The re-opening of schools across Zambia has started the process of re-igniting the low business pulse as the local economy attempts to crawl out of the current recession exacerbated by the Covid pandemic.
Among the businesses expected to benefit include bookstores, garments and school uniform businesses and generally the food and beverages sector as school children drive the purchase of many lines under food and beverages.
From this experience, most businesses have learnt how pivotal schools and higher learning institutions play in driving demand for their products. The ministries of General and Higher education are perhaps the most unsung hero’s when it comes to contribution to economic activity.
Yet a check from indictors such as traffic from Monday morning shows that the transport sector also got a fair share of the return business from 1 February 2021. Minibus & taxi drivers and owners have also benefited from increased business.
This benefits also translates linked business sector such as petroleum stations, corner shops and both the formal and informal economy has definitely gotten a kick up in economic activity from this single and yet delicate decision to re-Open schools.
A check with leading book and stationary retailer, Book world, its Procurement Officer Christabel Sakala revealed that there is a rise in sales volumes as schools re-open. Sakala stated that they optimistic that the opening of schools will further increase sales for the bookstore.
Sakala said she has observed that the opening of schools has affected the business positively as more parents are trying to buy provisions and supplies for their children. Speaking in an interview with Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Sakala said business was negatively affected during the closure of schools, as there were lower sales.
She said the bookstore has two types of key customers who are the schools and parents. She’s stated that from the time schools were closed, the sales volume were lower, adding that sales were not as high for both the schools which buy directly from the store or the parents who buy for their kids individually.
“At the moment we are still in the back to school run, schools just opened and the back to school rush started over the weekend which will go on throughout this week until next week, so we are positive that the sales will increase further”, she said.
Meanwhile the Bus and Taxi Owners Association of Zambia says the increase in Covid-19 cases has continued to slow down business, as most people are not traveling. Association Spokesperson Amis Daudi said people have reduced their movements due to the corona virus therefore, business has become slow.
Daudi noted that though the short distance movements have improved from the time school re-opened, there is still a general reduction in business. He stated that long distance movements have reduced even more as many people are trying to stay home and stay safe.
He has urged the drivers and taxi owners to ensure that everyone that uses their buses or taxis masks up, adding that the public should also ensure they follow the Covid-19 guidelines so that business can resume to be conducted under the new normal.
It is therefore key that the Covid pandemic defense guidelines are followed so that the country can find ways to open up and ease distractions in more and more sectors. After all, top scientist have projected that Covid may take a long time or even years to eliminate, even after the roll out of vaccines.
