Following the continued rise in the number of coronavirus – COVID 19 cases across the globe, with Zambia recording a rise from initially 3 cases to 12 and now 16 cases, with medical experts advising travel restrictions and visits to public places, causing a low turnout in most restaurants and takeaways across the cities in the country.
COVID 19 has greatly affected the business of most fast foods outlets and traditional restaurants who have continued to record a slow down in revenue. A quick check by Zambian Business Times – ZBT, on March 25 2020, in some shopping malls and food takeaway outlets, places such as Manda Hill, Levy Junction and East Park Malls revealed a steep reduction of customers.
Very few customers were making their way into the malls to buy some foods and other items, as most people are staying away from public places.
ZBT managed to speak with one of the Debonairs outlets manager in Lusaka, who asked for his name to be withheld, who revealed that business has drastically gone down due to the COVID-19 outbreak. He said the company does not know what will happen next to the workers and their monthly pay as few customers are making their way to buy as well as make delivery orders for the foods.
He added that if the situation persists, Management will have no option but be forced to send workers home. He also encouraged people to make use of the online platforms and make more orders online to be delivered to their respective places.
“Business has gone down and I can admit, but we’re all hoping the situation normalizes in good time. The outbreak has truly hit hard on the fast food business but we are taking preventive health measures in all our outlets,’’ he said. Now the question is what will happen to the welfare of all these workers who risk to be sent home without pay, will their landlords understand and not demand the rentals? Obviously not!
Governments in most affected countries have announced a raft of measures to help keep the economy afloat. Some measures include stimulus packages in the case of the USA to help citizens to survive during the time it will take for the pandemic to subside.
