THE festive season has roared to life. From Beitbridge to Chirundu, Victoria Falls to Mutare, the season is punctuated by merriment.
Across the country, retail shops flaunt bold “Sale” signs, Santa graces shopfronts — though the current breed seems less generous than those of yesteryear.
Employees don Santa hats and Christmas lights illuminate city centres, creating an illusion of abundance and overindulgence.
Yet for many, this cheer masks a harsher reality.
Beneath the glitter lies an economy under strain. Low disposable incomes, a rising cost of living and the persistent scourge of wage theft, mean thousands of workers will endure a grim festive season. For such families, Christmas is less about indulgence and more about survival — a test of resilience rather than a celebration of plenty.
These unfortunate families will put all hands on deck to provide something special on their tables.
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Driven by love and expectation, parents and guardians will stretch already-thin resources to give children new clothes and special meals. For many children, this is the only time of the year they feel truly indulged. The pressure to meet social and familial expectations is immense, often pushing households to spend beyond their means.
The festive season also triggers movement. Some families will travel to rural homes to reconnect with their roots and honour the bonds of kinship. Others — a privileged minority — will retreat to holiday resorts locally, regionally or abroad.
This contrast starkly reflects the widening inequality within society, even at a time meant to unite rather than divide.
Amid the celebrations lies a silent but dangerous temptation: financial recklessness.
The impulse to overspend in December often returns with a vengeance in January, when schools reopen and parents scramble to pay fees, buy uniforms and procure textbooks.
The so-called January disease is not an accident; it is the direct consequence of festive profligacy in a fragile economy. Financial discipline, though unglamorous, remains the most reliable remedy.
Even more troubling is the conduct witnessed on the nation’s roads during this period.
Festive seasons have become synonymous with spikes in road traffic accidents — many of them fatal and largely preventable. Speeding, drunken driving and disregard for traffic regulations continue to claim lives year after year.
Our roads must never become highways to death. Speed may thrill, but it ultimately kills — and its cost is broken families and shattered futures.
The message is both simple and urgent: celebration must not descend into catastrophe.
Responsible driving, moderate alcohol consumption and respect for human life are not optional behaviours; they are moral obligations owed to fellow citizens.
Law enforcement agencies must rise to the occasion. Vigilant policing, the removal of unroadworthy vehicles from the roads and arrest of reckless drivers are essential.
The introduction of breathalysers is a commendable step in curbing drunk driving, but it cannot stand alone. Outdated drink-driving laws and a weak policy framework continue to undermine progress on road safety.
Government agencies, churches, civic organisations, transport operators and community leaders must play their part in promoting a culture of safety and restraint.
Enforcement must be firm, fair and consistent, while public education must emphasise that every life matters.
The festive season should be remembered for togetherness, compassion and gratitude — not for funerals, debt traps and regret.
May January find families intact, finances manageable and lives preserved — for that is the true measure of a festive season well spent.
Happy holidays.