Dispossessing the Tonga
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BELIEVE ME by Levi Zeleza Manda
I spent the past week tucked away in my hometown, enjoying fresh air, fish and maphumu. I was home to celebrate my ujenith birthday. Thanks to ubiquitous telephony and internet services in this land of achievers, I was in touch with friends in Blantyre, Lilongwe, Koronga, Phodogoma, Ntepele, Mzuzu and Beijing.
I even had a voice over internet (VOIP) video chat with my Chinese friend, Ha Hi Ho. He was in a gym in downtown Beijing, lifting weights, surrounded by Chinese-looking girls, who kept chattering and giggling as Ha and I talked and laughed. Ha did not mince words about American athletes who arrived in China wearing masks as if there is a country in the world without air pollution. Matama basi.
It is funny, isn't it, that people from the so-called developed world don't seem to understand how the body works, reacts and adapts to the environment. I will ask my friend, Mose wa Lero, Mtengo wa Minga, Chitsulo cha Njanji, Bingu Wa Mutharika, to set up a volunteer corps of Malawians to go out and teach Americans a few tricks about how to behave in foreign countries. To call a snake a snake, these people alibe khalidwe (labwino).
Ha has since sent me a cellphone that I can hardly use. It has no accompanying software. Nothing. When I emailed him for the software, he told me he did it deliberately to make me learn reading and writing Chinese. Koma umphawi ndi ukapolodi, eeh.
Believe me. As part of my birthday celebration I travelled the length and breadth of Tongaland. Not much has changed. There are a few things that have changed of course. A few new structures that have been built here and there, of course. Graveyards have since expanded, eating up farm land. Young men and women of yester years are now old men and women.But in general, where there has been no bridge there is still no bridge. Where there was no road there is still no road. Where there was no school there is still no school. Where there was no electricity during the Banda and Muluzi regimes, there is still no electricity. While Malawi boasts having some twenty radio stations, only three can be heard there. Sorry, I will not reveal which these are even if you came with twenty four lawyers. Sizitheka.
Believe me. One of my nephews asked me to go with him to his school. He did not say why but I guessed he wanted a ride. I obliged. We got to Mgodi FP School and met a member of staff who took us to his office.
"Good morning, sir. Welcome," the member of staff said as he waved us to a bench.
"Thanks. This is my former school. I was here thirty years ago. It was a vibrant place," I said.
The member of staff smiled before saying: "Well it is still a vibrant place except for one difference. You had enough teachers."
"And now, how many are you?"
"Three. One of us is in hospital. So we are essentially two."
"How do you then teach eight classes?"
"Well, four classes come in the morning and four in the afternoon," he said, smiling.
"Does your DEO know this issue?"
"You mean the DEM? Well he knows. Parents know. Learners know. Politicians know. The MP knows."
Honestly I had no more words. I just wished the member of staff well and courage. I kept thinking how in the 21st century two teachers can be left to teach eight classes.
We, that is, my nephew and I, left Mgodi FP School, the school that shaped me, propped me and sent me to secondary school, dejected and helpless. That school, like many others in rural areas, is in a state of utter destitution.
I was disappointed but I, being me, had a fresh idea. I asked my nephew what it would feel if we went to Chinthechi Inn for one cold drink. My nephew likes cold drinks. He likes chambiko and I, vodka on the rocks. You know my taste, nanga tiziti mwabadwa lero?
I like it because of Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the great Russian writer who died last week aged 89. I read Solzhenitsyn's Matryona's House and Other Stories in secondary school and his other classics in college where I learned how Russians defied the cold by gulping dry vodka. That was way back when school was school. Osati zalerozi when students are asked to choose between literature and language. Ngakhale masumu ati multiple choice.
Instead of going straight to Chinthechi Inn, we drove to Kandi Beach to cavort in the sand and watch tourists riding horses and to drink one. We did not want to stay long there because the tourists felt somehow uncomfortable and suspicious with our presence. You see, in those hide-out lakeshore lodges or tourist areas, where drinks sell at the cost of a goat, local faces are rare unless they come to sell curios, their selves or ujeni.
I don't trust people who don't trust me. So, after one hard shot of Malawi Vodka, I asked my nephew to finish his drink quickly. Then the barman took courage and asked:
"Don't I know you? I must have seen you or heard your husky voice somewhere."
"Of course you should… We are leaving," I said.
"So early? Why?"
"Your drinks are too expensive."
"You can drink on me. Someone will pay," he said, pulled a long glass and squeezed in three long shots of Malawi Vodka.
