ZIMBABWEANS are no strangers to hardship. Their resilience and ability to endure adversity remain nothing short of remarkable.
For over three decades, the country has been weighed down by relentless economic challenges, reducing it to a frequent subject of ridicule.
Some even jest that merely living in Zimbabwe should be a notable addition to one’s CV, given the unrelenting struggles its citizens face.
Yet, as the festive season approaches — just days away — millions of Zimbabweans are once again bracing for a subdued Christmas.
While the rest of the world prepares to celebrate with loved ones, many in Zimbabwe find themselves financially incapacitated, unable to partake in what is meant to be a season of joy.
It is even hard to find the energy for simple joys such as putting up a Christmas tree when surrounded by so much uncertainty and struggle. The weight of economic hardship, and dashed hopes can truly sap the festive spirit.
That Zimbabweans face a bleak Christmas is now a cliché. It’s because every year, many people are financially hamstrung to celebrate the festive holidays.
The festive period has, for years, been a luxury out of reach for the majority. But even against this backdrop of scarcity, a small, privileged elite with political and business connections enjoys opulent lifestyles.
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Soon, social media will be flooded with images of these individuals vacationing in exotic locations across the Middle East and Asia.
Such displays of excess only serve to highlight the yawning chasm between the haves and have-nots — a glaring emblem of inequality.
What makes this situation dire are the high prices of goods and services. Groceries are increasingly unaffordable relative to stagnant wages, while many companies have been unable to pay salaries or bonuses.
The economic environment remains suffocating, marked by currency instability, eroded purchasing power, and a severe liquidity crunch.
Under such horrible circumstances, where does the Christmas cheer come from?
The situation is even grimmer for those who have lost their jobs due to business closures. A visit to one of Harare’s largest shopping malls this week revealed a sobering sight: five major fast-food outlets have shut down, leaving scores of workers unemployed, likely without severance packages.
For these families, the prospect of celebrating Christmas with smiles and cheer seems impossibly distant.
Employment remains scarce, and for those fortunate enough to work, salaries are often paltry — hardly enough to meet the basics.
Adding insult to injury, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube (aka minister of taxation) introduced a barrage of new taxes, including levies on chips, burgers, pizzas, and doughnuts, set to take effect in January 2025.
These taxes expose a government desperate to raise revenue, yet oblivious to the struggles of its citizens. Ironically, while announcing these measures in Parliament, Ncube arrived in a brand new Range Rover Autobiography, worth around a staggering US$250 000.
Similarly, the luxurious vehicles in the Presidential, including for the vice-presidents’, motorcade and the housing loans extended to parliamentarians paint a stark contrast to the sacrifices demanded of ordinary Zimbabweans.
To its credit, the government has made strides in road rehabilitation and infrastructure development, but these efforts remain insufficient in addressing the broader economic malaise.
As the year draws to a close, it is prudent for the leadership to rethink its revenue strategies. High taxes cannot be the default solution. Instead, 2025 must usher in an economic environment that fosters growth, creates jobs, and allows businesses and citizens to thrive.
Many Zimbabweans yearn for a better life, and this persistent stagnation explains the worsening brain drain. Countless skilled professionals have left the country, scattered across the globe and forced into menial jobs just to support their families back home.
The question remains: can something finally be done to fix the economy? Zimbabwe cannot continue to endure the same bleak Christmas year after year. The powers that be must act decisively. Something has to give.
