Mfashumwana’s article could’ve been more elaborate

Editor, Mfashumwana’s article in The Sunday Times was like a samosa- big on flavour but quickly chewed in two bites. Readers expect a larger helping from these exotic trips, for instance: He should have told us about the interesting people he encountered in Zanzibar: how did they look, how did they live, as compared to life in Kigali? Airports and planes are always filled with interesting folks. In the 1980s I was flying Ethiopian Airways sitting next to a Somali man who hated unveiled women. He complained to the stewardess and demanded transfer to another seat. Unfortunately the plane had no extra seats. So this religious man ignored me pointedly- until the plane bumped into a deep air pocket over Rwanda. The plane dropped several thousand “heart-stopping” metres. The man hugged me tightly screaming: “Oh GOD I am not ready to die”. Apparently he needed more time to complete his new house in Mogadishu. It was the perfect opportunity for me to show my liberation from the fear of sudden death and let the man hold my hand all the way to Kinshasa. Tell us about the culture and commerce of the Zanzibari’s: tell us about some positive impressions you made about that place environment (apart from the usual heat and the flies). I hope that the writer agrees with these hints. I wish him all the best in the next safari log. Maringa, Margaret Margaret.Maringa@carefirst.com

Opinions

Mfashumwana’s article could’ve been more elaborate