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Covid-19 jump-starts online retail sales in Zimbabwe

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BY EVIDENCE CHENJERAI

MUTARE- Kenneth Mudzingwa has worked and studied in Turkey for five and a half years.

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To help his two siblings with groceries, the Zimbabwean citizen used a money transfer service that sometimes took days.

But since last June, he has ordered toiletries, cooking oil, maize meal, milk, sugar and other basics via a supermarket website. The items usually arrive in 24 hours.

“My siblings just send me a list of what they want and I complete the transaction from here, and they get notified of the order instantly for collection or delivery,” Mudzingwa said. “It’s a good start, and I hope online shopping improves in all retail outlets back home.”

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Mudzingwa’s experience is mirrored throughout Zimbabwe, where fears of contracting the coronavirus have forced long-resistant shoppers to embrace online shopping, a trend that could ultimately reshape the retail industry in this southern African country.

The shift comes as Zimbabwe continues to battle the coronavirus that causes Covid-19.

More than 3,000 people have died from the disease in a country that borders South Africa, which has the highest number of cases on the continent.

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Since the pandemic erupted in March 2020, Zimbabwe’s government has ordered two nationwide lockdowns, which closed businesses and schools, and kept Zimbabweans at home.

This March, the government partially lifted the latest lockdown. But it left many restrictions in place for businesses, requiring mandatory masks and hand sanitizer, physical distancing, and temperature checks.

As the pandemic has worn on, grocery stores and other retailers have more aggressively promoted online shopping, which Zimbabweans have historically shunned.

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Obstacles to online shopping include the high cost of internet data, a lack of digital infrastructure or weak connectivity in some regions, and security concerns, says economist Prosper Chitambara.

In March, Pick n Pay, a major supermarket chain, saw its Zimbabwe stores lose some $22 million (about US$260,000) to email hackers.

Online sales at OK Zimbabwe Limited, another supermarket chain, have jumped by 800 percent during the pandemic.

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Monthly website visitors grew to 30,000, said Patricia Gondo, the company’s financial services manager.

She said the company, which began selling groceries online in 2019, started the pandemic with a very small online customer base.

SPAR Zimbabwe, another prominent grocer, unveiled online shopping in 2018, but officials say it didn’t catch on until March 2020, when the government announced the country’s first case of Covid-19.

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Average monthly visits in 2020 were 127% higher than 2019, says Louise McAllister, marketing manager for SPAR Zimbabwe.

This year, she says, monthly visits are up 10% over 2020.

To combat Covid-19, both OK Zimbabwe’s and SPAR Zimbabwe’s delivery staff regularly use hand sanitizer, wear masks and submit to temperature checks.

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McAllister says that to maintain physical distancing, SPAR Zimbabwe’s staff delivers to a customer’s porch.

Flexible payment options also have made online shopping more popular.

Only an estimated 1.3% of Zimbabweans over age 15 use credit cards, but in recent years mobile money – paying for goods and services through a cellphone – has surged in popularity.

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Between 2016 and 2018, mobile money transactions leaped 445%, to more than 1.6 million, according to a report last year from FSD Africa, a financial sector development program funded by the United Kingdom.

A postal and telecommunications sector performance report found that in the first quarter of 2020, active mobile money subscriptions rose by 4.6% to reach more than seven million, compared to the fourth quarter of 2019.

Sydney Mangweka, a father of two whose wife works in a different city, says he started shopping online in April 2020.

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A film and music producer who also owns a small printing business, he mainly pays for electricity and buys internet data, groceries and takeout meals.

“Being the only parent at home, it is my duty to ensure the kids have all they need, but due to my busy schedule, I would at times fail to meet that obligation,” said Mangweka (38), who uses mobile money to pay for his goods.

“During the duration of the 2020 national lockdown, as I was working from home, I discovered that I could actually work and shop at the same time using online shopping.”

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He also likes the fact that if both he and his wife are traveling, he can still order groceries to be delivered at home.

Meanwhile, Mudzingwa (25), says retailers need to keep honing the online experience for customers.

“They have a long list of questions you go through when ordering, which puts me off ordering from those shops,” he said.

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Mudzingwa also says sometimes a supermarket doesn’t include basic grocery items among its online offerings, which means he has to hopscotch between online stores to buy everything he needs.

And sometimes he processes and pays for his order – only for it to be delayed.

Nonetheless, both Mudzingwa and Mangweka plan to keep shopping online after the pandemic ebbs.

