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Tafadzwa Zimoyo Lifestyle Writer
With the windy weather still persisting in September marking the transition from the cold winter season, Zimbabwe’s seasons are changing dramatically but many have welcomed the advent of the warm weather that has brought a spring in their steps.

Well poets have been known to gush a lot about the beauty of summer, with musicians also joining in the bandwagon.

Winky D’s popular song, “Summer Time” aptly captures the mood that is normally associated with this season.

“Yasvika nguva yesummer/hapachina nguva yecrime/mabhebhi akapfeka mashort/ machinda musaita naughty/kana vakupfuura pana Fourth . . . ”

With summer also comes a host of other attendant issues – from change in fashion, outdoor activities and behaviour changes. With winter having come to an end, and all those heavy overcoats now confined to the deeper recesses of the wardrobes, some more lighter and revealing clothes become the order of the day in an effort to fend off the heat.

Fashion
Summer always gives people something to talk about when it comes to fashion. As Winky D rightly puts it in his song, summer is also an opportunity for women to show off not only their fancy fashion tastes but also a little bit of flesh, which often leads to cat-calls from male onlookers.

It seems the ladies will also be contending with the jacarandas that are now in full bloom.

While some people would want to believe that the women will be taking advantage of summer to “market their wares”, the women themselves argue that there is nothing wrong in this kind of dressing, saying it was appropriate for this kind of weather.

“There is nothing wrong in wearing shorts, mini-skirts or any other clothes because we can’t wear heavy clothes in summer. But some men often think otherwise. We have a right to wear what we want, in a similar fashion to what they (men) do,” said Catherine Rwodzi of Avondale.

Michael Muza of Budiriro doesn’t believe that decent women should wear skimpy clothes that are revealing as this makes men uncomfortable.

“Men often find it uncomfortable seeing women in such clothes. We know that it is summer time, but at least the dressing should be decent, and not what we often see in public transport and other places. It is worrying that this kind of dressing has also found its way into the church. Would you want your wife to dress like this in public?” he quipped.

For this season it is all about the colours, floral print and hip-style is trendy. One fashionista, Trish Carmen, said summer-spring needs a jamboree and fun-like attitude.

“You don’t need to think much of what to wear as it is all about colours,” she said.

Not to be left out is the Zim Fashion Week that will be held later this month where fashionistas, designers and socialites strut their stuff and showcase their summer spring collection.

Outing
For fun-lovers, summer is also an ideal season for outdoor games, hiking, traveling and fishing Unlike winter, the weather is favourable and not harsh. It is also the time that professional anglers favour and enjoy their sport in places like Kariba and Darwendale.

“With winter, all outdoor games had been suspended, and our visits had become few because winter is a harsh season but with summer our adrenaline has risen and we will be embarking on a number of activities like fishing which my buddies and I enjoy,” said Roger Thomas, a lifestyle guru and coach.
The coming of summer also augurs well for musicians and other professional performers who rely on shows as a form of business. Most shows had been suspended due to the winter cold spell since revellers opted to stay indoors.

“In winter, showbusiness is normally low because few people can brave the cold weather and spend long nights in the chilly weather.

“But with summer, all has changed and the shows are back in full swing and we are expecting business to improve,” explained one musician.

Even lovebirds always make the most of summer as it is ideal for them to go out to those lovely spots where they sun-bath while lost in their romantic world.

Most recreational parks are always full during this season, unlike in winter the chill calls for people to spend most of their time indoors.

Summer also provides for those memorable “Kodak” moments as the lovers pose for photos in their summer outfits, mementos for the picture frame.

Business
On the business front, just like with showbiz, shops and other operators in the informal business sector like those who operate from Mbare’s Mupedzanhamo flea market, the coming of summer also means a change in the merchandise they sale as well as a shift in the sales they record.

In winter, people flocked to these places to buy jerseys, jackets, blankets and heaters to warm themselves up, but all these suddenly become redundant with the advent of summer.

“This naturally calls for new merchandise to be in stock, part of these include fans and clothes that are light. In summer, the sales are not normally high, but if you hoard clothes which suit this time, you can make a killing,” said one operator from Mupedzanhamo who only identified herself as Amai Sue.
Weddings

Couples always plan to hold their weddings during this period which records the highest number of weddings. Couples have also become very experimental and some are now opting for summer wear as part of their wardrobe on the wedding day, which they alternate with their wedding gowns and formal suits.

Some people were of the opinion that couples prefer to wed this season because of the hot chill weather and again the festive season would be jam packed with events.

Customarily they will also be rushing to beat the sacred month of November when all marriage nuptials are not permitted.

Summer or spring
There is this school of thought which argues that there is no summer in Zimbabwe.

“There is no summer in Zimbabwe, but spring, which is that season characterised by the blooming of flowers. Fine, there might be some characteristics of summer, but the actual season that we are in now is spring,” noted one observer.

While such people might want to argue on these lines, the fact however remains that summer is one of those seasons that most people are in love with the world over.

Even visitors – tourists – always like to visit Africa and Zimbabwe in particular in summer when the weather is fine.

The number of tourist arrivals is often high during this period, and these tourists always go back to their home countries speaking highly about the favourable summers of this side of the world.

“Summer is also favourable to one’s health. I am healthy during this time, unlike in winter when some ailments associated with this season will be taking their toll,” observed Judith Maworere.