Bleak Christmas for villagers as economy continues to tumble

Peter Taedzerwa sits under a musasa tree, a crate of opaque bear under his legs, an Everest cigarette discharging a tail of smoke into the air as the 48-year-old father of five enjoys Christmas with three fellow village age mates at Mbuyanehanda Township in Bikita.

It is hot outside, with temperatures hovering around 37 degrees Celsius and Taedzerwa hangs his sun-bleached jacket loosely on the left knee while his right hand holds a scud from which he takes successive sips, a clear indication that he had not downed the wise waters for some time.

His jacket is very old — a signature of time and poverty is inscribed all over his face.

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