New Year ’s Eve parties banned

• Police target musical gigs, festivities
• Church services, weddings given greenlight
• Musicians, promoters feel hard done-by
• Firecrackers illegal

By Daniel Kachere

In Zimbabwe, New Year’s Eve is characterised by wild parties, usually accompanied by fireworks and firecrackers that illuminate the night skies as people celebrate the arrival of yet another year.
It has been a tradition in Zimbabwe and other countries to party and light up the night, cheering for new prospects ahead of the New Year.
However, this year all the excitement is likely to be reduced due to Covid-19 restrictions that are being tightened as cases surge in the country.
On Monday, Zimbabwe’s neighbour and biggest trading partner, South Africa, reverted back to Level 3 of that country’s lockdown, prohibiting sale of alcohol and enforcing mandatory wearing of masks.
Failure to follow the regulations attracts a six-month jail term, among other penalties that may be deemed appropriate by a competent court of law.
In Zimbabwe, police have said they will be out in full force enforcing lockdown regulations but what has irked many is the ban on gatherings for parties and musical gigs, which many religiously attend every year.
Police have said any gathering outside funerals, church services and weddings would be deemed illegal as the country is still under a Covid-19 national lockdown.
Speaking to Nhau, police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said unsanctioned gatherings remained illegal and anyone found breaking the law would be arrested.
“It is a crime, considering that the country is under a national lockdown where some gatherings are still restricted, it entails that people have to behave, people have to be exemplary in whatever they are doing.
“As far as we are concerned, the only gatherings that are allowed and restricted to 100 people are church services, funerals and weddings. The rest of the gatherings like parties, musical galas or performances, and those who are celebrating using fire crackers are prohibited.”
Asst-Comm Nyathi said the public tended to be reckless during such gatherings leading to destruction of property and even death, hence all those that had plans to party should think twice as the police will deal with them accordingly.
“As we move towards the New Year, people who will be engaged in such activities will be arrested. People should consider their safety. In Banket two people died during a party session. Two children died as people were partying on Christmas and Boxing Day,” Asst-Comm Nyathi said.
“People should not get over excited because at the end of the day when mishaps happen, they start crying foul again.”
On firecrackers, Nyathi said that their use was strictly prohibited as it had security implications.
“As it stands, because of the Covid-19 situation and security implications, no one is supposed to use firecrackers, no parties.”
Negligent use of firecrackers has attracted the attention of the police, especially in high-density suburbs where it has led to injuries of children who use them without adult supervision.
In previous years, anyone who wished to use fireworks was supposed to notify the police in advance and get the necessary clearance. Lighting up fireworks illegally attracts a fine of Z$600.
The ban of live music shows and parties by the police means imbibers, people in showbiz and artists are set to lose out on their much anticipated traditional New Year’s Eve windfall.
Bar owners, musicians and venue operators are likely to be counting losses if law enforcement goes ahead and blocks all festivities.
Zimbabwe Musicians Union (ZIMU) president Edith WeUtonga bemoaned the cancellation of shows, saying authorities were destroying artists’ livelihoods.
“It is very unfortunate that the concerts have to be cancelled because that is our livelihood,” said WeUtonga.
“We may have been spared major losses during the first wave but we don’t know if we can survive the second. For those performances that can be hosted online and allow for audiences to be a part of, I think measures for pay per view should be put in place to curtail losses and have as minimal as possible the number of people within the production as the rest watch online.”
Music Management Forum of Zimbabwe secretary-general Russell Mavhudzi said the stance by the police could worsen the spread of Covid-19 as illegal musical shows and galas become super spreaders.
Mavhudzi is of the view that it is better to allow shows to go ahead with regulation and supervision from the police and health authorities.
“The ban on musical events is a bad move. The spread will be more because they are banning professionally-run shows. There are people who are still doing live shows illegally. There are people with power who are unstoppable and the ban will make it worse as no one will put measures such as sanitisation when people get into an event.
“Authorities need to actually open up shows so that they have control over the shows and put safety measures and keep our Zimbabwe safe as even corporate events are taking place, both legal and illegal promoters are doing shows … To keep our Zimbabwe safe, we need to open up gigs, put safety measures and fine those who do not follow safety guidelines,” he said.
Last month musicians and bar owners challenged Government’s stance to keep them closed down under the Covid-19 restrictive measures.
This followed Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Kazembe Kazembe’s pronouncement that bars remain closed, which prompted a joint military and police raid on defiant operators leading to many arrests.
The leisure hubs, which were shut down in March, are yet to fully open even after sectors such as tourism were granted reprieve close to three months ago. Nhau/Indaba