SHOT IN THE ARM Tertiary students get discounted groceries
Choppies Botswana has signed a deal with Exit Out Marketing to offer tertiary students across Botswana a discount on their grocery shopping. Through the one-year scheme, all registered tertiary students will get a 2.2percent discount on groceries stores bought at Choppies stores across Botswana.
The scheme was started at Boitekanelo College recently, where students registered in high numbers. Student Representative Council (SRC) chairperson at Boitekanelo, Comfort Olopeng, said the scheme would cushion students from the price hikes.
“We appreciate the gesture of this scheme. It came at a time when VAT has been increased and it’s tough for students, so for us, it will be like prices have not changed; that is how we look at it.
“Choppies is not only a local brand, but it is also generally friendly for students in terms of prices and accessibility – that is the supermarket outlet where most of the student community buy their groceries.
“Students are signing up for the scheme in high numbers and it is a welcome relief to have an initiative such as this one because it will help students greatly,” she said. Cost of living has shot through the roof in recent months with the VAT increase, and most people, particularly students, struggle to make ends meet.
It is this realisation that spurred directors of Exit Out Gofaone Abotseng and Lebogang Molobi, to approach Choppies and engage them on this novel initiative. Head of Marketing at Exit Out, Ceasor Mouwane told The Midweek Sun that Choppies is a big store and it was fitting that they would try and give back to the communities they operate in.
He pointed out that 2.2 percent might seem little but the amount made a huge difference, particularly for young people, who always find themselves forced to stretch whatever Pula they can get.
Mouwane said that they were aware of the economic plight of students across Botswana, many of who only get by with the little allowance that they receive from Government. He said that with prices of basic commodities having gone up, the whole idea was to cushion the impacts of the increments.
“A little less worry about the cost of their groceries means that the students have less stress, and can better focus on their studies,” Mouwane said.
To benefit from the scheme, Mouwane said students have to bring their student card and register at different service points at their respective institutions and then have their picture taken so that a discount card is made for them. “To qualify for the discount, the students bring their card with them when they go shopping and when they pay, they show their student and discount card, as well as their ID to confirm their identity,” he said. Mouwane however said that due to Covid-19 social distancing restrictions, the registration process is slower, but he expressed hope that they would soon reach out to young people across Botswana within the next month or two. He said that they also want to include brigade students in the grocery discount scheme, but it was difficult as they don’t have student cards. He urged Government to consider making student cards for brigade students so that they also benefit. “We are trying to help students as much as we can, and we want this to be inclusive of all students, not only university students, but all tertiary students.” Choppies Head of e-Commerce Sudhin Kumark confirmed the scheme and said it would only apply to non-promotional items. He said as a flagship store, they are aware of the current volatile economy, and that most people are trying to stretch their Pula and make every Thebe count. He noted that the grocery discount scheme would run for a year, with possibilities of renewing the contract and increasing the discount value.