News / National
Matabeleland North celebrates Christmas
26 Dec 2014 at 08:19hrs | Views
Matabeleland North province joined the rest of the country and the world in celebrating Christmas Day with most people saying economic challenges negatively affected the spirit of the day.
Christmas day this year has not been easy for ordinary people who believe it was just business as usual as they had no money to splash on luxuries they cannot afford.
In Nkayi, Lupane and Tsholotsho, Zimbabweans based in South Africa were significantly visible with their top of the range vehicles and stole the limelight at business centres.
Supermarkets in Lupane however ran out of bread as early as Christmas Eve as the demand had shot up.
People have also been flocked to Binga where buses increased to three from the two that usually ply the Bulawayo-Binga route.
Lodges in the district are said to be fully booked.
However, in Victoria Falls tour adventure companies as well as hotels and lodges were busy as people flocked in to celebrate Christmas Day.
Travel and tourism executive Blessing Munyenyiwa said while business was good, numbers reflect a drop compared to the same period last year.
Zimbabwe Council for Tourism representative Mrs Barbara Murasiranwa also confirmed the situation saying this may be due to economic challenges being faced by the country.
She said companies are not paying their employees, thus making it difficulty for people to have enough disposable income to visit tourist resorts.
Some hotels have occupancy as low as 35 percent while some confirmed that despite being busy, the numbers of occupants are lower than last year.
However, hotels are fully booked for the Victoria Falls Carnival which kicks off on Monday and end on New Year's Day.
Christmas day this year has not been easy for ordinary people who believe it was just business as usual as they had no money to splash on luxuries they cannot afford.
In Nkayi, Lupane and Tsholotsho, Zimbabweans based in South Africa were significantly visible with their top of the range vehicles and stole the limelight at business centres.
Supermarkets in Lupane however ran out of bread as early as Christmas Eve as the demand had shot up.
People have also been flocked to Binga where buses increased to three from the two that usually ply the Bulawayo-Binga route.
Lodges in the district are said to be fully booked.
Travel and tourism executive Blessing Munyenyiwa said while business was good, numbers reflect a drop compared to the same period last year.
Zimbabwe Council for Tourism representative Mrs Barbara Murasiranwa also confirmed the situation saying this may be due to economic challenges being faced by the country.
She said companies are not paying their employees, thus making it difficulty for people to have enough disposable income to visit tourist resorts.
Some hotels have occupancy as low as 35 percent while some confirmed that despite being busy, the numbers of occupants are lower than last year.
However, hotels are fully booked for the Victoria Falls Carnival which kicks off on Monday and end on New Year's Day.
Source - Zbc
