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Herald Reporters

Zimbabwe yesterday joined the rest of the continent in commemorating Africa Day under lockdown.

In Harare, as is common on most public holidays these days, supermarkets and some other shops were open, although factories do close.

The Harare magistrates’ court was open with a number of cases being heard.

At Mbare Musika farmers were trading their produce with people from various suburbs descenting on the capital’s largest vegetable market, again typical on public holidays.

With intercity movement still barred under lockdown, no one was able to visit rural relatives and with the lockdown enforcing the closure of bars, pubs and places of entertainment along with a ban on sports events and gatherings, options were limited. Basically most people had to stay at home.

“We have noted that some shops were open and people have been doing some errands. There were short queues in these shops a sign that most people were at home,” said Mrs Veronica Musakwa.

Mr Mukotsi said he spent the day queueing for fuel and failed to commemorate Africa Day like in the past.

“This day is very different from other years. We are only reminded of the day because we are not at work.

“Others had to spend the day queueing for fuel. No any other activity is being done because of the Covid-19,” he said.

In an interview with Marondera residents on how they were celebrating Africa Day most said they would be at home with their families.

“We are here at shopping centre because we want to buy goodies so that we celebrate Africa Day with our families at home,” said Mr Alfred Muchabaiwa.

In Murehwa, groceries were being handed over to their quarantine centre.

“We are happy on this Africa Day as we are receiving goodies from our MP Daniel Garwe. If we keep on observing rules and regulations on Covid-19, we will stay safe. There is next year when we will always celebrate it. As for now we are fighting this pandemic,” said Cllr Gutu.

The general public in Bindura was in much the same mood: stay at home and wait until next year.

Mr Munyaradzi Mafunga said the day is important on the national calendar.

“We have made great strides as Africans on the education, gender and industrialisation sectors. Independence has liberated Africans and we can work for the development of our countries.”

Mashonaland West State Minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka said the province celebrates Africa Day from diverse cultures and tribes. “We have the Kore-Kore, Tonga and Zezuru among other tribes. This is an example of a rich heritage of Africaness that we have as Africa,” she said.

“We are proud to celebrate this day with the African pride and we are pushing that we realise the African Dream of a one and united Africa.”

Zanu-PF provincial chairperson, Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi said the party takes a leaf from the continental togetherness of the day and prides itself as one of the revolutionary parties that stands with the African Dream of economically empowering its citizenry.

“As Mashonaland West, Africa Day reminds us of the dream of our forefathers to unite the continent of Africa. It’s a day that reminds all of us that as Africans we need to be united and fight for our own destiny. In our diversity we are one people and together we will succeed,” he said.

Mutare residents said Africa Day was an important day as it signified the unity between Zimbabwe and other countries and all Africans should unite, especially during this Covid 19 period.

Mrs Plaxedes Mususa said: “Africa Day is an important day. It signifies the unity that exists between countries. For us here in Mutare we interact with Mozambique on many occasions and if we didn’t share good relations we wouldn’t be able to travel freely as we do across borders,” she said.

In Masvingo people marked Africa Day in their homes in observance of lockdown rules with very little activity across the province. The only major highlight of the day was a virtual discussion by Masvingo Gamechangers Youth Group where they discussed the role of young people to help shape the continent’s future through an inward looking thrust for solutions of what is hampering socio-economic development.

One of the outfit’s leaders, Mr Charles Munganasa, in a statement to mark Africa Day, said the continent had potential to emerge from it’s current challenges through unity.

He said young people were the future of the continent and Africa Day should bring to the fore the challenges facing the continent and how the youths can carry the torch of African unity lit by the founding fathers of the resource-rich continent.

In Kariba, it was business as usual amid calls for the significance of the day to be elevated as it represents the future of Africa.

“This is a very important day, carrying the symbolism of Africa’s struggles for independence and the hope of a united and flourishing future. We need to tap into the ideals that inspired our leaders to set aside the day,” said Mr Gration Mahachi.

Others said more needed to be done to magnify the significance of the day.