“The prices of things are in US Dollars”

If you leave the villagers in the village, they will remain villagers! Much as times have changed propelling us from the use of bicycles to motorcycles, from land line phones to mobile phones, many of our kin and kith have remained in the past, I don’t know for how long that status quo will remain! There was a notion that, “the Russians and Americans are sending men to the Moon, Africa, is not able to even cloth or feed its own people!” After my Kinshasa visit sometime last year, I have come to appreciate all the strides we have achieved. When compared, if it were an earthquake, they would have been one or two on the Richter scale, whereas us we would be somewhere on a four or five! Not that the whole of DR Congo is at the same scale. The last time I managed to “steal” a stroll into the “city” of Goma, I managed to notice a number of things! Some of the things are relative, I recall going to Kampala and the chaps there kept referring to us here as villagers! Way back in Goma, I met villagers that were more villagers than us! I should probably not be called the villager anymore, eh! Starting by the condition of the roads and the entire infrastructure that makes a place a city, they have next to none. They are just still living in a sort of dream! In secondary school, we had an English teacher who always told us, “…in order to realise your dreams, you must first wake up.” I am still wondering as to whether these chaps here have woken up, if not, are they planning to wake up? I hate being pessimistic but when I am forced to, then there is nothing I can do about it! As I said earlier, the guys here were really good guys saving for their money mania; the common belief is, “nothing for nothing”! Even the guy that showed us the location of the nearest restaurant demanded for “ka moke” (read something small)! Much as Goma has the real Châteaux, the roads and environs do not reflect that! As I had earlier on pointed out, the guys here were still living in the 20th Century. Scores of people had gathered at the main round about to have their photos captured. Word has it that the late Field Marshal General Mobutu Sese Seko Ngebendu wa Zabanga, used to have his photos taken at this very round about, in front of the “Golden” wooden bicycle! The guys here seem to have never seen a digital camera, they were amazed to see me taking photos and previewing them on the spot! On the other hand, being a Sunday, it was party time in Goma, we got here an hour or so before mid-day but most joints were buzzing with patrons! We just strolled to a joint a few metres away from the roundabout, just behind a petrol station! The main “dishes” here are SKOL and PRIMUS. The scene of SKOL brought back the Kinshasa memories! We just tackled a few SKOLS before heading back home! The prices of things are in US Dollars! As we arrived back in Rubavu, we found the Tamu Tamu beach packed to capacity as if there was not going to be any tomorrow! Yes, the party had begun. mfashumwana@fastmail.fm