competing with cars as they ferried goods to taxi ranks and bus termini.
Edgars Stores CEO, Mr. Sevious Mushosho, commented on the mixed performance of business. "Volumes are slightly below expectations, possibly due to the drought and delayed salary payments for civil servants. We hope for better sales as the day progresses," he said.
Fast food outlets and shopping malls were similarly crowded, while popular hiking spots also saw high activity as travelers sought transport to different destinations.
At the Beitbridge and Plumtree border posts, Zimbabweans, affectionately known as injiva, returned home to spend Christmas with their families. The Beitbridge Border Post saw a significant influx of people, with authorities deploying additional staff to manage the surge. Between December 16 and December 21, 85,846 people entered Zimbabwe, with 75,096 being returning residents. Vehicle traffic was also high, with 3,087 light vehicles, 2,403 buses, and 3,525 trucks crossing into the country. Assistant Regional Immigration Officer Mrs. Canisia Magaya confirmed the daily average of 13,976 entries.
"Although traffic has surged, statistics show a slight decline compared to last year. We've deployed adequate personnel to ensure travelers don't spend long hours at the border," she said.
Travelers praised the introduction of the electronic Temporary Import Permit (eTIP) system, which significantly reduced waiting times for vehicle clearance. "This is a game-changer," said one traveler.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Dr. Takaruza Munyanyiwa, visited the border to assess operations, noting, "Feedback from travelers has been positive. The categorization of traffic lanes into cargo, buses, pedestrians, and light vehicles has greatly improved efficiency."
Plumtree Border Post, where injiva crossed from Botswana, saw similar activity. To ease the process, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) extended operating hours to 24/7 during peak periods. A statement from Zimra noted, "The extension of operating hours facilitates the movement of private travelers during the festive period."
The 24-hour extension ended yesterday, but it will be operational again on January 4th and 5th, 2025. Zimra also encouraged travelers to use the eTIP app to streamline vehicle clearance, facilitating smoother border processes.
The eTIP system is a mobile or web-based application that allows foreign-registered private motor vehicles to apply for a Temporary Import Permit before reaching the port of entry, ensuring a quicker clearance process.
Source - the chronicle
