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Leroy Dzenga Features Writer
For the Tapfuma family of Budiriro 4 in Zimbabwe’s capital city Harare, COVID-19 has not only confined them indoors but has affected their lifelong routines.

Engagements that had become part of their subconscious are being altered to fit a new reality.

A reality whose duration no one knows.

Families across the world have seen their collective sources of livelihood threatened and the Tapfuma’s are no different.

Their diversity shows the multifaceted impact COVID-19 has had on family units.

Mr Ezekiel Tapfuma and his wife Irene are tailors. The nature of their clientele makes them feel the impact of the lock-down.

“I have not been able to get cloth since shops that sell them are not classified as essential services.

“There are many things being sewn but remain incomplete because I have not been able to get basic material like embroidery,” he said.

Customer traffic has been low.

“Our livelihood comes from people who come with orders. They can only come if they have money to spare, right now everyone is trying to manage their spending, business has been low,”

Not getting business is almost every business’ worry, but at this point Mr and Mrs Tapfuma are not sure if that is such a bad thing.

“I am spending my days sleeping, there are pending orders but I cannot work on them because shops that sell material are closed,” said Mr Tapfuma.

The longer the lock-down lasts, the harder their operation will have to fight to recover from the disruption.

Even their big orders from corporates and schools are under threat, the uncertainty in the business environment has made the ground shaky.

For Fiona, their third daughter who is at university, circumstances are slightly different.

Her work related learning in one Government department had to stop abruptly with the announcement of a lock-down.

She now spends her time at home hoping a solution is found soon, so she can do what is required of her in the field of work and complete her studies.

Her elder sister Florence, is not on an involuntary holiday like the rest of the family.

Each rising sun is accompanied by calls of duty.

Her work at a local telecommunications company allows her to input remotely.

“Fortunately, I can work from home. I have to deal with network challenges here and there but I am still covering ground from home,” she said.

Normally on Monday to Friday, me and my siblings go to work and come back.

It is a little bit weird to spend the day here at home but it has been an opportunity to reconnect with family, mused Florence.

Vitalis, who is the youngest works in food production and was among those listed as an essential service.

On a daily basis, he is picked up by company provided vehicles and is dropped after wrapping up his shift.

Although the family understands why their normal way of life has been disrupted, part of their hearts is.

The eldest Victor, lives outside the country and in times like these, familial concerns emerge.

“We often get worried about Covid-19 and whether or not our brother is safe, is his job taking care of him in such times and if his finances are okay,” Florence said.

Right after lockdown was announced by President Mnangagwa, the Tapfumas let their helper to travel and be with her family.

This has led to the apportionment of household chores within the family, a move which has brought a different dynamic.

“My younger sister and I are doing household chores by way of duties. The person doing the cooking on a particular day, will also clean the house,” said Florence.

Their lockdown experience is far from a holiday situation, some perennial demands of life have lingered on.

Water in their neighbourhood is a persistent headache.

“We wake up early in the morning to go join the borehole queue, water here is a problem,” she said.

Prior to the lockdown, like some families in Zimbabwe, they knew at some point a decision had to be taken but were not sure of its form.

They bought basics in anticipation of what was an impending announcement at that point.

On March 26 when President Mnangagwa announced the lockdown, the family has been within the fortification of their security wall, only leaving when appropriate.

“On Friday we went to the shops to replenish our stocks but we could not get much because there was commotion and people were running around on suspicion that law enforcement officers are patrolling in the area,” Florence said.

It has not been the easiest of situations for the family which has had to make compromises in full understanding it is for the greater good.

They, like the rest of the world are hoping a solution is found soon and life can get back to normal.

The past week, though necessary, has not been the easiest.

With confirmed cases having surpassed the one million mark globally, many are wondering when it will be safe to breathe a sigh of relief.

The Tapfuma family is part of those who wish a solution is found soon, so they can get back to their normal lives.