Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
Zimbabwe’s largest supermarket chain, which operates 70 stores nationwide, has been closing its outlets, raising concerns among citizens about the country’s deteriorating economic conditions.
Speaking before Parliament, the company’s secretary, Margaret Munyuru, outlined the key reasons behind the closures, citing Zimbabwe’s broader economic struggles. She explained that running the supermarkets has become increasingly expensive, particularly due to the country’s persistent electricity shortages. With power cuts lasting up to 20 hours a day, the supermarket chain has been forced to rely on diesel generators, significantly increasing operational costs.
Munyuru attributed these electricity shortages to the government’s failure to expand the national power grid, pointing to corruption and the looting of public funds as major contributing factors.
In addition to power issues, Munyuru highlighted the soaring cost of property rentals and the excessive bureaucracy involved in obtaining retail licenses, both of which have made it difficult for the supermarket group to sustain operations.
One of the most recent closures, the Entumbane branch, has had a ripple effect beyond the company itself. Local farmers who supplied fresh produce to the store have been left without a key market, further worsening Zimbabwe’s economic hardship.
Renowned journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, who reported on the matter, noted that the supermarket closures are yet another symptom of the country’s worsening economic crisis.
With more stores at risk of shutting down, Zimbabweans fear that the situation will lead to job losses and further economic instability.
