The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Reporter
AT a time when Disney is no longer magical, Paris is no longer romantic and New York is no longer vibrant.
London in no longer energetic, the Chinese Great Wall is no longer a fortress of tourism and the Vatican is no longer a hive of activity.
At a time when Mecca is now empty owing to the ravages of Covid-19 pandemic, imbibers in Manicaland — the south-eastern part of Zimbabwe — are refusing to come to terms with the reality of life without, or at least with limited alcohol.
Following President Mngangagwa’s declaration of a 21-day long lockdown to avert the spread of coronavirus, some of those who love the wise waters have been struggling to stay within the confines of their homes.
So far, police in Manicaland have made 203 arrests amid revelations that most of those cases have to do with loitering in search of alcohol.
While the country has already recorded a death from Covid-19, beating the lockdown blues has been a challenge for most pleasure seekers.
With most citizens generally complying with the Covid-19 lockdown regulations, including staying at home unless it is absolutely necessary to go out, a mischievous section of the consumers of alcoholic beverages has been plying hide and seek with law enforcement agents in Manicaland.
Holding two empty lager beer bottles, Admire Nyatsanga of Chikanga Phase Two said: “It is difficult for me to spend the whole day without drinking beer. This lockdown came abruptly and it is extremely difficult for me to drink at home.
“Maybe we will get used to it as time goes on, but for now, I will continue playing hide and seek with the police officers who are telling us to go home.
“In any case, I have actually reduced my consumption rate because life is coming to a standstill as early as 6pm here in the ghetto, which is very unusual.”
According to a brief survey carried out by The Manica Post, Nyatsanga is not the only one in this predicament. His peers are exploiting every opportunity they get to acquire the next pint following the closure of bars and nightclubs.
In fact, the police in Manicaland have revealed that shebeens have sprouted in some residential areas.
On the other hand, some imbibers are walking from their respective suburbs into the city centre in order to evade police roadblocks that have since been mounted in the roads leading into Mutare’s central business district.
Various supermarkets remain open and alcoholic products are available in such shops.
Said Michael Chiarara: “I walked from home, that is OTS section in Sakubva, into town around 9am. I managed to buy two six packs of beer from a supermarket.
“Town is actually closer than the nearest supermarket here in Sakubva,” he said.
The police revealed that most of the cases that they have had to deal with, in terms of the breach of Covid-19 regulations, have to do with open bottle stores, as well as those to do with loitering in search of alcoholic beverages.
“We are happy with the level of discipline that we have witnessed since Monday when the lockdown came into effect. However, most of the 72 arrests made so far in the province are connected to alcohol,” said Manicaland police spokesperson Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa.
Mutare medical expert Morgan Ashala said the risky efforts to access alcoholic beverages pointed to addiction.
“It only points to serious addiction. Remember we are talking about people who are used to drinking everyday, with some even sneaking out of their workplaces to get a pint or two.
“This is why you see people milling around bars and nightclubs, even when the premises are closed. Some then resort to using unorthodox means of buying alcoholic products,” he said.
