TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO
The Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Matabeleland Chapter says businesses in region have embraced digital platforms as part of efforts to increase their visibility and market their products.
The ZNCC regional chairman, Mckenzie Dongo, said businesses were making use of social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram to market their products.
“(This year) has been a difficult and challenging year for most businesses due to lockdown and Covid-19 constraints to businesses. Businesses have learnt to adapt to the new normal to come up with strategies which include utilizing virtual platforms,” Dongo said.
He added: “It has managed to make our business easier to maintain and engage with other companies and customers. It has been a great experience as we have learnt on doing at the same time developing our businesses.”
Dongo is hopeful next year will be a better year as it seems to be looking brighter. He said businesses have started focusing and strategising on the post Covid-19 era.
Nelisiwe Sibanda, a hairdresser in Bulawayo, said she got a number of positive responses through social media platforms.
“After realising that the lockdown will drag on for too long which would cost me money, I decided to collect some of my equipment from my shop and place it at my home and I started to hunt for clients.
“I first made follow-ups on my clients and I went on to advertise my services on WhatsApp. I managed to get a number of positive responses though it wasn’t a great response since most ladies were not doing their hair as they were not going to work.
“Despite these challenges I had no other option but to soldier on. This past week I started recording an increase in my clientele,” she said.
According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care daily report, as of Monday, Zimbabwe had recorded 165 002 cases, 129 562 recoveries and 4 735 deaths since March last year.
Active cases rose to 30 705 from 2 843 in 10 days.
In view of the fourth wave, which the new variant, Omicron, seems to aggravate, President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently announced new lockdown measures.
The new regulations stipulate that everyone entering Zimbabwe must undergo a Covid-19 PCR test even when they produce a Covid-19 free certificate from elsewhere.
