The Sunday Mail
Theseus Shambare
DESPITE the cool weather, Mr Tendai Chingozho (36), of Kambuzuma, Harare, was sweating profusely as he received his bank card from a shop assistant.
Mr Chingozho overspent during the festive season and now found himself between a rock and a hard place, as he tried to figure out where to get money to buy enough school supplies.
Having gone on a drinking spree with his friends, Mr Chingozho used the money he had set aside for school uniforms.
With little money left, the headache was on deciding which school items to buy first.
Many parents and guardians are finding themselves in this scenario as they shop around for school uniforms and books ahead of the opening of schools tomorrow.
The “January disease” does not pity parents like Mr Chingozho. Many are regretting their actions.
Last week, The Sunday Mail Society observed parents and guardians doing their last-minute back-to-school shopping.
Downtown Harare, the home to most shops that sell school uniforms, was a hive of activity. Chaos and congestion were the order of the day.
Tailors specialising in school uniforms, and sellers of books and other learning accessories were clearly overwhelmed, as demand soared.
Some of the tailors worked late into the night, as they struggled to meet demand.
Traditionally, the opening of schools translates into big business for school uniform tailors, and those who sell exercise books, covers and boarding school accessories.
Small and medium enterprises have since seized the opportunity and are filling the gaps left by some big companies that are no longer operational.
Most retailers have not raised the prices of school uniforms and other items, as was the norm in previous years.
Parents expressed dismay over small-scale retailers and vendors who are selling their wares exclusively in United States dollars.
However, established clothing and book retailers were accepting both foreign and local currencies.
Other parents had to buy from roadside vendors who offered lower prices.
Some established retailers were selling a pair of school shoes for between US$16 and US$18 or equivalent in local currency.
Vendors operating from pavements were selling the same items at a far less price of between US$5 and US$12.
Roadside vendors
With enough stocks, vendors are now capitalising on pushing more volumes at a small profit margin. They now sell school socks for only US$1, compared to US$4 charged at retail outlets.
Roadside vendors have gone an extra mile by also having huge stocks of pirated textbooks from early childhood to Advanced Level.
A Sunrise book for Grade Ones costs US$8 at a formal retail shop, but a pirated version goes for US$2 when it is being sold by vendors.
Some boarding schools require learners to bring their own mattresses. This has resulted in huge sales by some small-scale furniture producers and tailors, who are making a killing out of this demand.
They are tailor-making mattresses that match the consumer’s pocket.
Mattresses are being sold for as low as US$15, and they are made as the customer waits.
Some of the parents who spoke to The Sunday Mail Society were looking forward to the resumption of normal school lessons for learners.
The Sunday Mail Society caught up with Mr Josiah Gavi, who was buying uniforms for his son, who is in Form 2. He criticised parents and guardians who fail to plan for the back-to-school needs.
He said they should not blame the festive season for their failure to send children to school.
“Our children are ready for the reopening of schools. In this era, we should not give excuses for failing to send them to school or providing their needs after the festive season.”
Meanwhile, Government has announced that it is employing more teachers to address the shortage of educators in schools.
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson Mr Taungana Ndoro said all is set for the reopening of schools.
“We are expecting more teachers who are going to be employed by the Public Service Commission to complement the existing staff. As a ministry, we are ready for the resumption of classes,” Mr Ndoro said.
On the other hand, school heads said they had put all systems in place to welcome the learners.
Mrs Cynthia Khumalo, the president of the National Association of Primary Heads urged parents and guardians to play their part.
“I urge parents and guardians to prioritise school fees payment so as to allow the smooth flow of the learning process. As teachers, we are ready to discharge our duties,” Mrs Khumalo said.
