13 Apr 2020

Residents of Kasane are finding creative ways of fighting boredom of being quarantined at home as a measure to address the spread of the Coronavirus.
 
Moving around the town of Kasane, one would notice that many people are bored because there is no form of entertainment apart from plaiting hair and playing indigenous games, especially mhele, while others play cards. 

Some are watching television, playing FIFA Play station, Chess as well as exercising at home.
  
“There is nothing we can do. We are not allowed to play football, or engage in a form of gathering because that is violating the guidelines,” said Mr Babui Dinyando, who was found playing cards with his friends at Botshabelo ward.

Mr Dinyando said even though playing cards could end in some form of gathering, they made it a point that they observed the distance and that they did not allow anyone from outside the family or homestead to join them.

Giving a word of advice, Kgosi David Mafikizolo of Pandamatenga suggested that the effective way of fighting boredom during the extreme social distancing period was for locals to go down the memory lane by playing indigenous games such as mhele, morabaraba, koi and diketo. 

Kgosi Mafikizolo said mhele, is one of the many traditional games that are dying out eventhough it promotes discipline.

“This is a time to take a conscious decision to resuscitate the country's indigenous games because there is that possibility that local games could disappear forever,” said Kgosi Mafikizolo. 

He said the is that these games can be played by members of one family without having to invite neighbours or friends, which could spread of the virus.

Kgosi Mafikizolo cautioned that if not carefully monitored, such games could cause problems because they involved more than one players.

He explained that the problem may arise if one member of the family had travelled somewhere and met people whom may be covid positive.

"The situation is not that bad," said Ms Agatha Muyatwa, a Kazungula resident. "As long as you have food, you have water and electricity, it's not that bad.”

On the other hand, Dr Amos Mukadi of Kasane Primary Hospital said people should keep themselves busy by performing household chores to fight boredom. 

He said they could either engage in cleaning their houses or homesteads. 

“This is an opportunity for everyone who is at home to do household work because 28 days or the extended state of emergency is a long period for one to be home,” he added. 

He said the District Health Management Team was continuously monitoring the situation and there was hope that there would be some good results in containing the spread of this pandemic. END