HARARE – Retailers hoping for a last-minute festive season buying frenzy after weeks of flat sales failed to get the tills ringing after a presidential decree declaring Monday a public holiday.

Banks closed for business on Friday and will re-open on December 27 after President Robert Mugabe’s proclamation that Monday is a public holiday. The arbitrary Monday declaration has dampened spirits somewhat, with many in a last-minute rush to access cash.

Weary Zimbabweans waited in long queues for cash on Friday, hoping to scrape together enough to hold whatever celebration they can afford.

Lengthy queues have been a part of life in Zimbabwe during this time of the year.

But on Friday, the queues became longer and the chaos in the city centre in Harare was unbearable.

For many, after waiting for cash at banks, automatic teller machines (ATMs) repeatedly ran out of money on Friday and yesterday as workers tried to cash their annual bonuses, many people just gave up and went home.

Friday was effectively the last banking day ahead of the holiday weekend, which led to queues that snaked around blocks in downtown Harare as people hoped to get cash from ATMs.

The queues were only a problem for people who had money in the first place. The average Zimbabwean’s disposable income remains over 50 percent below the Poverty Datum Line.

The celebratory mood usually synonymous with this period is conspicuously absent.

Critics attributed this gloomy outlook to the economic constraints faced by the citizenry in a country fighting to revive an economy shattered by a decade of hyperinflation blamed on Mugabe’s previous administration.

But for some, the abrupt declaration of Monday as a holiday did little to discourage people from hopping in their cars or on busses, resulting in traffic chaos throughout the city centre.

Those who held off their Christmas shopping until the last minute in a bid to bag some bargains were left stranded after banks complied with the presidential decree.

And with Christmas falling on a Tuesday this year, the idea to make Monday a holiday was meant to give shoppers benefit from an “extra” weekend to buy presents, but it ended in disaster.

“I don’t know what to do now,” said Joice Moyo, a shopper from Ruwa who was stranded after finding her bank jam packed on Friday.

“I thought I would withdraw money today and buy presents for my three kids, but I can’t anymore. What do I tell the kids?”

She has no ATM card, and the bank opens on December 27.

“I thought I would come on Monday, but I hear its now a holiday.”

James Harris, a manager at a shop in Harare said: “The sales have been quite flat and we have people complaining about banks closing.”

“The run-up to Christmas has been quite poor and I believe it has a lot to do with the extra day this year. We are expecting to see it start picking up today but sales are just flat right now.”

Martha Mutopa, a shop attendant in downtown Harare, agreed sales had been sluggish but said shopping had picked up considerably, although people were spending very little.

“Generally, the economic climate has been very difficult.”

For many, it will be another bleak festive season.

While Christmas is usually a time of bustle, full chicken roasting in the oven, a Christmas cake, presents to wrap and carols around the Christmas tree with children, this year everything about Christmas is an effort.

Most civil servants who make the majority of the formal work force in Zimbabwe say the $300 salary they are on, even with the bonus, is not enough to bankroll a merry Christmas.

They say their salaries remain out of sync with the Poverty Datum Line (PDL), currently pegged at $546.
“There are school fees next year to deal with, we can’t afford to be extravagant,” said a civil servant who declined to be named.

Most people employed in the formal sector said they got some days off during the holiday week, but didn’t have enough money to take their family to visit relatives in their home village.

During the holidays, many city-dwellers travel to the villages where their families live.

Because of the low demand for transport, bus fares have largely remained stagnant and there are enough buses running this year.

But buses from South Africa have shot up, some three fold, with a trip from Johannesburg to Harare going for anything up to R1 400.

As Christmas beckons, former Abia state governor Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu has extended invitation to President Goodluck Jonathan for an eye witness account of the pains travelers suffer crossing the Niger Bridge in Onitsha.
Kalu who praised Jonathan for his resolve to construct the Second Niger Bridge observed that only a Presidential visit and the setting up of a Task Force would stem the inhumanity that had followed the conception of the project.
He said, “When Jonathan told the world in Onitsha that the first Bridge was constructed under an Azikiwe [Dr.Nnamdi Azikiwe]and another Azikiwe[President Jonathan] would put up a second one,i believed him.But i just want him to come over after work, between December 24, 2012 and January 15, 2013 to see for himself what his country men are going through despite money allocated in the past and promises by former leaders.His visit would make things happen next year even if means setting up a Task Force.”
The ex-governor reminded the Federal Government that it took two years to construct the Eko Bridge in Lagos after Carter Bridge suffered serious structural problem in 1957.
“Major repairs were carried out on Carter Bridge in 1957,but it was obvious another bridge was needed to ease traffic in Lagos.Government moved fast.By December 1,1965 work officially commenced on a new bridge,Eko.By December 17.1967,it was ready.And the conract was awarded to Messrs Julius BergerAktiengesellschaft.Since 1980,it had been hectic crossing the Niger.I just hope Mr.President will handle this.Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Chief Emeka Ihedioha knows about the pains of the failed attempts,” Kalu added.
He also expressed optimism that those who would lose their land in the course of constuction would be adequately compensated as was the case during the Eko Bridge era.
“It took Nigeria about 10 million pounds to complete Eko Bridge in 1967.Although Government got a loan of six million pounds from German Bank Kreditanstalt Fur Wiederaufban,more money was spent to build 58 high-rise homes to accomodate those who lost their houses on the Lagos Island,about 12,000 persons.I am sure we are going to see the same treatment across the Niger,” Kalu emphasised.

Christians have again been urged to reflect on the significance of the yuletide season and rededicate themselves to the service of humanity and God.

Speaking at the Christmas Carol Service organized by the state Government in Yenagoa, Governor Seriake Dickson underscored the importance of the season, pointing out that the element of salvation associated with the birth of Jesus Christ distinguishes Christianity as a unique religion.

