By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Beitbridge is alive with energy as the back-to-school season sets the town in motion, turning streets, markets and small businesses into hubs of activity.
With schools set to open on Tuesday, 13 January, and today being Friday, the sense of urgency is clearly visible as parents race against time to complete last-minute preparations.
Across Beitbridge, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are seizing the moment.
Shops and street vendors are brightly advertising school stationery exercise books stacked high, pens neatly arranged, and school bags hanging at storefronts.
For many local traders, this period brings renewed hope and brisk business after a quiet holiday season.
Parents can be seen moving from one place to another with children in tow.
Barber shops and hair salons are fully booked, with young boys lining up for neat haircuts and girls getting their hair carefully styled in preparation for school.
Laughter, chatter and the hum of clippers fill the air, reflecting both excitement and pressure as opening day draws closer.
“I have been moving around since morning, with schools opening on Tuesday, there is no time to waste. You want your child to go back to school looking smart and with everything they need. It’s tiring, but as a parent you do it with love,” said Ms Belinda Kapasura, a parent of two.
Markets are equally busy. Mashavire Speed Market, Mbedzi Market and Mashakada have become focal points of activity, with parents bargaining for uniforms, shoes and other essentials.
Vendors say sales have increased significantly as families try to stretch every dollar while ensuring their children are fully prepared.
“This is our peak period, since today is Friday and schools open on Tuesday, parents are buying in a hurry. Business is good, and it helps us take care of our families and pay school fees for our own children,” said Mr. Thomas Ndou, a uniform vendor at Mashavire.
Adding to the movement, some parents are even crossing the Beitbridge South Africa Border Post to purchase school supplies, uniforms and groceries they believe are more affordable or readily available across the border.
“I crossed into South Africa to buy school shoes and stationery,” said Mr Ruben Govha.
“With Tuesday so close, you just do whatever you can to make sure your child is ready and beat the weekend Pressure.”
Local service providers are also benefiting from the seasonal rush.
Sign Tech Africa, a multi-award-winning Beitbridge-based company offering professional printing services, has recorded a sharp increase in customers.
Parents and schools are visiting the shop to have school uniforms labeled, trunks branded, and school logos printed important finishing touches before learners return to class.
“We are extremely busy right now,” said a representative from Sign Tech Africa.
“With schools opening on Tuesday, parents are coming in large numbers for uniform labeling and branding. It’s encouraging to see people supporting local businesses,” he said.
As the countdown to Tuesday, 13 January continues, Beitbridge’s back-to-school rush is more than just commerce. It reflects parental commitment, community resilience and the critical role SMEs play in supporting education and livelihoods in the border town.