CHRISTMAS Day is a day when Christians around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ through partying and other merry-making activities while devout Christians indulge in prayer.
BY VENERANDA LANGA SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER
It is a time when people take time off their usual duties to rest and meet with friends and family.
Several parliamentarians and politicians who spoke to NewsDay said they would this Christmas be spending time with their families and loved ones.
Below are some of the plans that our politicians have for Christmas Day:
Mashonaland Central senator Damian Mumvuri (Zanu PF) I will spend some of the time at my farm in Bindura, but I have also made arrangements to visit my constituency during Christmas.
We are going to have a gathering where we will discuss the events of the past year — what we achieved and what we failed to achieve and during the event we are going to share lighter moments. I will slaughter a beast for the event and enjoy with my constituents.
I have also lined up some events for my family where I will slaughter a goat and other family members from Harare, Kwekwe, and Masvingo will join my family at the farm so that we share a few drinks together. So far 2013 has been a successful year and we want to thank God for it. On Christmas Day, I will begin the day by prayer and will celebrate mass together with my family at the Roman Catholic Church before we do anything else.
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Nelson Chamisa Kuwadzana East MP (MDC-T)
I will be praying and playing with family and friends because life needs to be celebrated. I will obviously visit my rural home because it has always been a natural venue for such great occasions.
In the constituency we have already done our own celebrations of life by meeting and discussing the political and economic situation in the country. People in Kuwadzana are suffering and like most Zimbabweans, most of them are likely to spend their Christmas without electricity and water. Just yesterday I was running around the constituency trying to fix broken boreholes and there is just little to celebrate as there is nothing in the pockets for many people to be able to buy Christmas goodies.
During this Christmas period we must sit and reflect on what needs to be done to correct the situation which is untenable and unsustainable. We need to try to bring some relief because Christmas is known for its glitter and glamour, but Zimbabweans have been robbed of many Christmases and need to be compensated by the heavens.
There is just nothing to celebrate when there is no money and there is nowhere to look for it because even Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa does not have the money. Our people are miserable and gloomy, fatigued and you can see the exhaustion and desperation in their faces. They have worked and toiled hard, but there are no returns for civil servants, teachers, nurses, journalists and everyone. It is a difficult moment for the country.
We should stand up and speak with one voice because poverty is not about MDC-T or Zanu PF, but it hits all people from different political parties.
Zanu PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa I will be going for a holiday within the country, but I will not tell you where.
Manicaland senator Patrick Chitaka (MDC-T)
I will be spending Christmas at home in Mutare together with my family. I will not engage in any political activities during this time, but give most of the time to family issues.
MDC secretary-general Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga
I will be home celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. I don’t have money to go on holiday. The economy is sliding back and you can just tell that the mood to celebrate is not there among Zimbabweans as compared to last year.
Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn leader Simba Makoni I will be at my farm working on the crops so that we can feed the family and the country. I will only rest on Christmas Day. Like many Zimbabweans, we don’t have much to celebrate this Christmas because of the economic challenges that are bedeviling the nation.
We don’t have the money to go on holidays, so we have to be working the fields. I will be weeding my maize crop and tobacco crop and taking my cattle to the dip tank. There is nothing to celebrate really because life has become hard.
MDC-T Harare province spokesperson Obert Gutu
I am in Cape Town with my family. 2013 has been a very challenging year and it is my intention to relax and recharge my batteries so I can take my law practice to the next level in 2014. Remember, I have to put food on the family table.
Senator representing people living with disabilities Annah Shiri I will spend most of the time worshiping at the Lutheran Church in Chegutu as Christmas is a time for prayer. However, I am worried about the statistics of people who are getting injured on the country’s roads during the festive season.
As a legislator representing the disabled constituency, I am worried that many people are getting permanent disabilities through road accidents and am in the process of collecting data of road victims during this season. People should exercise caution when driving and Zimbabweans should engage in prayer so that there is protection against road carnage during this season.
Bulawayo Metropolitan senator Tholakele Khumalo (MDC)
I will spend most of my time with family members in Bulawayo because I have always been in Harare on Parliamentary business and did not see my family often. Christmas is a time for giving and I want to give support to abused women and children during this time. I will invite them for dinner and give them some small presents.
My words of caution to people during this festive season are that they should not spend all their money and after the festivities they should not forget that children need to go back to school. Education is very important, no child should be deprived of education and paying school fees is a priority.
Job Sikhala
l will go to where my ancestors are laid (Masema Village in Gutu) and visit my mother and father’s graves to pay homage to those who made us to be what we are. God the Almighty who is with them will be happy to see us obeying his commandment to honour those who gave birth to us. We shall continue with our interactions after our holidays after feasting and enjoying with our relatives and beloved ones. Have a wonderful Christmas mates.
