27 December 2021
Innocent Sibonginkosi Ncube
YOLO – You Only Live Once narrative has been embraced by people who want to spend extravagantly forgetting tomorrow.
More often than not, many people, especially those who receive a monthly salary live beyond the measure of their budgets just to appease the YOLO narrative.
The situation has been made worse by those who often come across financial windfalls through otherwise means.
The windfalls come from illegal trade in forex, gold panning, influx of hair salon customers during the festives, monthly contributory clubs and maybe stealing.
For those who come across windfalls, the money is spent without any thought of tomorrow.
Expensive clothing of imitation labels, expensive liquor, cars, outings to clubs and Braai places unnecessary and unplanned purchases, all for the sake of YOLO.
To keep up with trends of spending, those of the monthly salary will ‘open’ accounts with departmental stores so as to purchase latest fashion trends.
The salaried folk are seen at institutions that lend money at exorbitant interest rates, again just to appease the YOLO syndrome.
The festives are almost over and life as we know it is almost getting back to normal, schools will be opening in the second week of January, exactly two weeks from today.
Today many shops were open and some wise parents were seen already buying for the next school term.
The party is over.
This reporter was in the City Centre this afternoon and spoke to several people on the situation pending schools opening.
“Sesigidile Bhudi, imali isiphelile, udubo, sesikhangele ama school fees.” Said Ruth Hadebe.
We enjoyed ourselves and now we are facing payment of school fees.
She was responding on being asked how much she had spent for Christmas.
“Vele every year kuhlala kunje. We overspend ngeKhisimusi kodwa come January siyabe sesihawula, manje am looking at prices awama bhuku but ngithenga ama fireworks for new year.” She continued.
We are ever in this situation every year. We overspend without thinking of the month of January when school fees is paid, as is am in town looking for next year textbooks but am buying fireworks for the new year.
One young man who said he does not have any family responsibilities said,
“Ini hangu ndongori namai vangu, saka mari ndinorova. As is ndakaita middleman pa dhiri remota ndikawana ka thaza kangu saka ndotyeyi?”
I have no family responsibilities except for my mother so why should I not spend. I was a middleman were cars were sold and I gained US1000.
He was dressed in a black latest Louis Vuitton T-shirt, Versace ripped jeans, Nike sneakers and Channel Red cap.
He had already purchased his breakfast from a renowned fast food outlet along Jason Moyo Avenue.
“Shaaz ndakamboidza kushandisa ‘O’ level certificate yangu kutsvaga basa, hapana chakabuda. Then zvemadhiri zvikandipinda, manje ndakungwavhangwavha. There is no day pandisingabati pin mdhara.” He boasted.
I tried to use my ‘O’ Level certificate to find a job but all that failed, so I joined the trend of being a middle person in deals and I make almost US$100 everyday.
Asked if he was keeping his money in investments for a rainy day.
“Mdhara, have you forgotten zvakaitika kumaUSA avanhu kuma Bank? Manje makuda ndiendese mari yangu inodyiwa? Regai ndirove mari Mdhara, ndichirimupfana ini.”
Have you forgotten how people’s US dollars disappeared in our banks and you want the same fate to befall me? I just spend my money am still young.
He refused with his identity.
Another middle aged man, who had forgotten that today was a public holiday was interviewed while loitering at a microfinacing lending company along 8th Avenue had this to say,
“I am a civil servant and as you know we earn peanuts. Even if I wanted to save for school fees, what was I to save? My children needed to celebrate Christmas, what was I to do?” He was nearly in tears.
“I had come here to ask for a soft loan so that I begin preparations for schools opening. I have one girl going for form three and two sons in primary.”
With much coercion, this reporter managed to convince a young man who was driving the latest Toyota Fortuner to agree to an interview.
“I make my money in many ways. I buy and sell gold. I also place my money gotten from gold sales unto the black market. I also spin the money.”
Asked to explain what spinning means. He gave an example,
“You see, this car I will not drive it for more than a month. I bought it at a bargain and will sell it at a premium. I foresee gaining US$3000 from the sell of this car.”
He went on,
“Last month I drove a Range Rover and after selling it I gained US$2500. I used what I had plus the profit from the Rover to buy this Fortuner.”
What about investments, property or money markets?
“This is my ‘money markets’,” He pointed into the street, “Why should I give banks my money when I can spin it on my own. As for property I am thinking of buying some stands in the Brooks in Harare. Here in Blues (Bulawayo) the price is kinda stiff.”
But do you own a property right now?
“Aah, no, what I did is I renovated and extended my mother’s house, currently it’s the most beautiful house in our area.”
He was dressed opulently in expensive designer clothes and he too refused with his name.
A Siphatheleni who preferred to be called ABSA, as in the South African Bank, contributed saying,
“Bro, we grew up in this kind of life. We are forced to match our peers in dressing. Despite the fact that our profit in money changing is minimal I have to be seen, ndiripamamonya. I can’t be seen ndakapfeka zvima imitation.”
“There is not much we are making from this ‘business’, (as) we are middle men. I have to take advantage of people who do not understand how we operate on the streets for me to make a profit. But all of it inoperera pafood, nhumbi and supporting my parents. At least I don’t steal.”
What about the authorities?
“What authorities?” He quipped. “We’re in this nema authorities acho”
A walk around town proved that fashion trends are followed inspite of the inhibiting costs and fast food outlets are frequented, just for flossing (show off). Young school going girls were dressed in designer labels (mostly fake), just to keep up appearances buying expensive menus from the fast food outlets who are enjoying the spending.
This generation is oblivious of how their parents struggle to thus clothe them as well as pay for their school fees.
“Hantsho ungubabami, he is responsible for my wellbeing, school fees and what I wear. Uzezwa njani mangifika endlini lempahla angazaziyo? Kufanele abone ukuthi ngiyagqoka, ngiyadla njalo ngiyabuyela eskolo.” Said Rose Ndlovu a 15 year old form 3 student.
Isn’t he is my father, as such he is responsible for my wellbeing, school fees and what I wear, how will he feel if I brought home clothes he didn’t buy.
Why designer label?
“It’s our generation, it’s our time so this is the in thing and we have to follow the flow.”
Those who imbibed said it was a way of forgetting their problems, others said it was because they could afford to buy the liquor and some said it was that time of the year.
A time to just let go and enjoy life.
After all You Only Live Once