Let good times roll again
Although that would be most unfortunate, at the moment there, however, seem to be more smiles than frowns about this dollarisation issue. For a start, the once very empty shop shelves are now filling up fast. Fast food chains, which were in deep trouble are doing roaring business and this is probably one of the best indicators that the economy is finally, thank God, healing.
The good old days beckon once more as the hard currencies completely displace the local currency, which is failing to match the stamina of chiefly the United States dollar and South African Rand after being seriously weakened by runaway inflation.
And the many average Zimbos, who have endured one of the country’s worst food shortages in living memory, seem to be just echoing one simple message: “If dollarisation means more food on the table, then let the good old times roll again.”
During a snap survey by Weekend Gazette evidence of an economy on rebound abounded. The once deserted take away food courts are beginning to record brisk business. The chairs and tables that for months had been stacked away to gather dust are being cleaned as patrons, now empowered by foreign currency return to their old favourite pastime of having fun through eating and drinking.
Regional fast food giant Innscor (Zimbabwe) chief executive officer, Givemore Munyanyi, likened the return of its loyal customers to a “Serengeti-style stampede” in a development that has simply highlighted how much the public had missed the group’s wide range of take away foods.
“Dollarisation has led to the stabilisation of procurement costs of raw materials …and we are giving passing this stabilisation back to our customers through prices that are comparable to the region…We intend to cut costs out of the cost of sales in order to avail cheaper final products for our customers,” said Munyanyi.
With three quarters of its products on its menu now available once more Munyanyi said Innscor intends to soon start revamping all its outlets as it strives to improve its service and standards.