By Trevor Makonyonga
2019 has been one of the most eventful but difficult year for Zimbabweans. Going into the year, the government introduced what they referred to as austerity measures. These made Zimbabweans hate to exist and to date people are suffering from the effects of these dehumanising policies. It seems the Holidays have evaded the households in the country due to government inflicted poverty. Other than the overelaborated economic difficulties various other events which will be tackled below happened.
Politics
The president set up the political actors dialogue better known as Polad which is meant to supposedly move the nation forward. The biggest catch in this thing is that the biggest political player in the MDC Alliance. The meetings have been flawed thus far. Whist the president is on a road show with these minnow political actors, woes seem to haunt his deputies. Vice President Kembo Mohadi was entangled in a nasty divorce while VP Chiwenga spent four months in a China hospital. His return saw the arrest of his 38 year old wife, Marry Mubaiwa who is in remand prison till January 14 which is exactly a month before Valentine’s Day. Speaking of romance, the relationship between Robert Mugabe and life came to an end. The good thing is that he died some sort of hero having died off the seat. His death was characterised with controversy as there was a gruesome debate of where he would be burried. Eventually he was buried at his rural home in Zvimba.
The year closed with Thabo Mbeki coming for negotiations. Maybe something big is stirring in the pot for 2020.
Sport
The Zimbabwe netball gems hit Liverpool for the World Cup. They gave a good account and could simply follow through their performances in England with stellars in 2020. On a low tip, the senior soccer team gave a pathetic show in Egypt. The Zimbabwe Cricket board was reshuffled by the SRC leading to the country being suspended from the ICC. The Rugby team missed out on the World Cup but Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira won it with South Africa. Consolation it would seem. The Harare Province Rugby board hosted the inaugaral Awards Night which saw Blithe “Driller” Mavesere dominate. The Pitbulls clinched the Exide 7s whilst FS Raiders and Milton High conquered in the Victoria Falls 7s. Caps United lost the PSL to FC Platinum in a less interesting sporting year. Hopefully more action will be recorded in 2020.
Entertainment
Zimbabwe lost one of the greatests talents ever to grace the land, Oliver Mtukudzi. He died after a long illness and was accorded the national hero status. On a high Ishan and T Gonz dominated the waves in the first third of the year before Freeman and Alick Macheso took over the second third. For the final third, it has been all Mambo Dhuterere. King 98 dominated the Hip Hop awards winning the best male, best collab and best hustle. It has generally been a slow year hopefully Winky D closed it down on a high note with his ulbum Njema at a gig dubbed “Final Shutdown” at the HICC in the capital.
