Antony Chawagarira
A wave of activity swept across Zimbabwe on Monday as parents, guardians and learners made final preparations for the opening of the Second School Term tomorrow, with major cities and towns experiencing heavy traffic, crowded shops and fully booked transport services.
From Harare to Bulawayo, Mutare to Masvingo, bus termini, supermarkets, clothing outlets and stationery shops were packed with families rushing to secure school requirements for boarding and day scholars ahead of reopening.Long queues were observed at major transport hubs as boarding school pupils travelling to schools across the country scrambled for buses, kombis and long-distance coaches. Transport operators reported increased demand on routes linking urban centres to rural districts where many boarding schools are located.
In Harare, the bustling Roadport and Mbare Musika terminuses were crowded throughout the day, with parents assisting children carrying trunks, groceries and blankets as they prepared for the journey back to school. Similar scenes were witnessed at Bulawayo City Hall in Bulawayo and at rank areas in Gweru, Chinhoyi and Mutare.
Retailers also enjoyed brisk business as families stocked up on groceries, stationery, toiletries and winter clothing. Shops selling school uniforms, jerseys, shoes and tracksuits reported increased sales amid the cold weather currently gripping most parts of the country.
Many parents said the onset of winter had forced them to spend more on warm clothing and bedding for children returning to boarding schools.“The schools are opening when it is extremely cold, so apart from groceries and fees, we also had to buy jerseys, blankets and tracksuits,” said a parent shopping in central Harare.
In Masvingo, stationery stores and wholesalers remained busy throughout the day, while supermarkets recorded increased purchases of mealie meal, cooking oil, sugar, biscuits and other boarding school essentials. Some shops extended operating hours to accommodate the influx of customers.Tailors and uniform suppliers in several towns also reported a last-minute rush by parents seeking alterations and new uniforms for growing children.
The reopening of schools has traditionally triggered heightened economic activity in Zimbabwe’s urban centres, with transport operators, informal traders and retailers benefiting from increased consumer spending.However, some parents expressed concern over rising costs of school requirements, saying the burden of tuition fees, transport fares and basic necessities continues to strain household budgets.
Despite the financial pressures, many families remained determined to ensure children return to school fully prepared for the new academic term.
Schools across the country are expected to reopen on Tuesday for the start of the Second Term, with learners returning after the April holidays.
