His newly found lifeline has assumed a downward trend as grocery businesses continued to mushroom all over the show, in sharp competition for a static and sometimes shrinking rural customer base.
Nherudzo chronicled his plight to The Zimbabwean at Nhowe Business Centre, Chief Svosve area recently:
As an experienced insurance broker, naturally I was equipped with what was supposed to be enough vision to see that the Zimbabwean economy would not pay dividends to formally employed workers at the turn of the last decade. With more than 16 years experience in the insurance business, I thought it wise to take a chance in an indigenous business venture.
Early in 2000 I tendered my resignation from employment and was awarded a handsome Zimbabwean $3 million exit package. I started with operating various tuck shops in Harares high density suburb of Glen Norah until 2005 when the infamous Operation Murambatsvina struck the country. Business was difficult to conduct then as we sold goods in valueless local currency which we had to convert to South African Rand before purchasing stocks from South Africa.
As foreign currency could be accessed mainly on the black market, galloping inflation and the uncontrolled exchange rate left business people in my situation worse off. Operation Murambatsvina was the last straw.
In a desperate bid to stay afloat, I packed my belongings early 2006 and headed home to Mashonaland East. Armed with huge quantities of goods including cooking oil, soap, powdered milk, toiletries, biscuits and an assortment of non-perishables, I opened up in an abandoned family shop building at Nhowe Shopping Centre.
My business fortunes sunk even further as the worthless Zimbabwean dollars, used as legal tender then, could not afford to restock sold goods due to inflation. Business at the centre was low as customers came in a trickle to make small purchases of basic items such as matches, candles and salt. Wholesalers were based in far away Harare.
As I speak, I still have stocks of some items acquired 2006. Business is unbelievably low here. The bad situation is compounded by the fact that almost everybody is selling something edible to the next person.
Dozens of shops crammed at a small business centres force people to dispose goods at loss making prices. At the end of the day, we are forced to sell goods only to meet key expenses such as school fees for children and medical bills. This is not healthy for business.
At one point we had to take our products to surrounding farms during pay days this gave us temporary relief, but now the number of commercial farms has continued to dwindle as a result of land invasions. The remaining employers transport workers to towns at month end.
At one point I resorted to offering goods to respected members of community on credit terms. The option backfired as some of the so called community leaders such as teachers, nurses, government employees and traditional leadership struggled to pay their debts. Such bad debtors still owe me cash totalling more than $1 000 dating back to 2007. There are no prospects that the debts would be honoured in the future.
Though Nherudzo appreciated the readily availability of food items on shop shelves, he said the agricultural sector should be revived as it was the base of Zimbabwes economic activity. Revival of the sector would result in opening of the manufacturing industry and commerce thus creates the much needed job opportunities.
Post published in: News