The Governor therefore urged adherents of the Christian faith to be proud of their religion, show confidence in the infinite possibilities of God and apply their fundamental beliefs in all they do.

“I have not seen the element of salvation in any other religion. Our Lord came, born of a virgin, laid His life as a sacrifice for our salvation and by His death we are safe. That is the unique Christian message.”

Governor Dickson, who read the third lesson at the carol service, also cautioned his fellow leaders to live life circumspectly as, according to him, “there is a period of rendering account either here on earth or in the hereafter.”

His words: “If you are put in authority over your fellow human beings, you’ve got to be careful about your decisions, thoughts and actions because our religion tells us that all of us, both great and small, are made in the image and likeness of God the Father. And so, it is important that we bear that in mind and serve God by serving man.”

Hon Dickson noted that though the State witnessed unprecedented tragedies within the year, his administration still deemed it necessary to express gratitude to God through the carol service in obedience to His word that commands man to give thanks in all situations.

The State Chief Executive commended Bayelsans for their resilience and strength of character over the ugly experiences, expressing optimism that the state would witness unfettered progress in the coming year.

Governor Dickson also appreciated the Christian community for their support and called for more prayers for President Goodluck Jonathan, the state and country at large.

In a brief exhortation, a renowned preacher, Reverend (Dr.) Umah Ukpai said Jesus came to the world to enable His believers not only to make heaven but also live a life of distinction on earth.

According to the clergyman, Bayelsa is a favoured land and that better things shall be said about it, pointing out that his prophetic declarations about the state some ten years ago are being fulfilled.

The first and second lessons of the service were read by Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Kombowei Benson and the Governor’s wife, Dr. (Mrs.) Rachael Dickson.

Expectedly, the carol service featured different choir and orchestra performances as well as special prayers offered by the General Overseer of the Royal House of Grace Church, Apostle David Zilly Aggrey.

Edo State Government will, in 2013, hold a town hall meeting on how to get the Local Government Administrations in the state to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people.

Also, a security summit to look into the how to tackle the security
challenges in the state will hold in the New Year.

Besides, construction of the Central Hospital Benin, which suffered a little setback in the outgoing year will be completed and equipped with modern facilities.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole made this known during a meeting with traditional rulers across the three senatorial districts of the state, at the weekend.

According to him, “We need your support to revisit the local governments to make them work for the people. We have to bring a change to the local government administration to bring government closer to the people. In a democracy, the only thing that is constant is change, we cannot continue like this at the local government; we cannot have local governments that are there to pay salaries alone,” he noted.

The governor who expressed dismay over the activities of the local governments said among other reforms to be done is the trimming down of wasteful expenditure which will be diverted for capital projects such as the building of markets in the respective local governments

“I will seek your support to restore sanity in our public life. We have to carry out major reforms across the state and we will need to be more firm,” he stressed.

On the proposed security summit which will involve all stakeholders in the state, the Governor said with the contributions made by the state government, security challenges in the state should have been reduced to the minimal level.

According to him, “In Edo State we have given out over one hundred and ten vehicles for patrol but when I go out I don’t see them. I have asked the Acting Commissioner of Police to make the vehicles available for a physical audit. We cannot accept a situation where the vehicles provided for security in the state are diverted for private use or even taken outside the state for other purposes.

We have to revisit the issue of the vigilante groups carrying weapons to complement the security agencies in our communities.

We will need to go beyond throwing money at the security agencies and find out how they have managed the ones we have given to them”, he added.

The Governor urged the royal fathers to appeal to the Federal Government to adequately fund the security agencies which is a matter in the exclusive legislative list.

He said there will also be reforms in the education sector to enforce discipline.

On agriculture, the Governor said: “In the first term of the administration, we focused on infrastructure, which we are going to sustain. We are now going to focus on Agriculture and the emphasis this time is to attract businesses into the state. We will sustain the current projects and accelerate the pace of work to the extent our resources permit.

“We are expecting more investment in the state, that is why we have to manage our land judiciously and make the land accessible to genuine investors. We will need your support to also clean up the land administration system,” the Governor disclosed, noting that Government has found that a large portion of the state land reserves are in the hands of individuals who do not properly utilise the land, rather they rent out the land and make profits on it, warning that all such lands will be reverted to Government if not properly utilised.

Comrade Oshiomhole maintained that he will do everything to sustain the trust which the traditional rulers and the people of the state have reposed in him by sustaining the welfare and infrastructural agenda across the state.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has reconstituted the board of the State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) following the sacking of the former board by the court.

Speaking at the swearing-in of the chairman and seven members of the new board, last Friday, Governor Oshiomhole said “we have had to dissolve the former board in compliance with the order of the court. Although we didn’t agree with the order, we had to obey as we felt it was easier to obey the order than go through the process of appealing it.”

He said the starting point of getting democratically-elected Local Governments is to constitute an electoral board with men and women of proven integrity.

The Governor said to ensure the impartiality of the Chairman and members of the board, he invited the Chief Judge and judiciary in the State to nominate members who in their opinion are competent and independent.

He charged the board to “do whatever you can that is in full compliance with the law and put in motion the process of conducting a free and fair election.

“We’ve had a couple of elections in the recent times. I believe under your leadership, we can expect to get a free and fair election in Edo State. I hope you understand the enormity of the task.

“I have been a victim of election rigging and I have promised myself and my God that I shall do everything possible to ensure that the electoral commission in the state conducts a free and fair election.

“I congratulate you but I also commiserate with you because the task before you is a very challenging one.”

Chairman of the board, Solomon Ogoh assured the governor and people of the state that the board is made up of tested hands who are ready to deliver a free and fair local government election in the state.