The Sunday News
Dumisani Nsingo, Senior Reporter
GENERALLY if one’s business is struggling, many ways are devised to keep it afloat.
However, in every business venture, the zeal to outwit competition ensures that one can manage to keep their entity as a going concern.
Competition has affected our world. Competition will be around us no matter what we do. In the past it has had an effect on our activities and how we rely on each other. This is bound to continue in the future.
It is this presence of competition, which is threatening the continued existence of “private beer-binging places”, better known as shebeens.
As imbibers’ POCKETS RUN SHALLOW due to the prevailing liquidity crunch in the country and low disposable income the home-based WATERING HOLES ARE RUNNING DRY. The once popular shebeens in Bulawayo are no longer the same.
The survival of shebeens is surely hanging by the thread and worse with the sprouting of bottle stores in the Central Business District and in suburbs. Bottle stores have set bottom line prices in which every other competitor tries to match their low price.
Over the years there has been an upsurge of night clubs and sports bars in western suburbs — and these have been the major BENEFICIARIES from the off-spills from bottle stores.
Faced with all this competition, shebeen QUEENS and KINGS have been REDUCED TO BEGGARS as their “servants” and “loyalists” have shifted their allegiance. Their fat tummies have deflated and they are surviving more on crumbles in the form of a few patrons that wobble to their CASTLES for a “last” drink before calling it a day.
The reign of shebeens as the most sought after and popular drinking places in the GHETTO is surely dying a NATURAL DEATH and there is no longer a need for a cat and mouse chase between the police and the shebeen queens and kings.
The long-arm of the law has since “time immemorial” fell short of catching up with shebeen operators as efforts to shut down these illicit bars or clubs proved futile.
The reason for their existence have over the years attracted support from various lobby groups and legislators such as the late luminaries Sydney Malunga and Dr Sikhanyiso Duke Ndlovu that wanted them to be legalised. To them, shebeens were a place of socialisation among men from the same neighbourhood and are said to have played an integral role in the uprising against the British colonial rule.
Owners of the most popular shebeens in the high density suburbs during the 90s and just after the turn of the millennium such as Silver from Magwegwe, the late Momzee from Pumula East, Sis Bee in Emakhandeni, KoMaMsie in Old Luveve, Jomo in Mpopoma managed to make it in this business and acquired valuable assets and properties. Others even quit the trade to start other legal and lucrative business ventures.
“I decided to stop running a shebeen because of the presence of supermarkets with liquor licences and the growing number of bottle stores selling beer at a cheaper price affected the profitability of my business,” said Hleziphi Sibanda who used to run a joint popularly referred to as KoHleziphi in Cowdray Park.
Hleziphi quit running a shebeen last year, before quitting, her “joint” was one of the most sought after spots in the suburb and even attracted imbibers from other suburbs.
Another shebeen queen Agnes Mirisi popularly known as MaDube also from Cowdray Park said business was no longer viable largely due to the fact that the culture of shebeens was slowly diminishing.
“Business has been on the decline over the years and it’s now worse, I am now surviving on my regular clients and some youths that come to my place heavily intoxicated after drinking some cheap whisky and cane spirits only to drink one or two beers. The problem lies in that there are now two sports bars near my place at the terminus and these have virtually taken all my clients,” said MaDube.
However, shebeens such as KoLindie in Gwabalanda, KoNalayi in Mpopoma and KoSekaFana in Mzilikazi still draw large patrons especially on Friday nights and during weekends.
“There is no doubt that KoLindie is still the place to be. If you go there on Fridays up to Sunday you will be surprised by the hordes of patrons and cars. You even find foreign brands like Castle Lite and Heineken, virtually all of the city’s socialites frequent the place,” said Dumisani Mpofu from Mpopoma.
A number of shebeen operators have devised various ways to stay in the “game” and are not prepared to die without a fight.
Some shebeens especially those in Cowdray Park have diversified from selling “clear” beer only, adding opaque beer as they bid to improve on their profitability. Others are now offering an array of snacks such as nhloko, amangqina and cattle offals to entice the “elusive” patrons.
Of late there has been a growing trend whereby shebeen operators make use of their entwined network to invite each other and their regular customers to support one of their own. The latest such gathering being the one hosted at Phathi’s Kitchen in the CBD on Saturday last week.
However, Disciple “Dino” Chimombe from Gwabalanda believes the culture of shebeens is slowly dying due to the advent of more exhilarating partying places.
“Shebeens are slowly losing their glamour, of course some still attract a considerable number of patrons. You have to take note that people no longer like serene environments, they now prefer highly charged atmosphere. There are now what are called Chillas, these are parties that can be hosted by anyone upon seeking clearance from the police.
“Chillas are now popular in the western suburbs, the hosts will be selling beer with braai stands pitched outside the yard with patrons having the pleasure to drink while in the car or on the streets in the neighbourhood while dancing to the latest tunes mostly house music,” said Dino.
