The ManicaPost
THE festive season, which stretches from late November to early January next year is upon us now.
This is a period associated with festivities as people tend to unwind and steam off while reflecting on the rigours, exertions, challenges and successes of the foregoing year.
They will also be recharging and planning for the forthcoming year.
That time is also characterised by partying or merriment as well as heightened roaming, with people travelling to their home areas to be with their families, relatives and loved ones to share precious memorable times.
Under such circumstances, we tend to throw caution to the wind as we soak in the moments.
However, this calls for us to enjoy responsibly and stay safe during the festive season.
When travelling, we must always exercise extreme caution on the roads so as to prioritise our own safety and that of other road users — either fellow motorists or pedestrians.
When we go out to hang out at places of interest, we need not to stray, but stay within limits because too much of something becomes good for nothing.
When we are going away, it is important to ensure that our business and residential properties are properly secured and safe.
With the hustle the period brings, criminals will also be out to have a field day and enjoy their own kind of festivities.
This is due to the shopping, financial transactions and travelling the season brings, which breeds fertile ground for fraudsters to exploit unsuspecting members of the public.
We, therefore, need to guard against laxity because without preventing it, we are susceptible to becoming easy targets for criminals and falling prey to the lurking threats.
Businesses must put in place robust security measures, while also educating their employees and customers about potential risks and threats that come and go with the festive season.
Individuals, on the other hand, can contribute by staying informed and reporting any suspicious activity.
To uphold compliance by the public, law enforcement agents need to carry out routine patrols in our communities as well as on our roads.
While celebrating our accomplishments for 2023, we need not do it with reckless abandon.
Let us not overindulge.
Let us also keep a watchful eye on our children.
As we engage in merriment, it does not give the young ones a licence to dabble in dangerous substances and drugs.
We need to be each other’s keepers.
It is important to cross over into 2024 in good health and cheerful spirits without a hangover of the problems we would have gotten ourselves into during the festive season.
While loosening up, the importance of planning for the following year and the future by putting in place bankable ideas that we can translate into viable, sustainable projects that we implement for our sustenance over the course of the year must never be lost to us.
These are commonly referred to as the New Year Resolutions.
2024 will mark the genesis of a new academic year.
As such, parents and guardians, we need to ensure that all will be in place for their children’s school needs for that year.
As we exchange gifts during the festive season, we also need to share the present of responsibility and safety.
By staying at our vigilant best, we can ensure joyous and secure celebrations.
We need to enjoy responsibly and ensure that we have enough for all the provisions required to beat the proverbial “curse” of “January disease”.
Let us ensure our festive cheers do not turn into tears.
