The Revolution
" And that's all for today," says Shida, as he winds up his lesson at Elimu University, the only institution of higher learning in his home nation of Fanaka. He fits his teaching aids into his leather pouch and makes his way out of the lecture hall, unsure of where next to go. With no other lessons planned for the rest of the day, which incidentally is a Friday, Shida walks into Sunrise, a bustling pub located not too far from the university.
Abraham Shida is your typical Fanaka academic; well educated, poorly paid. He had a rough childhood growing up in pre-independence Fanaka, losing both parents to smallpox at an early age. He, together with elder brother Taabu and younger sister Zawadi were neglected by their relatives, eventually spending their childhood and adolescent years at a local orphanage ran by Italian missionaries. Shida was determined to succeed in all his endeavors and saw education as the key to his future. He was fully committed to attending class and his academic achievements kept earning him scholarships right from primary school through to university in the United States of America.
Shida makes his way into Sunrise and finds himself a cozy spot at the counter. He beckons the barman and hands him a one hundred thousand dollar note. " Give me a cold Keroro." The barman taps him and says, "Here is your drink...and your change." Shida takes the wad of notes totaling ninety thousand dollars and stuffs them into his coat pocket. He sips his beer and instinctively reaches for his coat pocket, pulls out a ten thousand dollar note and stares at it. His mind takes him back to a time when his annual salary was ten thousand dollars, a time when that was enough to cater for all his needs and still enable him to live a life of luxury.
" Shida! Is that you?" Alex Banda, his long time friend calls out. " Banda! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in Southern Africa?" Banda responds by telling his good friend that he is back home on vacation, adding that he completed his latest engineering assignment in that region ahead of schedule. Shida goes ahead to tell him, " eish! Bwana! It's been a while! Sit down and buy a round of Keroros, you must pay a fine for disappearing and resurfacing like that!"
" Shida, sawa! I will pay the fine, so let us drink and talk!" Banda orders the Keroros and grabs a seat right next to Shida.
" So, how is life at the university?" Banda asks. " It's been better," replies Shida. There is a moment of silence, which is broken when Shida points to the picture on the wall. It is the portrait of Her Esteemed Excellency Magdalena Mama Mukubwa; the legendary freedom fighter turned President of Fanaka. He tells Banda, " sixteen years ago, I heeded Mama Mukubwa's call for all Fanaka citizens living abroad to come home and aid her efforts in building her beloved." Banda interrupts Shida, " your reasons for coming home may have been valid, but have you ever benefited fro Mama's regime? We have been an independent nation for twenty six years but only Mama and her associates have amassed wealth and assumed positions of power in the so called democratic government. The common man is continually being trampled on. The government deals with the slightest form of dissent in the most barbaric manner."
Shida nods his head in agreement and tells Banda, " That is how things have turned out to be. Infact some clever students have corrupted the words of Mama's favorite patriotic song. They now sing that tourists are welcome to Fanaka where people are happy but are living in fear!" Shida goes on, " Mama has sought to portray an image to the international community of a Fanaka nation that has a thriving economy and whose people enjoy all kinds of freedoms. Sadly, this is not the case. Mama and her cronies have looted the state coffers; they have totally plundered Fanaka's natural resources and ruthlessly killed anyone opposed to the government through stage-managed disappearances, fires and road accidents. Mama Mukubwa is a cold-blooded murderer. Her people killed my brother Taabu and sister, Zawadi. Why? Because they exposed government officials extorting money from poor villagers in Northern Fanaka."
Banda comforts Shida, who is overcome by emotion. " The international community is no longer fooled by Mama's gimmicks." Shida has managed to compose himself and goes on, " why do you think the country's donors have gradually stopped offering aid to development projects? It is because they have given Mama Mukubwa an ultimatum; reform or perish. Rather unfortunately, Mama thinks that these people are meddling in Fanaka's affairs. She even has the nerve to tell them that we, the people of Fanaka, are a strong people who can survive without money from the neo-colonialists."
Shida, again losing his composure says, "If our economy was stable, if our country was free from corruption and tribal animosity, then we would not even require donor funding in the first place. When I came home sixteen years ago, I believed that I was coming home to a nation committed to bettering the lives of its entire people. Instead, I came home to a nation of greedy leaders, more concerned with consolidating their grip on power, not the least bit concerned with fighting disease, eradicating poverty and educating the masses. Banda, sometimes I think, what if I stayed on in the States? Would I not be a distinguished scholar teaching at Harvard...or Yale? Alex, I came home because Fanaka offered me a new challenge. I had nothing else to prove in America. I got my postgraduate degree at twenty-four, I was a professor at twenty-eight. I decided to come home and be part of what was a progressive nation. I got a job as a professor at Elimu University. The job was fulfilling and the annual salary of ten thousand dollars that I earned back then was a fortune, even by American standards. Things have changed since then; Mama Mukubwa has now focused all her energies on tightening her grip on power. To achieve this, she has appointed her close allies, most of whom are too unqualified to govern, to key positions in government. The university, like all other public institutions, has not been spared either. Mama has planted spies at the university in the belief that lecturers and students harbor anti-government sentiments. Some lecturers have fled the country because they fear for their safety. I know that I am a marked man and that my safety is not at all guaranteed. I have chosen to stay on and offer my help to the millions of Wanafanaka who want a change in the way the government is handling its affairs."
