Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Sikhulekelani Moyo, [email protected]
RESIDENTS from Bulawayo’s Entumbane suburb and surrounding areas have expressed concern over the closure of the OK supermarket at Entumbane Complex, stating that the outlet was a key service provider for the community and its presence supported other businesses in the area.
OK Zimbabwe shut the branch after experiencing stock-outs during the third quarter ending 31 December 2024, which reduced product availability to around 50 percent of normal stocking levels.
This development sparked speculation that the retail giant was facing significant challenges.
In interviews yesterday, residents and others operating at Entumbane Complex said the closure has had a severe impact, with some now forced to travel to town to access services that OK previously provided.
“The closure of OK has affected our businesses and daily shopping. The area is now quiet with little activity; the supermarket used to attract people, and some local businesses benefited from that,” said Mr Alphonse Munanga, who operates a hardware store at Entumbane Complex.
“OK used to offer money transfer services, so people would come to collect their money and then pass by some of the shops around here to buy a few things, but now our businesses are suffering.”
Ms Doroth Doma added that OK was the only retail outlet that accepted ZWG, and now people are forced to travel to the city centre to do their shopping.
“We used to walk to Entumbane Complex to collect money from Mukuru and Hello Paisa, but now we have to go to town, and sometimes we struggle to afford transport,” said Ms Doma.
“Also, I used to shop at OK using my ZWG, and most of the shops here no longer accept it, with some placing limits on the number of products that can be bought using local currency.”
The presence of supermarkets like OK in the suburbs is one of the factors being considered by vendors and traders who are contemplating relocating from the central business district (CBD).
The local authority is working on decongesting the CBD, with vendors advised to use vending bays in different suburbs. However, due to a lack of activity in these areas, vendors continue to defy council directives, arguing that they would not be able to attract customers, which adversely affects their livelihoods. — @SikhulekelaniM.
Online Reporter