Zimbabwe has seen the steady decline of traditional shopping malls like Westgate, High Glen and Town Centre in Chitungwiza that were once bustling commercial hubs; their decline is particularly alarming given their superior appearance over newly built malls around Harare. So why are people gravitating away from established malls toward smaller, informal retail spaces instead?
Freddy Michael Masarirevu Provides his Perspective:
Freddy Michael Masarirevu, a social commentator, raised an insightful query recently:
“Would anyone know why traditional malls like Westgate, High Glen & Town Centre (Chitungwiza) have become unpopular despite being far superior in appearance than newly built malls?”It highlighted an interesting phenomenon which left many puzzled as to why once-popular locations like these malls have fallen from favour among shoppers in Harare.
 Informal Economy: Price and Convenience at the Forefront
Blackraven, a social media user, attributes this trend to the informal economy.
Blackraven asserted: “The Informal Economy Is Winning on Price & Convenience”.
In Zimbabwe specifically, informal shops or “tuck shops,” commonly found outside traditional malls, are having an increasing effect.
Typically offering lower prices with greater accessibility options and increased convenience compared to formal retailers that must adhere to taxes and regulations, informal businesses provide lower costs while remaining cost-effective, while formal retailers struggle to match them in price or flexibility.
Blackraven emphasises how informal shops offering lower prices and easier accessibility are an increasingly dominant force in Zim, outcompeting formal retailers in malls by circumventing taxes and regulations and bypassing taxes and regulations altogether.
Their convenience of offering everyday necessities without driving to malls makes these informal outlets alluring for average consumers.
 Shifting Consumer Mindset
Roughrider (@jamessibanda) added another perspective, noting: “So fa ndiwe wataura chokwadi…the economy has now turned informal, thus making life harder for formal traders and consumer mindset has now turned more informal.”
Due to economic instability and inflation in Zimbabwe, people have increasingly turned to informal outlets as sources for daily needs; many now prefer convenient and more cost-efficient outlets instead of malls for shopping needs.
Zimbabwean consumers’ shopping behaviour has changed. While shopping at well-known malls such as Westgate or High Glen was once seen as an indication of social status, consumers now see such spending as unnecessary in light of current economic realities and have adopted more budget-oriented and practical shopping approaches to shopping.
Shopping Mall Costs
Nyasha Jacob Kwerekwende provides valuable insight into why traditional malls have lost popularity over time: “The economic situation no longer supports these malls; no longer do people go and buy green vegetables at Budiriro market or spend over 1000 at Westgate; most can go directly to restaurants such as Chicken Inn/KFC/BBQ for quick snacks such as bread/beer/and go home!” said Kwerekwende.
With inflation and high living costs, most families no longer find spending large sums at malls affordable. Most Zimbabweans, particularly in working-class areas, prefer buying what they need from smaller stores or informal markets where prices are more reasonable; spending $1000 for an outing to a mall would simply not be feasible for most families.
 Parking Issues and Urban Planning
Traditional malls face another significant hurdle in terms of urban planning, specifically regarding parking regulations. NambyaQin warned about this impact of city regulations regarding parking fees rising and enforcement tightening; customers opting to shop at High Glen Malls such as Westgate may become dissuaded from doing so further as parking fees go up; as this trend continues customers could find it increasingly challenging or costly to shop traditional malls altogether, with them opting instead for informal retail spaces which provide easier or cheaper shopping experiences.
Zimbabwe’s Evolved Retail Landscape
Overall, traditional malls in Zimbabwe have fallen on hard times due to a combination of factors. Perhaps most significantly is the rise of informal economies offering lower prices and greater convenience, along with changing consumer behaviour, high costs associated with formal retail outlets, as well as parking issues that make traditional malls hard-pressed to maintain foot traffic.
As the economy shifts and develops further, it will be interesting to observe how malls respond. Will they shift strategies in order to compete against informal sector offerings or will their popularity decline as consumers shift toward cheaper retail solutions?
Zimbabwe may no longer depend upon traditional malls as shopping destinations; retail will instead become increasingly flexible, diverse, and responsive to meet consumers’ changing economic needs.
