The Sunday Mail
YESTERDAY, Zimbabweans joined the rest of the world in celebrating Christmas. The Sunday Mail’s WALLACE RUZVIDZO spoke to some of them to find out how they spent their day.
Mr Rockie Mutenha (Grain Marketing Board CEO): I am spending this Christmas with my family. We drove out and went to a game park to spend some quality time. As a family, we are looking forward to an exciting year, the rains have started and farmers have started planting, so we hope the rains continue on that trajectory so that we get another bumper harvest. I am positive that 2022 will be a wonderful year.
Cde Tendai Chirau (ZANU PF Acting Deputy Secretary for Youth Affairs): This year’s Christmas I will be working. We have no holiday because the party is having provincial elections across the country, and this is one of the examples of intra-party democracy.
This year’s Christmas I will be working. We have no holiday because the party is having provincial elections across the country, and this is one of the examples of intra-party democracy.
I will be assisting our Politburo member Dr (David) Parirenyatwa in supervising elections in Matabeleland South, so it will be work on Christmas as we will be preparing for that.I think we are going to have the same impetus in 2022 as we had this year.
Tendai-Chirau
We are going to see more projects being implemented by President Mnangagwa, especially in infrastructure development.We expect that 2022 will be a year of productivity where we will be mobilising the youth and rallying them to take a central role in production.
Mr Paul Zakariya (Zimbabwe Farmers Union director): This Christmas we were actually quite busy as we are touring farms around the country. Planting has stepped up in the Mashonaland provinces as well as in Manicaland.
The crop situation is looking positive and we are hoping for another bumper harvest next year, just like we had this year.
We hope we continue getting the rains and not long dry spells. We are confident of a good year next year as long as we continue getting rains.
Cde Tafadzwa Mugwadi (ZANU PF Information and Publicity Director): I spent the day with village elders in Buhera. They remain the fountains of wisdom. This year was very hectic, loaded with multiple party programmes.
I had not gotten enough time to be with them to exchange notes on social, political and family matters.
Next year I will be focusing on my work so that we are on top of the situation ahead of the 2023 harmonised elections.
Mrs Carmelina Rodriguez (Cuban Ambassador to Zimbabwe): I am just happy to be in good health in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, which continues to cause havoc around the world.
The most important thing next year is to overcome the Covid-19; this virus is tough.
The plan is to develop the relationship between Cuba and Zimbabwe and strengthen relations between the two countries.
Mr Tamer Almassri (Palestinian Ambassador to Zimbabwe): The festive season is a time to reflect and take stock of the achievements made during the year and what can be done better in the coming year.
We are keen to develop friendly relations between our countries and peoples.
We initiated co-operation in different fields such as political consultation, sports, tourism, education, and we continue to deepen and explore other horizons of South-South co-operation for mutual interest of our peoples.
Tambudzai Chinyepe (Form Four student):I am a Form Four student at Kundayi High School in Concession. This year’s Christmas is a time for me to take a break from the Ordinary Level exams that I have been writing.
I have written most of the subjects so far, but I am left with a few, which I will complete in January.
I spent Christmas Day cooking meals for the family because we have a big get-together with several family members at home.
Priviledge Tarasika: My brother, this Christmas is a wonderful one for me because I have managed to spoil my family and they are so happy. Last year was tough for me because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
A close family member died as a result of the virus.
However, I am grateful that this December my family has not lost anyone to Covid-19 despite the Omicron variant, which is spreading like a veld fire.
