This year’s Christmas holiday will be celebrated differently by Zimbabweans depending on their station in life.
While some politicians said they will spend Christmas enjoying food and drink with their families, ordinary folks sid there is nothing to celebrate as they fret about school fees and uniforms as the 2021 first term commences on 4 January.
National Housing minister Daniel Garwe and MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora told NewsDay that they will spend Christmas in Harare with their respective families.
Meanwhile, Harare resident Garikai Maungwe said most people would not be able to celebrate the Christmas holidays owing to a myriad of challenges bedevilling the country. He said:
It’s just going to be like any other day. We can’t spend much to celebrate Christmas as we have been facing a lot of challenges during this COVID-19 period.
We have no money to spend. Mind you, schools are opening early on January 4, which means that we are faced with the problem of school fees, uniforms and stationery for our children who are going back to school.
I would have wanted to spend the holidays in my home area meeting with other relatives. I cannot even afford to buy some goodies for my children for Christmas.
Another Harare resident, Tendai Arinesto, said she will spend the Christmas holiday at her rural home working in the fields. She said:
How can we enjoy Christmas when things are hard like this? There is no money to splash on goodies. This year’s Christmas will just pass like any other day.