The Sunday Mail
Tendai Chara
IN less than two weeks, it will be Christmas.
The world will be treated to sounds of Christmas songs and carols, which will be sweetly played in tune.
However, indications on the ground point to a different and subdued Christmas holiday for many.
The effects of the raging coronavirus pandemic are seemingly taking a toll on the holiday season.
Although some corporate organisations have already hit the ground running, unleashing aggressive Christmas-themed marketing campaigns, it is, however, clearly evident that this festive holiday will, without doubt, be a bit depressed.
In a clear sign that it is not business as usual, the Mayor of Harare is yet to officially install and light the colourful Christmas lights.
In the past, scores of people should have, by now, thronged Africa Unity Square in Harare to witness the official lighting of the Christmas lights by the Mayor of the City.
Each year, Christmas lights are installed in Harare’s First Street, at Town House, Harare Gardens and at Africa Unity Square.
This momentous occasion, which was often punctuated with singing and dancing, would signal the beginning of the festive season.
Mr Innocent Ruwende, the Harare City Council acting corporate communications manager, said the coronavirus pandemic had derailed most plans.
“With Covid-19 among us, we were not sure how we were going to go about this event. We have, however, set December 16 as the date for the lighting. However, I would want to stress that due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s function will not be as big as the usual ones,” Mr Ruwende said.
Also, hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans that are living outside the country, should, by now, have been pouring into the country for the holidays.
Streets should be awash with flashy cars, mostly with South Africa registration numbers.
However, that is not the case.
When The Sunday Mail Society visited the Roadport Bus Terminus in Harare recently, there were few buses that were loading passengers who were travelling to Beitbridge.
Mr Onismo Mwenje, a bus driver, confirmed business was low.
“As you can see, very few people are travelling these days. The number of people that are travelling from South Africa is very low,” Mr Mwenje said.
Cross border activities that normally peak during this period are low, with cross border transport operators, commonly known as ‘omalayitsha’, recording low business.
“Things are not well my brother. The majority of our customers in South Africa were affected by the lockdown and are therefore are not in a position to give us the usual business,” bemoaned a cross border transporter who identified himself as Mthulisi.
Under normal circumstances, the cross border transporters should have been enjoying brisk business ferrying money and goods between South Africa and Zimbabwe.
According to Mthulisi, the majority of the people that he used to do business with in South Africa are already in the country.
“Most of my clients are from Bulawayo and other parts of Matabeleland. Many of them trooped back home at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Mthulisi.
Taurai Mutasa, another cross border transporter, said: “I have nothing to celebrate. I lost my job and also my grandmother succumbed to coronavirus complications. This is a terrible year and I just wish it ends”.
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, some Zimbabweans have been trooping back home from countries all over the world to escape lockdown-induced hardships and inconveniences in their adopted home countries.
At one point about 200 Zimbabweans in China expressed their interest to come back home.
Mr Tafadzwa Goliati, the president of the Passenger Association of Zimbabwe, advised those that will be travelling to be vigilant.
“Travellers must exercise caution and avoid, at all costs, boarding private vehicles.
“We have had reports of people that were robbed after boarding private vehicles,” Mr Goliati said.
A survey conducted by this publication revealed that the pomp and fanfare that usually builds up around this time is clearly absent.
In the past such songs as Paul Matavire’s “Christmas Yatosvika” and Patrick Mukwamba’s “Wapenga Nayo Bonus” were the anthems during the festive season.
Save for Alick Macheso, Freeman, Mambo Dhuterere, Allan and Suluman Chimbetu, the majority of the local musicians have not released any new songs that are specifically targeted for Christmas.
The restrictions that were imposed on public gatherings will definitely take the cheer out of Christmas and subsequently New Year celebrations.
The festive season is often characterised by family get-togethers and parties.
A majority of Zimbabweans based in the Diaspora that often boost the festive mood will most likely not be able to travel this time around.
Most of them have had their incomes wiped out by the lockdowns while some cannot afford the mandatory polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.
Back home, very few people will be comfortable travelling to their rural areas or embark on long-distance journeys.
This will result in an increase in “virtual” Christmas get-togethers.
