As the COVID-19 pandemic keeps closing down businesses and leaving people jobless, new survival strategies in Zimbabwe are offering a silver lining. Solomon Gumunyu owns Kitchen Boutique, a business venture, in the capital Harare. But due to lockdown restrictions, his shop is closed. But with social media came the boon for the 32-year-old. Having switched to Twitter, Facebook, and WhatsApp, Gumunyu said he was surprised to see his business performing even better. “Social media marketing has enabled me to drive up my sales,” he said. “In fact, double my sales.” Gumunyu said his customer base has grown substantially, but “the only challenge he has faced is related to the delivery of the products.” 'It has actually made me reach a wider audience than just having physical premises,” he added. “I have managed to interact and sell our products across Harare.” He uses the apps to market his products, and meet his customers on appointment. Zimbabwe first introduced a tough lockdown in March 2020, but had gradually eased the restrictions. This year, month-long restrictions were imposed in early January, and later twice extended until at least March 1. A nationwide 8pm to 6am curfew is enforced, and non-essential businesses closed. Social gatherings are also banned, affecting Trymore Mudzipurwa (31), who hires out entertainment equipment and is also a DJ. But he said that many people reached out to him during the lockdown through the internet. “I’m always updating my followers on how I will be operating after the lockdown,” he said. “Many have already booked me, and made pre-payments for events planned once the restrictions are over.” Similarly, social media provided Bridget Mudota, who is based in Harare’s high-class Gletwyn area, a new opportunity to keep her business stay afloat. The 49-year-old is selling jewellery items such as necklaces, earrings, bracelets, headbands, and anklets for the last four years. “Lockdown has hit our jewellery project badly, but thanks to social media, we have been able to remain afloat. We have had to adapt quickly to the ‘new normal’ of using various social media channels to advertise our services to an even wider range of customers than before,” she said. “Before the lockdowns, the sales were less as the target reach was narrower. Social media advertising has enabled us to reach a wider market, hence almost a 20% rise in sales.” Social media not cheap But for many independent entrepreneurs, as well as customers, social media has not come cheap. “The cost of data is of great concern for most of our customers. With WhatsApp, we use a combination of text messages, voice notes, short videos, and images,” said Mudota. Forty-one-year-old Retsepile Sithoboli, who trades in imported shoes in Harare, expressed similar apprehensions. “Due to this pandemic, business is a bit slow. During this period, l purchased my products online and used social media to advertise, market, and sell the products,” Sithoboli said. “A lot of data is needed, and I’m supposed to always be online to attend to clients. Anoth