In the village, the main mode of transport was “footshubitshing” for the majority and riding on a so called “Rutagwera” Tractor-trailer for the lucky few. By the way, one could get born, grow up and become past tense without ever being bothered by the Traffic policemen. A few days ago, as I was returning from a visit to “Kyererezi” (the new acrimony for “Mfashumwana Village”, while along the Gatsata road connecting Kigali to Gatuna, an overzealous Traffic Patron literary jumped into the road and stopped me, or rather my car. The guy began by asking me to turn on the indicators, the reverse lights, wipers, wipers’ water, etc. Apparently, my car was fine; he quickly looked for an excuse to impound my vehicle. I was wondering, the guy wants my “Head lights on at midday?”, he wants my wipers working in the middle of the dry season?, that is a real irony! If it had been in those olden days, he would have pocketed my driving permit and car logbook; not anymore! This was reminiscent of an incident that happened to me a few years ago, then, the guy retained my car logbook and began explaining, “You have been over-speeding, your car was moving in a dangerous manner, blah, blah, blah” he ended. That time along, I asked him “How much does that offence carry”. He did not have the slightest idea how much it cost. Just as we were still tussling it out, huge vehicles would zoom past as if they were aeroplanes and he would “shut his eyes”, I looked at him with an expression of “stop that too”, did he stop it too? No thank you! I became vocal, “now, you have stopped me and yet left the huge vehicle, take my logbook and I will take you to court” I assured the guy. Not wanting to lose face, he told me to drive round and come back in a few minutes. Sure to his word, five minutes later, I came back to the same spot and the guy simply forgave me. I wonder, villagers do not behave like this, if all aspects of life incorporated villagers like myself, I think life would have been easier and good. Following that incident, I had vowed to dispose off the small car and instead buy a reasonable vehicle (the so called jeep), but wapi, money has become more elusive these days. The other day, a really ageing man was driving along one of Kigali’s roads; he was stopped and asked to switch on his head lights and indicators, etc. The Head lights did not function well and his reasoning was that, he never drives at night and hence did not need them at all. As for the tail lights, he thanked the Traffic officer for pointing them out, reasoning that, he couldn’t have seen them because they only light when he steps on the breaks, if he got out of the car, he wouldn’t see them! Mfashumwana@fastmail.fm
