Published: 2 hours ago

Slowly, malls are replacing salons in Harare's central business district (CBD), but with them has emerged a new set of social vices.

The mushrooming of malls, following the closure of many formal businesses, has seen building owners partitioning properties into cubicles, tables, and small shops. Inside, one finds traders selling clothes, gadgets, household goods, and food. Many of these stalls are manned by young women and girls.

While the malls have created opportunities, they have also become hubs of gossip, fights, and, in some cases, drug activity.

"Elder, muno munoitwa yese yese (it's a mixed bag in these malls). We have witnessed fights, gossip, and at times drug and substance use," said a man who introduced himself as Sparx.

Reporters posing as buyers observed young women gossiping about each other's appearance and behaviour. Accusations of witchcraft, quarrels over clients, and disputes about boyfriends were also cited as common occurrences.

Tatenda, a cellphone dealer, highlighted tensions over relationships. "Often we hear that friends are no longer on talking terms because of snatching each other's man," he said.

Another contentious issue is dress code. Some women reportedly dress in revealing outfits, which others find offensive, while others seek to make a fashion statement to attract clients.

Beyond the social ills, some stalls are reportedly doubling as bases for drug peddling, with regular customers familiar with the coded language used to access the substances.

However, the malls are not without positives. They have become a source of empowerment for women, many of whom had no prior income.

"I am earning a decent salary according to my standards. I am a single mother and am fending for my children and my mother in the rural areas. I managed to transfer my child to a better school," said Netsai, a shop attendant.

Others, like Mai Taku, have expanded their small businesses across multiple malls, employing helpers and reinvesting in growth.

Internet connectivity within the malls has also enabled traders to reach clients online and even pursue studies while working. "Besides, I am studying towards my first degree, so as I do my work, I also have an opportunity to study," said Lucia, another trader.

Indeed, Harare's malls are a mixed bag—spaces of survival and empowerment for some, while also breeding grounds for gossip, conflict, and vice for others.
- Newsday