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EVERY year during the festive period many families in Zimbabwe are denied the opportunity to celebrate Christmas and New Year due to deaths caused by preventable accidents.
Every year the message for motorists not to drink and drive is preached. It is now the norm that when December comes people are advised not to speed and to avoid being reckless on the road.
Every year in this period in time there will be a heavy traffic police presence on our roads.
We never forget to do these rituals but every year they are always in vain as the national accident rate is always highest end of year.
But that does not mean we should stop encouraging drivers and pedestrians to behave on the roads. We will never tire to urge the nation to celebrate with caution.
Don’t drink and drive. There we have said it and we pray that you heed the advice. December is also a time when a lot of people lose not only their lives, limbs, but property as well. We therefore urge everyone to protect themselves. Do not get too excited to the extent that you put your life at risk. Do not binge drink. If you know that you don’t respond well to alcohol, drink at home, stay at home.
Too much excitement leads to arguments that at times degenerate to fights. It is inevitable that many of you will be involved in arguments, we pray that you resolve them by mouth. But we know that our hopes will be shattered as many of you will choose to go to war instead of church. We pray that your life is not ended and that you do not end a life.
Lives are not the only loss that you can suffer from. If you are not careful you will greet 2020 with a limb short or with a newly acquired disability. We do not wish this on anyone, certainly not on you. Therefore we say look after yourself, choose your battles. Only fight in self defence.
Some will certainly lose their freedom. Some have already lost it this December. While you may choose to be a delinquent this festive season please do not forget that police will be on duty. The law does not and never goes on leave. We can guarantee you that if you break the law you will be arrested and the courts will convict you.
Therefore be at your best behaviour. This is the time you should be appraising your year. What did you achieve? How did you achieve it? Where did you fail? How did you fail? What will you do to make sure that the year 2020 is twice better than 2019 for yourself and loved ones?
We are not saying do not have fun. We did not come to steal your Christmas. All we want is to make sure that you do not mourn or get mourned. And you can minimise the risks of harm coming your way if you take our advice to heart.
If we have failed to reach out to you we hope the following Bible verse will: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” — Philippians 4:8.
See you in 2020.
Online Reporter