23 September 2022
07:00 Hours CAT
Zim GBC News
By Natalie S Nyathi
The continued plummet of the Zimbabwean dollar with a kneeling economy plus skyrocketing unemployment figures has forced many to resort to what has been widely termed as hustling.
To “hustle”, be hustling or be a “Hustler” are slang terms which are used by rappers in rap/hip-hop music to represent working hard and money making.
Well, in Zimbabwe hustling means erking an living whichever way that will place a plate of food on the table.
Online marketing of clothes has now become one of the major ‘hustles’ to hit the country as youths and adults alike struggle to survive.
Many social media users in Zimbabwe are now making a living through online boutiques. These sellers are commonly referred to as runners.
Runners receive orders from customers who place such orders using online platforms such as mobile phones or laptops in the comfort of their homes then the products are delivered to them without having to go outside the country to purchase such items.
Items sold online range. from food to clothing and household utensils.
Runners have created groups on the WhatsApp platform were their customers place orders and make arrangements for payment.
“The economical situation of our country has forced me to be an entrepreneur at a tender age of 18, already business woman so that l help lessen the burden my parents have in raising fees for 5 children since the salaries they get as teachers is not enough to cater for the needs of the whole family”, said Ashy Ndlovu one popular runner.
These runners are so adventurous as well as so convincing such that they are so abreast with the trending fashions worn by teenagers born in the 2000s, usually called ama2k, that they are always up to date with the fashion trends thus capitalising on that by providing renowed brands from as far as Tanzania ,DubaI, Zambia and South Africa.
The pricing for online shopping ranges from as little as $US5 a dress , male suits from R700 and female two piece suits at $US25 .
Sandile Tshuma a primary school teacher said,
” The economic situation has to some extent became a blessing in disguise such that l have learnt to think outside the box and also to multi task between teaching and also selling clothes online “.
Upon being asked of the challenges they encounter in their Online business most runners bemoaned on how they have to deal with aggressive customers who might have not got the exact item they had ordered online and at times some orders take longer than the expected while at other times some never come since most the products are not declared at the bordered but rather smugled and the runner is left to explain that to impatient customers.
While Online selling of clothes is thriving, there is also Khothama which is cheap that at US$0.50 one can get two pairs of socks and the customers have a choice to pick what they want there and there without having to wait for days for their order.
Khothama is a SiNdebele word meaning bend. Customers have to bend. down and pick their choice of clothing since these are sold from bales on the ground.
There are no shops at Khothama.
Most clothing sold from bales at Khothama are old second hand clothes but of good quality and if one is lucky they can buy brand new clothes that even have tags.
“For as little as $US2 dollars one can buy a quality blouse and a string top at as cheap as $US1 at Khothama “,said a regular Khothama customer Jackie Moyo.
On being asked of the challenges they face whilst selling bales the vendors bemoaned the fact that they are always on the run so as to avoid the authorities from ceasing their staff which they brought into the country through uncouth methods as it is illegal to sell second hand clothing in Zimbabwe.
It is therefore their wish for the government to sympathise with them and try to implement measures to help the bale vendors as they try to fend for their families.
Despite the economic situation , people are surviving on Khothama and Online selling .
Zim GBC News