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Chitambara, the economist, predicts that online shopping’s newfound traction will last, because it reduces the costs that come with in-person sales and lowers the price of goods and services.

“It enhances the long-term welfare and well-being of the economy,” he said. – Global Press Journal

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National

Chidzivo, Waison take top honors at Vic Falls Marathon

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

Blessing Waison and Fortunate Chidzivo took top honors at the 2025 Econet Victoria Falls Marathon yesterday, as Zimbabwean long-distance runners excelled at Africa’s most prestigious road race.

Econet General Manager – Marketing, Mrs Tariro Muchena (left), and Finance Director, Mr Chengeto Moyo, present the winner’s prize to men’s marathon champion, Blessing Waison, at the 2025 Econet Victoria Falls Marathon, while Victoria Falls Mayor, Mr Prince Moyo, looks on

The event, which featured athletes from over 40 countries, saw Waison storm to victory in the men’s full marathon, clocking 2 hours, 13 minutes, and 16 seconds. He narrowly beat decorated Olympian Isaac Mpofu in a thrilling duel that brought thousands of spectators to their feet.

Godwin Katakura followed closely in third, completing an all-Zimbabwean podium sweep in the 42.2km race. The trio’s success came with bigger rewards this year, after Econet Wireless doubled the total prize purse to $50,000.

Waison walked away with $3,000, while Mpofu and Katakura earned $2,000 and $1,500, respectively.

In the women’s marathon, Chidzivo delivered a commanding performance, clocking 2 hours and 42 minutes to claim another major title in her illustrious career. Ethel Pangiso and Phillipa Dube completed the women’s podium in second and third place, respectively.

Rising star Wayne Kabondo turned heads in the men’s 21km half marathon, overcoming a formidable field to finish in 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 44 seconds. Kabondo pocketed $1,500 for his efforts.

In the women’s 21km race, Caroline Mhandu crossed the line in 1 hour, 17 minutes, and 50 seconds, ahead of Miriam Sibanda and Melody Kaseke.

The marathon’s inclusive spirit was evident in the 18km Specially Abled Races, which saw uplifting performances across different categories. Godknows Hamadziripi claimed the men’s tricycle title, while Samson Muroyiwa won the handcycle event.

Among the women, Stella Jongwe triumphed in the handcycle race, and Ratidzo Tomu took first position in the tricycle category.

Organized by Econet Wireless in partnership with Wild Horizons, the 2025 edition drew over 5,000 participants and spectators from more than 40 countries. The marathon route, widely regarded as Africa’s most scenic, winds through game reserves and offers spectacular views of the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls.

https://x.com/vic_falls_live/status/1941861569450725776?s=46

Beyond the races, this year’s event featured live music, traditional dance, health expos, and community wellness activities.

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Zimparks launches elephant culling program

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

In a bid to address the growing elephant population in Save Valley Conservancy, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has issued permits for a controlled elephant management exercise.

The exercise, slated to commence shortly, aims to cull an initial 50 elephants from the conservancy, which is currently home to 2,550 elephants – more than three times the ecological carrying capacity of 800 elephants.

According to ZimParks, the conservancy has been struggling to cope with the swelling elephant population, which has put a strain on the wildlife habitat and resources. Over the past five years, the conservancy has translocated 200 elephants to other areas, including Hurungwe and Sapi, in an effort to manage the population.

Zimparks says the controlled culling exercise is expected to provide relief to the conservancy’s ecosystem, while also benefiting local communities.

Elephant meat from the exercise will be distributed to local communities while the ivory will be kept by the State.

In a statement, ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo emphasized the authority’s commitment to responsible and sustainable wildlife management.

“We remain committed to ensuring that our wildlife resources are managed in a responsible and sustainable manner, for the benefit of present and future generations.”

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In the community

Hwange police seek public’s help in locating missing teen

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BY STAFF REPORTER 

The Hwange police are urgently seeking the public’s assistance in locating 16-year-old Latoya Lisa Munkuli, who went missing on May 7, this month.

Latoya, a dark-complexioned female juvenile, was last seen leaving her residence in Hwange around 4 pm.

She was wearing a distinctive outfit consisting of green trousers and a white T-shirt, and carried a black satchel. She stands approximately 1.6 meters tall.

Inspector Glory Banda of the Hwange police is leading the investigation and urges anyone with information about Latoya’s whereabouts to come forward.

If you have any information about Latoya’s disappearance, please contact Inspector Banda on 0785961747 or 0771256607.

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