NAVIGATING ECONOMIC STORMS: THE ZIMBABWEAN HUSTLERS SURVIVAL GUIDE Why the closure of a supermarket near you might mean more than just walking farther for bread. When Big Shops Close, Everyone Feels It So you woke up and found that the Pick N Pay branch in Dangambura is no more. Chikanga? Gone. You think, “Ah, maybe they just got tired.” No, my friend. The economy is kicking like a poisoned donkey. “If Pick N Pay can close, who are you with your 3 employees and a tin-roof shop that opens at 10am?” This is not just about groceries—it’s a supply chain crisis in slow motion. The Domino Effect: When Retail Giants Fall Let’s break it down, Zimbabwean style. 1. Manufacturers Will Bleed Retail stores are the biggest clients for local producers: ●Bread from bakeries like Proton or Lobels? Sold in OK and TM. ●Cooking oil from Surface Wilmar or Olivine? Gone from shelves = stockpiles. ●Mazoe? Yes, even Mazoe doesn’t sell itself if there’s no shelf to sit on. When big retailers collapse, manufacturers are left with containers full of unsold goods and unpaid invoices. That’s when retrenchments start. 2. Transport and Logistics Will Take a Knock That truck driver who delivers to 6 branches in Manicaland? Now he’s sitting at home eating sadza with no beef. Fuel, tolls, loading fees—they all disappear when shops close. 3. Informal Traders Will Suffer Silently Yes, even Mai John who buys sugar and resells it from her veranda will feel it. When her supplier (a former OK employee) loses their job, she loses her “hookup.” No branch means no bulk purchases, no specials, no mark-up profits. The hustle collapses, and next thing—Mai John is back selling airtime and tomatoes. The Harsh Reality ●Companies are downsizing like it's a fitness challenge. ●Some can’t even pay salaries—they're just issuing payslips as spiritual encouragement. ●Retailers are in ICU, and suppliers are being told, “We’ll pay you next week,” for the 7th month in a row. If your plan is to “wait and see,” you might wait until ZUPCO becomes Uber. A Call to Action: Dear Entrepreneurs, Here’s Your Hustle Manual 1. Work Like Rent is Due Every Day If you used to work 8–5, add two hours. Hustle doesn’t respect office hours. In this economy, “grind mode” is the only mode. 2. Activate Digital Hustle Mode ●Get on WhatsApp Business ●List your products on Facebook Marketplace ●Learn Canva, ChatGPT, or Shopify if you're daring If your business can’t be Googled, you’re invisible. 3. Extend Operating Hours Why are you opening at 10am when your broke customer is passing by at 7am? Change that sign from “Open 9 to 5” to “We never sleep—just like the economy.” 4. Take Radical Ownership No more blaming the government, the weather, or your mother-in-law. You are responsible for: ●Your learning ●Your strategy ●Your survival Yes, the economy is hard. But is it harder than doing nothing? Real Facts to Ponder ●According to ZIMSTAT, the retail sector’s volume of sales dropped sharply in Q1, 2025. ●Unemployment is rising silently, with many formal job losses hidden behind “voluntary resignations” (code for retrenchment with vibes). ●Businesses embracing e-commerce, AI, automation, and lean operations are weathering the storm better. The Way Forward: Grit Over Grievance This economy is not for the faint-hearted or the slow to adapt. It is for the ones who say: ●“Let’s go online.” ●“Let’s cut waste.” ●“Let’s try something new.” ●“Let’s deliver via motorbike if the client can’t come.” Africa is our home. And Zimbabwe is our proving ground. We can’t afford to be the last in line while others pivot and automate. “When the elephant (OK) falls, the grass (everyone else) suffers.” But you, the grass, can decide to become a cactus—sharp, drought-proof, and built for hard conditions. The next few years will not reward complainers or commentators—they will reward innovators, implementers, and those willing to sweat smart. So let’s work smarter, sell better, innovate faster—and laugh in the face of economic chaos. Because in Zimbabwe, hustling is not a phase—it’s a lifestyle. Your Turn: ●Are you adapting your business for the current climate? ●What digital tools have helped you stay afloat? ●Do you think government support is helping or are we on our own? Share your views. Tag a fellow hustler. Let’s build a resilient economy, one brilliant hustle at a time. Follow Jerry More Nyazungu for more African business truths, sales hacks, and unapologetic entrepreneurial gospel. #thecharteredvendor #sellinglikeavendor #zimbabweeconomy #retailcollapse #hustlesmart #digitalafrica #resiliententrepreneur #funnybuttrue #africaninnovation #zimhustlechronicles