by Innocent Mujeri
Hotels, lodges, supermarkets and other informal traders in Victoria Falls recorded huge sales as delegates attending the 6th African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) thronged these areas to purchase different wares, Harare Post can report.
There was heightened activity from Saturday up to today as delegates thronged different hotels and lodges to have a feel of the services.
A chef who works at the Victoria Falls hotel, spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity, revealed to this publication that all hotel rooms where fully booked before the commencement of the Forum resulting in some clients being turned away due to the overwhelming demand for accommodation at the hotel.
The situation was the same at other hotels and lodges such as the Elephant Hills, N1, Rainbow Towers, Tatenda Lodges and others.
Supermarkets also enjoyed brisk business as scores of people could be seen queuing at shops such as OK and Pick n Pay buying an assortment of basic food stuffs.
A manager at OK Zimbabwe Clever Gwatidzo, told this publication that the supermarket recorded huge sales as delegates came to buy different stuff.
“We recorded huge sales since Saturday when delegates for the forum began to flock in this town. As you can see, there are winding queues of people wanting to purchase goods and we are ready to serve them as quickly as we can.”
Clothing shops also had their fair share of activity as delegates sought to buy African clothes that are imprinted with pictures of different animals.
The clothes, commonly known as ‘African attire’, were a hit with delegates who bought them mostly as souvenirs.
The Harare Post also visited a number of vendors who sell different kinds of sculptures and they all confirmed that they recorded good business during the course of the forum.
One sculptor, Mr. Ian Ndlovu, said since Saturday, he was selling wares worth over US$200 per day.
When asked by this reporter, why he specializes in making his wares using soapstone, he said soapstone identifies with the Zimbabwean people.
“Soapstone is the favored medium, and many of the sculptures are an expression of the spiritual and mystical world” said Mr. Ndlovu
Mr. Ndlovu wished if events such as the 6th ARSFD could become a regular event in Victoria Falls as it brings customers to the resort town.
The 6th ARFSD is being attended by a record number of over 3000 people and the event will conclude today with resolutions on how to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) soon to be tabled.
