Online Reporter
Your Money, Your Call
Cresencia Marjorie Chiremba
Around this time of the year, shoppers across Zimbabwe looked forward to one thing — the OK Grand Challenge.
It was more than a shopping event — it was a tradition, a chance to stretch hard-earned dollars and a moment of joy in households that often had little to celebrate.
This year, just like the previous one, the tills are quiet, the aisles are empty and the familiar excitement has vanished.
For many families, the perceived “collapse” of OK Zimbabwe feels like losing a trusted neighbour.
The supermarket chain was woven into everyday life.
Parents remember taking their children to marvel at the prizes on display, while workers planned shopping trips around payday, knowing they could find bargains and enter the Grand Challenge draw.
It was a ritual that gave hope, especially during the Independence Day week, when people wanted to mark the holiday with food, gatherings and small luxuries.
Shoppers are now left with only memories.
“We used to keep receipts and dream of winning something. Even if you did not win, you felt part of something bigger,” says one shopper outside a closed branch.
That feeling is gone.
Instead, families wander from one small shop to another, often paying more for less. The joy of bargain hunting has been replaced by frustration and fatigue.
The absence of OK Zimbabwe is felt most sharply around this time of the year.
This was the season when the Grand Challenge brought colour and excitement to communities.
People spoke about it in commuter omnibuses (kombis), compared entries at workplaces and shared stories of winners.
It was a shared experience that lifted spirits.
Beyond the promotions, the giant retail shop was a place of connection. Neighbours bumped into each other in the aisles, children tugged at parents for sweets and shoppers exchanged tips on bargains.
The collapse of the challenge has taken away that social space.
Smaller outlets have stepped in, but they cannot replace the scale or atmosphere of the chain. For many, shopping has become a lonely, tiring task rather than a community event.
The impact is practical, too.
The giant retail shop offered variety and bulk deals that helped households manage tight budgets. Without it, consumers face higher prices and fewer choices.
Families who once relied on the chain to prepare for Independence Day gatherings now struggle to find affordable goods.
The collapse is a reminder of how fragile consumer life has become.
When a giant like OK Zimbabwe falls, it leaves a gap that is hard to fill.
For shoppers, it means more than losing a store.
It means losing a tradition, a source of joy and a sense of belonging.
The silence of the closed outlets is not just about business — it is about the everyday lives of people who depended on them.
Families will still gather, cook meals and celebrate in their own ways but the absence of the Grand Challenge will be deeply felt.
The laughter of winners, the thrill of prizes and the shared excitement are gone.
What remains are stories of what once was and the lamentations of shoppers who feel that a piece of their life has been taken away.
Cresencia Marjorie Chiremba is a marketing and customer service consultant, customer experience columnist, and sales and service trainer. Contact details: [email protected] or +263712979461, 0719978335, 0772978335, www.customersuccess.co.zw
Bongani Ndlovu