Forgive me Lord, for I’ve not been a good child. For the past one week, I’ve been trying to avoid someone who really needs my help. Yes, that beggar I pass almost every day on my way to work. Every time I see him, I make sure to cross to the opposite side of the road so I don’t pass too close to him. Sometimes I’m lucky because other people are passing by at the same time and that keeps me from being noticed.

But that doesn’t happen all the time. I feel so guilty when he calls out for my help and I have nothing to offer. I’ve tossed him a few coins before but I’m just too broke right now. You know how tough that last stretch of the month is, the time before salaries come in and every coin counts.

Perhaps I should tell him that all is not well right now. In a couple of days, I’m sure I won’t have to look down or pretend to be answering an all-important phone call when passing by.

Oh and I just remembered those other beggars in town. I have to mention that there are not so many of them in

Kigali. If you’ve been to Uganda, you know what I mean. There are beggars and street kids at every turn and you’d be forgiven for assuming begging is the latest "it” job. And they’re creative too, with catchy words to get the meanest of people to part with something, not to mention positioning themselves strategically, like right outside restaurants and churches. Location is everything, and these beggars know that too well. Word is they do make some good money! I don’t know what to make of the absence of so many of them here but I would like to think that people are generally doing well and so don’t need to "hang” out on the streets.

Among the few beggars in town is one whose arm must have been amputated. If you use public transport, you must have seen him around Rubangura Bus Park. Now I’m not insensitive and I really feel sorry that he lost his arm and I have given him some little money once or twice. However, I don’t like his attitude. Maybe I read too much into things but I've noticed that every time you don’t give this guy money, his expression changes. I also don’t like his manipulative stunts.

One time I took the window seat and soon started reading my book only to feel something brushing my arm. I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw him. Rather than feel sorry, I was offended because clearly, he was playing it up. I have seen him do the same to other people so I know it’s one of his tricks to get people to give him money. I believe if someone wants to give you something, they will and if they don’t, then there’s nothing you can do to force them.

Something else that’s been bothering me are reports of assets and accounts belonging to embattled leaders being frozen. It’s good news to the citizens of those countries that have been plundered for years. But you have to wonder why these foreign banks, especially Swiss banks, let them stash away such obscene amounts in the first place.

Call me naive or whatever but I think these banks should also be penalized. Surely, you can’t receive multimillion pound or dollar deposits, gold etc and not raise an eyebrow. It has to come from somewhere, robbed from impoverished citizens mostly in Africa, many of whom are starving as their leaders amass property across the globe.

Mubarak (who allegedly has more money than Bill Gates), Ben Ali and Gbagbo are facing the freeze and most recently Gaddafi, whose assets, including more than 6,000 hectares of land (on which he planned to build a golf course and almost 2,000 homes) have been seized by the Spanish Government. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. He has a lot more. We’re just stuck with a bunch of insatiable leaders, aren't we?

To be continued...

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