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Oliver Kazunga Chronicle Reporter
BUSINESSES in Bulawayo recorded brisk business on Sunday from thousands of people who flooded the city centre to witness the official unveiling of the late Vice President Dr Joshua Nkomo’s statue and the renaming of Main Street after the late Father Zimbabwe.President Mugabe presided over the historic function that coincided with the 26th anniversary of the December 22 Unity Accord.
Businesses exhibiting their products along 8th Avenue said the unveiling of the statue attracted people at their stands who made enquiries that were likely to be turned into business if follow ups were made.
Bravo Tours coach attendant Carolyn Gumede said a good number of people were coming to make enquiries at their stand.
“Yesterday (Sunday) was our first day to be here and quite a good number of people came to check our stand and make enquiries about our products and services.
“We are hopeful that the enquiries will be turned into sales and we expectthat more and more people will continue to grace our stand during our time here,” she said.
Business operators said the occasion to mark the official unveiling of Dr Nkomo’s statue presented a marketing opportunity for their products.
An attendant at a food outlet situated corner 8th Avenue and Jason Moyo Street who spoke on condition of anonymity said on the day of the unveiling, sales were recorded mostly on the beverages side.
“We recorded most of our sales on the beverages side. The day presented an opportunity for us on that side,” said the attendant.
First Mutual area manager Christopher Moyo said his organisation received a number of enquiries about their products from people that graced the unveiling ceremony.
Said Moyo: “For us Sunday was a brisk business. The business was good. A lot of people came to enquire about the different products that we offer. We will be here from the day before the unveiling of the statue up to January, 4.”
Some said the unveiling of the statue had set the tone for opportunities that come as a result of the Christmas and New Year Holidays.
Sunny independent distributor Evans Rugube said he was amazed by the number of people that turned out at their stand on Sunday coming to make enquiries about the products offered by his company.
“I was really amazed by the turn out at our stand yesterday. They were coming to our stand and this reflects to me that people are really concerned about their health. A lot of people were asking about the medicinal products that we offer,” he said.
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