"Thanks, man. This is great welcome back home. I was actually going to Chinthechi Inn, the land of the Lake of Stars Music Festival."
"I understand this year the government has directed that the festival will be held in Salima," the barman said.
"And what do you think about it?"
"Well…It's sad. You see, that festival was a Chinthechi Inn festival. It was initiated by management of Chinthechi Inn and not government. Why should it go to Salima? That festival helped us make some money…Why are they politicising a cultural festival meant for a specific area? Why?"
"You can stop government from implementing the change."
"How?"
"Get a court injunction or threaten to vote for the opposition... You see… Once upon a time Dwangwa was part of Nkhata Bay. It was taken away and given to Nkhota Kota when a Sugar Estate was about to be established there. In exchange Nkhata Bay got Likoma and Chizumulu, two arid islands, which originally belonged to NKhota Kota. Then Likoma and Chizumulu were declared a district when it became clear the islands were becoming a tourist attraction.
"Also. Once upon a time UNESCO planned to establish a community radio at Nkhata Bay. That radio station is now at Nkhota Kota. Everybody says Mzuzu is in Mzimba but one third of that city, including Moyale Barracks, the State House, MBC, the High Court, Mzuzu Government Secondary School, is in Nkhata Bay..."I stopped to swallow the vodka.
"These people hate us; they are slowly dispossessing us while we watch," he said as he pulled another glass and squeezed in another three shots for me.
"Thanks, it's actually my birthday today."
"Hey guys… This man has a birthday today. And his doctor recommends vodka on the rocks!" the barman shouted to the tourists who had hitherto sat quietly watching TV in the bar.
Then an avalanche of drinks followed. I can't remember what time we left for home and who drove the car. Does it matter?
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Comments (17 posted):
Half Mtonga in Zambia.
* think the best idea for us Tonga'* we must boycot to vote,and show those in gorverment that we are tired of their lies.
Keep it up my brother to point out some issues like you did to this one may be one day,these people in power they 'll come across it and help us accordingry.
* wish u all the best bro.
Keep it up!
Chingwe
Rabbyce of chindi Euthini Mzimba central in switzerland
the main problem with us THE TONGAS is hiding our identy and we lack patriotism for our district. mr zeleza manda, by now you should be swimming in monies, have you thought of building some structures at chinthenche or you decided to start constructing in blantyre or lilongwe. schools like mgodi, bungano, chihami, bandawe, kande are such a disgrace today. yet we have alumni in the likes of zeleza manda and friends they have done nothing to it. not even donating black boards or chalk. if you are to talk about khumbo chirwa the MP, he is a bunch of dunderhead aiming at enrichening his pocket, bet if he is to make it this time around. nkhatabay is one of the beautiful tourist attraction places because it has beautiful beaches but we fail to utilize them. once a person wants to construct a lodge along the lakeshore you will here alot of stories including matchona aku zimbambwe omwe anapita 1914. "atuza ambuya azamumangapu po ndakana ndamweni" end of quote. what do expect. should those development concious people build resorts in the air? forget about the govt, no govt will ever like atonga for obvious reasons, njala nthenda nsanje. apart from that we are solely to blame because we blow ourselves out of propotion. mind you * am typical mtonga and * know what is on the ground. development no development atonga are easy going people and GOD loves them. rains fall throughtout the year we have DENDI{relish} which is fish our stapple food is cassava flour. cassava withstand harsh conditions. for those crying out that their is hunger in nkhatabay they are lazy. my mum is now 75 years and she has three acres of cassava she doesnt complain of hunger. there was one time in the 80'* when our cassava was attacked by mildew { KODI-KODI} that was the time * can truly confess that nkhata bay was hit. todate we only suffer from minor floods once in a blue moon. all in all * beg you tongas in diapsora to come forward and develop your district. do not expect politicians to do it for you. all they want are your votes. * thank the likes of mkanda'*, banda,* who have come up with good structures near katoto beach. thats wonderful guys keep it up. YEWU NDAMALA INE MTONGA WAPA JIWA MWENECHU CHIGUMBULI.
in CH
Bravo!
pa banga ku vizara,wuli pa gava?
* was disappointed when * visited it a few years ago. Instead of seeing improvement to even more modern of a school, it actually looked "Mzuzu Getto Secondary School". That was not nice for me and for all of us out there!!
Same happened when * visited my first primary school.
Is that what we call DEVELOPMENT? Not really!!
Development is "Good, better, best"...not "Best, better, worse"
No country on Earth developed economically without improving education on all fronts of it'* borders(Demographics). Knowledge is power!!
Take action!!!!
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