The Change

I heard a strange noise from the school. what can it be? I went to check what a heck it was.

A group of people gathered at the school ground listening to someone at the middle. Women dressed in a colourful dressing. The drum heater's well arranged. something was being used to make the message louder and clear. The party songs were all over. praising the so called leaders of the party. The youth were not left behind as well.painted themselves into different colours of the party. I liked such a scene but not the party. To the other side my dad his team dressed in the usual local attire. ingoma traditional dressing. we will eat a fat chicken at home I swallowed up some sweet saliva. little babies were not allowed to cry. no movement was allowed. we want to bring Change in this village...one of the visitors said. He a very old man dressed in a unique way. what kind of change is this? A very old for nothing man bringing change? I laughed on top of my voice.

A very hard Whipple was heard from my back...are you against our leader? tears all over my eyes. I was happy with his speech I murmured. fear was all over the place.

we stood up to welcome our next speaker..... I followed the group while feeling pain in my body. young people throwing flowers at him. He started dropping off some beautiful papers from his pocket. you have done well he said while congratulating them.

This is the time to be creative. I should be amongst the chosen people to eat such amount of money. Having 1 kwacha was enough money by then.

I have come to restore peace in my country!!!!!! His voice was all over the place. hospitals and clinics including schools must be improved. I clapped my hands. This is what we need in our village. we used to visit the sangomas and the nangas for our healing. development activities like agriculture and clean water shall be established by next week. I did not doubt at his words. I shouted on top of my voice and said you are an amazing leader!!!!! born to save his people!!!!!!

All the eyes were on me. I tried to ignore but it was too late. I saw two young people guiding me through the clouds to where the great leader was. He signalled someone to bring something for him.

I was afraid to see all this drama happening so quick and so fast. I saw hand pulling out some papers into my pocket. it was 20 kwacha note.

The smile of the cloud proved that I'm a millionaire. The escorting team brought me back to the same place I was. All the pains of the Whipple were gone. This is the best day of my life. Sometimes you have to allow people to treat you badly so that you can be blessed. I said while congratulating myself for supporting the leader ironically. I heard a warm hand around my neck.... Richard the millionaire. Ndaziona and his friends followed me. I tried to shun them but it was too late. These people can't allow me to go alone. I tried to get out of their stories but it was too late to do so. we went straight to my shamba and sit down as everyone is expecting to enjoy the free money from the leader. we agreed to spend the money at the bar. I managed to share the money with my mother before it was too late. what are you going to do with the remaining money Richard? mind your own business money. I responded violently. I hope the money I have given you is enough for ten years? she looked at me and said "take care of yourself son" I ignored it all and walked away. my heart was filled with songs of victory. The leader said there will be change...what change is it? He has been there since my birth but my village is still poor....may the god's of our land punish him. instead of constructing boreholes and hospitals money is being used for enjoyment. There was nothing to do with Change. The poor are still poor, the beggers are still begging and the farmers are failing to find profits after selling tobacco and other products.

Men clapping hand's at a distance welcomed my arrival. we have heard it all, they started huging me one by one. it was a wonderful moments. women and girls were easy to do people. How are you boss were the greetings. 10 kwacha remaining in my pocket was a million kwacha time's. I gave each man 1 tambala coin to show my appreciation for their respect welcome. Ndaziona and my team entered the bar. it was another great day to enjoy. Everything was normal to my side, I didn't thought of saving something from the money I got from the political leader. Everyone could bow before me. Two days passed. I will join politics Ndaziona said. "Don't go for money" I warned him but he refused to obey my commands. it was our culture of attending the bar. I was not a beer fun. I loved ladies. I could fight someone because of a she goat. I knew I'm in a mess but my spirit couldn't warn me. when papa is warning me I acted like a deaf and dumb person. Money is evil.

The Christmas Eve is here. everyone was busy preparing for the wonderful once a year party. With my 50 tambala left was enough money to spend over the season.

All friends started playing hiding and seeking games. This is a crazy world I said.

Is this a normal life? The feeling of being alone was all over my mind. I failed to figure out why all that respect is gone. I prayed to the god's of our land to bring back the party meeting. True friends will always stand with you in thick and thin I encouraged myself. The spirit of ladies and beer left me alone. I walked so slowly going to my shamba with a lot of regrets. Reading some scribbles on some very unused old shop's. The owners of the shop's are no longer operating because they mismanaged what's our god's blessed them. I saw myself in the same state.

Mom!!!!... yes Richard!!! "can I help you?" ash...mmmh....I sturmmered.

can you borrow me cash? she looked at me and left.

I knew I have offended her.

she came back with a huge amount of paper written side by side. your dad is unwell and all the money has been used for his medication. poor soul I looked at my father drinking water at his usual chair. His eyes were dim due to sickness. malaria was his problem. I'm happy to have not experience so much of malaria.

I greeted him but he did not respond. what you did was right; giving us that amount of money was a great idea. may the god's of our beloved land remember you. I remember of not responding to his remarks and left. I don't know why your son hates me so much and with passion. he told my mom.

Ndaziona continued with his plan to join the political party regardless of my resistance. I left him to enjoy such moment's. The village monger's group started to rise again. "We are now the champions"...one of our new member Jonathan said. He has a good background so far and no one can protest against him. Each one of us could easily obey his command's but it was hard for him to convince me. He comes from a well to do family with a large heard of cattle pig's and sheep.

That's a well known to be counted in our village. Two men approaching towards the direction we were sitting. dressed in black suits with glasses. they walked straight to my side. I was afraid. are you Ndaziona? no was the best answer to their question. As I was struggling to explain his whereabouts, he appeared running to our direction. That's him!!!! I shouted. We are from the Boma. we have been sent to take you to the Boma. I looked at Ndaziona to see a room for saying no. One could see the steps these men left behind. Ndaziona accepted their offer.

Had he known what is coming ahead of him could have not accepted to go. Money can buy everything. Thus what I remembered of his usual sayings. Everyone was sad to what happened. We were in a silent moment for ten minutes. it was a lizard noise failing from a big tree close that broke the silence.

Everyone took the heels to different directions. kkkkkk.....it is a lizard we laughed.

why are we intimidated by a small creature? I wondered. we agreed to have a meeting in the afternoon.

The news that Ndaziona has left the group and the village was all over. No one could believe to what happened. His parents were very old and happy seeing their son in such a great position. I cried in my heart because these poor old parents didn't know what comes ahead. I was having a feeling of fear when ever I thought of him.

Two weeks later we heard from the party messanger's that there will another great party meeting in the village. It has taken time without having such a great moment again. I got prepared to see Ndaziona in a changed life. All the preparations started booming up. women of the village with their usual dance same as men.

I was allowed to join the youth wing but I used to take part underground. I didn't want to be noticed by my parents for they surely knew the penalty for such step's in life. I wished to join the team but the dreams could refrain me from joining. The youth wing came to it's pick. it was interesting to view it at far.

Will you join the team as what your friend has done? mom...I don't want to die quicker than I came. you have decided well son.... don't do that until the god's confirms.

I agreed to her views and started boycotting some of the meetings. No one was able to report me because I used to Whipple with scorpions to the one who has developed something against me.

The meeting for the party is tomorrow. Dad reminded his friend Napolo. These party members are crooks. A Friend of my son has joined and he's making a lot of cash. Is Richard in? No!!!! I can't allow my own son to be engaged in such bloody things. They parted ways promising to meet and show their talent the next day.