Online Reporter
Fadzayi Maposah
Correspondent
When a person hears a price, one is bound to think any of the following: is it fair, the price is too low it cannot be genuine or why is it that high?
The questions that one has are based on lived experience. It could also be about comparison regarding past services.
While the context may be different some people may not be willing to pay anything that is far from what they paid in the past.
Then there are those who think that any service that is free is most probably inferior.
Some time ago before the “runner shops” became very popular, there were those who had discovered the “link”.
What these people did was they would simply hoard the items that were available in the runner shops and then sell them at very inflated prices, in most cases, saying that they were the ones who were importing the items.
Then the runner shops became wide spread and many people now have easy access to the products that at some point were difficult to come by.
During the days when access to these shops was not as widespread as it is now, some were disappointed after buying something from a trusted individual only to learn later that the price they had paid was double what was in the runner shops. Some relationships have not been the same after the experience.
There are some people who equate high price with quality.
As long as a price is low according to their standards, they will not accept the product.
They have told themselves that anything that is priced low is also of poor quality.
They do not accept bargains and will automatically think that somehow they are being ripped off.
Since they have this tendency, there are people who are ready to rip them off.
Have you noticed that most times you try to buy something (could be vegetables or fruits) along the country’s highways while in a car, the price may be a bit higher than if you actually left your vehicle some distance and then walked to buy?
I have no idea why the sellers do this. It could be a punishment for not getting out of the car!
Even the measure that is used for the vegetables or fruits could be dented, physically or with lumps of paper at the bottom (skilfully they empty the measure and the paper never falls out!).
Of course, among those who seek to get a quick buck and high profits are the genuine and honest ones, who just get a fair profit for their wares.
I was thinking of all this after realising that there are some people who have told themselves that free condoms are not effective.
They tell themselves that they cannot use free condoms because it is just not right, according to their standards.
I was talking to someone just before the Christmas Holiday and we were sharing how people have gone out of their way to shop for a short holiday which will have a life after it.
The build up to Thursday and Friday holidays was massive.
We discussed how people were stocking up on food and drink, and how their decisions during the holiday could have life-long consequences.
He jokingly said that there would be babies named Merry, Holiday and Festive who would be about three months old next festive season!
They would have planned to have the Merry, Holiday and Festive babies I said to which he responded that it would have just happened.
I argued that those who did not want babies and sexually transmitted infections should take precautions. That is how the issue of condoms came up in the discussion.
I told him that with so many free condoms available in country, one could simply opt to use condoms and be at peace knowing that no nasty surprises were on their way!
I told him that a week before Christmas Day someone texted me to say that he was looking for a bulk supply of condoms as part of preparation for the festive season. He wanted to ensure that those who wanted condoms where he supplied would have them.
This is one person I know who is silently working behind the scenes to help reduce unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections including HIV.
He has made it his business to provide something that may appear small but goes a very long way to ensure that someone is well protected.
The person I was having a conversation with then said that free condoms were not popular, something that I refuted given the numbers of condoms that are distributed in this country.
I told him that I have distributed condoms at work, with some people approaching me to ask for them when at community outreaches.
I told him while some people that because the condoms are free, they are of a less quality, and this is very far from the truth.
The reality is that the public sector condoms are not free since they have been procured at a cost and the government together with developmental partners have provided resources for them to be available.
When the public sector condom was rebranded, some people took it as an opportunity to make a quick buck, I told by discussion partner.
He looked surprised as I explained that these people took advantage of the people who say they do not use free condoms and actually bought free condoms because they were unaware they had been rebranded!
Condoms are effective barrier methods that responsible people should use this festive season to ensure that they are protected.
All condoms that are distributed in Zimbabwe have undergone rigorous testing before being made available on the market.
They should be used correctly and consistently.
A condom should be used once and thereafter disposed of properly so that they do not pose health hazards to the community.
If you can afford the social marketing condoms, use them. If not remember public sector condoms are tested and are of a good quality, feel free to get them.
After all what is important is to protect yourself and stay healthy. When you are safe and protected, people will never know that what protected you was “free”!
This festive season there are people who are working to ensure that others and their health are well protected.
Health services remain open throughout the festive season for those of us who are on holiday. It is not a bad thing to access health services even during the festive season.
Take bold steps to give yourself a present of knowing your HIV status this holiday, the services are available this festive season. Be safe.
Take care of yourself this festive season. #Day 360 0f 365 days of 2025.
