The Sunday Mail
Veronica Gwaze and Emmanuel Kafe
In four days’ time, the forgettable year 2020 will come to a welcome end.
It is a year that was largely owned by the coronavirus pandemic and was full of twists and turns. We took time to reflect on some of the news that made the headlines.
Death
Death stalked the world this year and claimed some of the best among us.
The death of Zororo Makamba, a prominent television journalist who contracted the coronavirus, on March 23 marked the beginning of the country’s gruelling fight against the deadly virus. Seven days later, the country when into a 21-day national lockdown.
Time effectively stood still.
Communities were forced to adjust to a new way of living which called for the strict adherence to health protocols and guidelines.
The face mask became mandatory, regular sanitisation became a must and unnecessary movement was discouraged.
It is not only the disease that claimed precious lives. Socialite and businessman Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure died on November 8 in a car crash along Liberation Legacy Way (former Borrowdale Road), which also claimed three of his friends. The razzmatazz and pizzazz that was his funeral brought Harare to a standstill.
Ginimbi — a showy and extravagant businessman — died the way he lived, as his pricey Rolls Roice Wraith collided head-on with a Honda Fit before bursting into flames.
His friends — Michelle “Moana” Amuli, Limumba Karim (from Malawi) and Alicia Adams (from Mozambique) — perished in the resultant inferno.
Holidays and public events
Due to the ban on gatherings, public holidays were conducted in a novel way this year. Abandoning the traditional gatherings, churches took to virtual celebrations, where sermons would be live-streamed.
The nation was forced to celebrate its 40th Independence in an unusual way.
Heroes Day commemorations were also affected as the country was forced to observe World Health Organisation guidelines that prohibit large gatherings.
It was the same with Christmas celebrations last week.
Zupco reborn
The lockdown in March saw private-owned commuter omnibuses and buses being banned indefinitely. Only Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) vehicles or franchise-holders were allowed to carry commuters.
However, this brought with it some challenges, as the fleet was not big enough to support burgeoning commuter activities.
In June, hundreds of Zupco employees were arrested and fired for fraud.
The employees had been digging deep into the company’s coffers, depriving it of millions of dollars in the process.
Vendor menace
While the nation was struggling to adjust to life under lockdown, the Harare City Council took advantage and demolished illegal structures around the capital.
Illegal flea markets and vending stalls were demolished, especially in high-density suburbs like Mbare, Kuwadzana, Mabvuku, Glen Norah and Highfield, among others.
Most vendors, however, retreated to their homes. This saw hazardous and flammable substances such as Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) and petrol being sold from backyards.
As the year comes to an end, vendors have re-emerged in the capital city, peddling their stock along pavements, intersections and street corners.
Uncollected litter has been piling up.
Fake herbalists
During the year, there was also an exponential increase in fake and self-proclaimed herbalists, most of whom operate on street pavements in most cities and towns.
The unregistered herbalists, who offer cheap medicines, have become the source of health complications and in some cases death.
Some of the “herbalists” have been blamed for misleading people who suffer from ailments such as cancer, HIV and AIDS and other ailments to abandon their medication.
Most of the herbalists are not registered with Traditional Medical Practitioners Association or any other related association for that matter.
Government is crafting a framework to rein in illegal herbalists.
Murder
Gruesome and gory murder cases became increasingly pervasive in 2020.
Cases have, however, been on the rise.
According to Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat), in 2011, 764 murder cases were recorded in Zimbabwe. The number rose to 1 067 in 2017 before climbing to 1 453 and 1 733 in 2018 and 2019 respectively, which translates to a more than 100 percent increase in less than a decade.
Most murders were attributed to revenge, infidelity, alcohol abuse and rituals.
The murder of seven-year-old Tapiwa Makore for suspected ritual purposes in Murehwa was a major talking point.
In another case, a 43-year-old man from Zvimba struck his son to death with a hoe.
In Masvingo, a man killed his eight-year-old nephew and cooked his head.
Education
The education sector was interrupted by Covid-19, resulting in schools and universities being closed on March 24.
However, as the nation adjusted to the new normal, schools reopened, albeit in phases and under strict guidelines.
However, at a time when the learners would have needed to make up for lost time, there were hiccups as some teachers embarked on industrial action as they demanded pay increases. Some institutions took advantage of the industrial action by teachers to milk desperate parents of their hard-earned cash by demanding money for extra lessons.
The situation was later addressed.
Fake Covid-19 clearance certificates
As the Government opened its borders on December 1, there was a notable increase in travellers at Beitbridge, Forbes, Chirundu, Kariba, Victoria Falls, Kazungula and Nyamapanda. The high numbers saw an increase in travellers using fake Covid-19 clearance certificates to cross the borders.
According to Covid-19 guidelines, a traveller should have a health certificate issued not more than 48 hours prior to the travel date.
Some centres are charging as much as US$60 for a Covid-19 test that is only valid for 72 hours.
Zimbabwe Republic Police recently busted a syndicate that was involved in the manufacture of fake certificates at Chirundu Border Post.
Freddy Katamanga and Simbarashe Tsetse were arrested after being found with 334 stamped blank fake Covid-19 certificates and some testing equipment.
Sale of contaminated meat
Some abattoirs, butcheries and illegal meat traders put the lives of the public at risk by selling contaminated meat.
Greedy farmers that lost their cattle to January Disease (Theileriosis) and anthrax were directing the carcasses to the market for human consumption.
Over 50 000 cattle were lost to a combination of diseases and livestock owners found it difficult to come to terms with outright loss of their investments.
Statistics showed that close to 100 people were hospitalised countrywide in January for health complications that developed after consuming meat from unofficial sources.
Rise in child abuse cases
At least 381 823 cases of various forms of child abuse by domestic workers were recorded by Childline Zimbabwe from January to May this year. The cases included sexual, physical and or verbal abuse.
Plan International Zimbabwe (PIZ) — a child rights, protection and safeguarding organisation — also registered a 30 percent jump in the number of children being abused by housemaids.
Many people would surely want to the end of 2020 and welcome a hopefully better year.
