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Remember Deketeke
Herald Correspondent
WITH only a few days left before schools open for the third term, vendors and small to medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) are enjoying brisk business from the sale of uniforms and stationery.
Stationery and uniform industry is becoming bigger in Zimbabwe.
Before schools open, manufacturers and dealers of stationery and uniforms have a profitable window of opportunity.
With the recent closure of large corporations, SMEs and vendors have taken advantage to make stationery and school supplies that they sell to stores and schools.
In the past, parents used to flood major retail shops looking for uniforms and stationery.
The big retail shops usually increase prices towards the opening of schools due to lack of competition.
And now, the situation has changed as indigenous fashion designers and stationery manufacturers are flooding the market, making it easy for parents and guardians and competition stiffer for big corporations.
Parents also swamped pavement vendors to buy uniforms and stationery.
The major attraction was on parents buying school equipment like calculators, rulers, pens, pencils and laptops among others for their children who will be sitting for ZIMSEC and Cambridge examinations between October and December.
Pavement vendors were selling exercise books for as little as US$4 for 20, the same quantity selling for around US$8 at major retail outlets. Socks for both girls and boys were going for US$0,50, the same quantity going for US$1,00 in retail shops.
The Herald spoke with Mrs Eveline Chijongwe who was relieved that, in contrast to earlier times when they were compelled to buy pricey uniforms from reputable retail establishments, parents now have other cheaper options where they get durable stationery and uniforms.
“Exercise books from China shops and vendors were very cheap. Big retailers are really expensive and I do not even know why they do that because if these vendors can reduce their prices why can’t they do the same,” she said.
Along Leopold Takawira Street, Mr Prince Charidza was buying uniforms at Enbee Stores saying although everyone says the shop is expensive, he prefers it because it sells quality uniforms.
“Yes, the prices are a bit high but I prefer this shop because I am guaranteed good quality. How can a person buy a school shoe for US$5 and expect it to last the whole term especially now that it will be raining,” he said.
Another parent, who refused to reveal her name, said because the textbooks and exercise books she buys on the streets are the same brand as those found in official stores, she chooses to buy them from the streets.
“Since this week will be one of the busiest and most stressful, parents should understand how to properly plan for it. Having someone buy school uniforms at the last minute shows a lack of financial knowledge,” she said.
Online Reporter