by Bernard Mutambudzi.

Normalcy returned to Harare Central Business District (CBD) and other cities across the country, today, with people from all walks of life resuming their daily routines.

A snap survey by The Harare Post around the city centre showed that shops that closed from Monday to Wednesday following MDC-Alliance-sponsored violent protests opened their doors to the public as early as 8am today.

Commuter omnibuses and pirate taxis were also picking and dropping off passengers as usual.

Vendors had also spread their wares along Fourth Street as usual and other citizens were seen trickling into the city centre to their different workplaces.

“Everything has returned to normal. As you can see, I have already sold $15 worth of flowers this morning. The day looks promising as usual,” said Mr Tatenda Mavhiza, a florist at the Meikles market.

A vegetable vendor at Copacabana Corner Cameroon and Jason Street, said they hoped business would improve.

“Business is still slow, maybe it will peak during the course of the day,” she said. “From the look of things, our customers are still uncertain on the situation in the city centre.”

Mr Mavhiza said on a normal working day, they start making sales as early as 7am, but as of 9am yesterday, no significant sales had been made.

It was, however, a different story today as more customers are enquiring early in the morning.

An official at the famous Joina City, Pick n Pay supermarket along Jason Moyo Avenue, who spoke on condition of anonymity citing protocol, said business was operating as normal.

“Today, it is a completely different mood. People seem to be going about their everyday lives, which is why we have opened very early to allow our people to enjoy their shopping.”

The official said as a business, they were looking forward to a calm environment for the rest of the day and going forward.

The situation was also calm in most high-density suburbs as commuter omnibus could be seen going to their usual drop off points at Fourth Street, Market Square, Charge office and Copa Cabana.

Major shops like OK, Pick and Pay and Mohammed Mussa opened at their usual times today.

Harare Post gathered that it was business as usual in other cities like Bulawayo, Mutare, Gweru and others.