By Pearson Mbendera.
Harare, Zimbabwe. (News of The South) – Its a little over a month before Christmas. Usually people would be getting in the mood and making big plans about how and where they will spend their Christmas holiday. And with the month of November about to end, most people would be about to receive their bonuses, the 13th cheque, it has always been a glorious time, but not anymore, things have changed.
The people’s taste and preferences have developed, simply having rice and chicken and coleslaw salad on christmas and turning up the volume of the radio doesn’t cut it anymore, people want something better than that, but the unfortunate part is, they cannot afford that, well not everyone, but most people can’t.
But despite the Christmas period drawing nearer, the Christmas spirit is yet to be realized, people are busy thinking about the problems they face everyday to even dream about the Christmas holiday. In fact, only a few have mentioned it, and it wasn’t about the celebrations, it was about something else happening during that period.
Its been long since people have had a good christmas, some can’t even remember. The new clothes, the food, the music, the feeling. Even some who went to the rural areas for their Christmas celebrations had a good christmas than the one people are having today. It is hard to celebrate with a lot of financial stress weighing down on people.
That’s just the story of Zimbabwe, everything is about the economy, and the economy has been playing grinch to the christmas holiday, and this coming holiday, will definitely not be spared.
It is very hard to fully assess the economic situation of Zimbabwe. While it is easy to talk about the struggling people, making it look as if the whole nation is struggling, some are doing pretty good. Buying expensive cars, living in luxurious houses amd having the best time of their lives.
The pic and pays and the Choppies are raking in a lot of money, the retails business seems to be doing well for some other shops as there are some people who can still afford to shop till they drop. But christmas isn’t about the privileged few, its the holiday for everyone, and it is hard celebrating when things are tight.
This isn’t like 2007 where the shops are empty, this time they are filled with groceries, only the money is the problem, people don’t have it.
And the New Year, coming with new promises, who cares that the promises of this year haven’t been realized and the year is almost over, the prospects of yet another hard time for Zimbabwe casts doubt.
But what can we really do about the economy, and stop it from messing up with everything?
Last year, those returning to Zimbabwe from South Africa were in for a shock when they got here and realized that, ZAR100, which is a lot of money in South Africa, wasn’t even enough to buy a chicken in Zimbabwe, and that people weren’t interested in the South African rand anymore, shunning it in favour of the more stable United States dollar.
Fast forward a year, with growing cash shortages and the threat of bond notes, the surrogate currency about to be introduced by the government, the members of the public have been calling for the full adoption of the South Africa rand, a move that would surely make a lot of Zimbabweans in South Africa and their families here happy.
But however little money people may have, they might just be able to buy a few drinks, get together and have a somewhat happy time and forget all about it. And that’s the beauty alcohol, sometimes you tend to forget all about it, at least temporarily.
So however bad the economy is, bring some holiday cheers, and lets celebrate. Some have been crying all year round, we surely can take a break and celebrate, there are plenty things to celebrate, just pick, don’t let the economy play grinch to the festive season. I had to write this one early, I know it will take a lot to get in the Christmas mood. I just might and please, don’t forget to invite me. Cheers.
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