Zim Partygoers Vow To Defy Mnangagwa Christmas Ban

The Zimbabwean government has effectively banned Christmas parties due to a second wave of the coronavirus characterised by a huge spike in new infections.

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe said police were out in full force to enforce COVID-19 lockdown regulations. He said:

We are not yet out of the COVID-19 woes. The country is in the second wave of the virus. Parties will not be permissible during the festive season.

Weddings will be allowed but with limited numbers. Police will be out in full force to enforce COVID-19 regulations and make sure they are being followed.

However, defiant revellers say they will celebrate, even if it means hosting bush parties.

A club owner told TimesLive that police are incapacitated and don’t have fuel to do normal policing duties and it would be impossible for them to drive 20km out of town to stop parties.

A partygoer said it was easy to circumvent the coronavirus lockdown by holding parties at tourism facilities such as hotels and bed and breakfast lodges. He said:

You book a lodge for US$100 (about R1,450), invite around 20 friends, bring drinks and a good DJ. It’s even cheaper than spending at a nightclub.

Since March, Zimbabwe has recorded coronavirus 11 866 cases, 9 836 recoveries and 314 deaths.

In the second wave, the country is recording an average of 117 new cases daily.

More: TimesLive