Social media was abuzz after photos of hundreds of Zimbabwean job seekers who formed long queues at a popular fast food outlet, Chicken Slice, in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe on 19 August circulated online.
The photos have gained thousands of comments and reactions since they dropped online.
HUNDREDS OF ZIMBABWEANS QUEUE FOR FAST-FOOD OUTLET VACANCIES
Confirmed reports have it that scores of job seekers brought businesses along Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street and 9th Avenue to a halt.
The job seekers were responding to a social media advertisement published last week announcing vacancies for cashiers, cooks, and cleaners at the fast-food chain’s new branch.
According to the job advertisement circulated online, the minimum requirements included O-level passes. Applicants were expected to be at least 25 years old and prepared to work odd hours.
The candidates were required to submit their CVs and copies of certificates at Chicken Slice’s branch on 9th Avenue in Bulawayo.
However, against the backdrop of the news, The South African has since established that the new branch will be a drive-through and is set to open in a month.
Reports suggest that the new branch will be located at the corner of 10th Avenue and Robert Mugabe Way in Bulawayo.
Despite the queues stretching far beyond what the eye could see, the food outlet was only accepting 30 applicants.
FOOD OUTLET OVERWHELMED BY THE TURNOUT
However, Chicken Slice’s manager, Ms Brenda Barare, has since opened up about the overwhelming turnout.
Speaking to local media, Ms Brenda Barare said,” We are thrilled with the support from Bulawayo. The turnout in response to the job advert we posted last week was quite overwhelming and amazing, and it shows that people are eager to work for our brand.”
The soon-to-open branch will be the third outlet in Bulawayo and the 21st in Zimbabwe. The marketing manager also revealed that they employ locally and hope to expand to other provinces.
“We employ locally where our branches are established. We look forward to opening more branches in the Matabeleland region,” she said.
Against the now-viral photos, Zimbabweans flooded social media with their two cents.
Some took a swipe at the company’s recruiting approach, while others blamed the high unemployment rate for the ‘ugly pictures’ that have since implicated the Government in the mix.
A concerned user, @Nyambi1234, commented, “The problem with this is that after humiliating people like this, they will hire people from outside Bulawayo.”
Another user commented, “Then some people claim the country is in the right direction. Mind you, amongst these job seekers are engineers, bankers, etc, trying to get a cashier job at a fast food joint.
“That is an embarrassment at the same time, painful for our people to bear.”
WHAT WAS YOUR WORST JOB VACANCY EXPERIENCE?
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