There have always been whispers about how much the senior managers here earn and I thought it was just office gossip. But on Monday, I stumbled upon payment slips and my jaw dropped. For years, I’ve been unhappy with my pay and my accidental discovery just made things worse. There’s such a wide gap between the top one per cent and the rest of us. No wonder they’re always smiling! 

I’d be happy too if I made that much, which is why I need to do one of two things. Join the elite club or quit for a better paying job. Unfortunately, I don’t see either of these happening any time soon so I’ll just hang in there with my peanuts. I think salaries should be determined by how much one puts in, effort-wise. Every morning on my way to work, I find women and men tending flowers or mowing lawns, while others are busy sweeping roads and clearing drainages. That is some work. 

I also pass a number of construction sites. A residential house about to be completed here, a school undergoing renovation there and of course those multi-storied complexes. I always think about the casual labourers at those sites. They put in so much but we all know how much they’re paid. It’s the architects and building inspectors who make a killing. The porters and builders who do the heavy lifting would be lucky to go home with Rwf2,000 and Rwf5,000 respectively at the end of the day, by which time the lunch lady is probably waiting around for her payment. Take off transport, food and other supplies for the family and what’s left? When are you ever going to climb out of the poverty trap? No wonder they steal the cement and other construction materials. I’m friends with the guard at work and like I wrote before, the company doesn’t provide lunch. While staff go out or order a delivery, Tom stays by his post. Even if he could get away for a while, he couldn’t afford to buy lunch on a daily basis. 

Once, he asked me for Rwf1,000 and I could tell from the pained look on his face that he really needed it. From that time, I toss him a few coins every now and then and he’s the one person I don’t mind sharing my snacks with. If life is tough for me, how more so for this father of two young children? Has it even occurred to top management that company and staff property, along with our lives are in good hands because of this guy? 

Obviously not or he wouldn’t be treated this way. I also think about traffic policemen and women. The longest I can stay on my feet is 20 minutes before shuffling and looking around for a seat or something to lean against. How these people stand the heat and rain, literally, for hours beats me. There’re also teachers, especially Primary School teachers who lay the foundation that we only appreciate years later. 

How about nurses and other medical personnel who save lives every day but have little to show for their sweat? And you hear about CEOs and bank executives making millions on top of perks the rest of us only dream about? I’m not saying their work is not important. I just wish the system was a little more fair. I get mad when MPs only become vocal on matters concerning their salaries. Why should taxpayers pay for 4-wheel drives and mansions when all they get in return are dodgy proposals to legalise polygamy, ban miniskirts or lower the age of consent? What happened to all those promises of better roads, rural electrification and safe water for all communities? Empty promises as always.

To be continued…