Banda chips in, " Mama is so wrong. She should know that every Tom, Dick and Harriet, and not just the university fraternity is disillusioned by her leadership. I think she has ran out of ideas and should step down."
Shida calls the barman and orders another round of Keroros.He turns to Banda and tells him, " Alex, the economy has really taken a battering over the past few years. They raised my salary to ten million dollars a month but I still live like a pauper. The only change to my life after that raise is that you now have the right to call me a millionaire!"
Banda gulps his Keroro and now takes charge of what is turning out to be a passionate political discussion. " Shida, I may not be one who is known to express myself politically, but today I will talk. Her Esteemed Excellency Magdalena Mama Mukubwa may have led the struggle for independence but her actions since then put her in the same league as other incompetent leaders. She has systematically brought down our country's economy to its knees; the common people suffer while she continues to live in obscene luxury. The people cannot continue suffering; they too have the right to enjoy the wealth of the nation. Shida, what we need is a revolution. Can you imagine how many people are yearning for change? The people of Fanaka have suffered in silence for way too long. My travels to various parts of the world have made me realize that we, the people of Fanaka, must rise up and demand for better leadership and if push comes to shove, we must be willing to fight for change. I have been to places where citizens are enjoying the fruits of freedom, wealth is equitably distributed and people's health is well taken care of."
There is some silence, and then Shida breaks into a grin, " Alex Banda, you say that we need a revolution. I support you. It starts here. Let us toast...to free the people of Fanaka!"
Banda joins in the toast. The two good friends continue to exchange views on the newly born revolution and on methods of making it effective and successful. They set dates for a series of follow up meeting. As their conversation shifts from political to more mundane matters, two men emerge from among the patrons at Sunrise.Apparently, Mama's secret police were at the pub, monitoring all the conversations with their discreet bugging devices. Shida looks at Banda and they both break into smiles. They know that they have been cornered and they no longer hold the key to their fate. One of the policemen discreetly lets them know that he is armed. He says to them rather sarcastically, " the revolution starts here...follow us to the car." They get to the parking lot and are bundled into a waiting vehicle that speeds off into the night.
The whereabouts of the two men remain unknown for two successive days. Disturbed by their prolonged absence, family and friends march to Kati Kati Police Station early on Monday morning, seeking police assistance in locating their loved ones. Assistance from the police is not forthcoming and the families step up the search for their missing kin all on their own. Two weeks later, reports emerge that the two men, along with hundreds of other men and women have been sighted at a detention facility in the arid southern part of the country
.
These reports are confirmed when the country's leader, Mama Mukubwa, issues a terse statement broadcast on state radio and television. She says," fellow citizens, after many months of painstakingly thorough investigations, my government has in the past fortnight foiled a well planned attempt to overthrow the legitimately elected government of Fanaka. The leaders of this plot, Abraham Shida and Alex Banda are in police custody. I hereby declare a dusk to dawn curfew, order all bars closed and also declare that Elimu University is to be shut down indefinitely. Anyone who dares to defy me will face the full wrath of the law."
The head of state's address fails to instill fear amongst the citizens of Fanaka.Angered by her continuous "harsh and threatening" statements and decrees, citizens all over Fanaka resort to mass action, taking part in strikes and other forms of civil disobedience. The first wave of protests are crushed with ruthless efficiency by forces loyal to Mama Mukubwa.She again issues more statements which lead to the implementation of very strict laws meant to deter any further protests. This only strengthens the resolve of the people. More riots and protests flare up in virtually all corners of Fanaka and within ten months, the citizens, who eventually got the support of Fanaka's military, hound Mama Mukubwa and her associates out of power.
Her Esteemed Excellency Magdalena Mama Mukubwa is arrested as she leaves the country. She stands trial and is imprisoned after being found guilty of various crimes. An interim government set up following the collapse of Mama's regime finally releases Abraham Shida, Alex Banda and hundreds of other "coup plotters". This government causes a huge surprise by releasing Magdalena Mama Mukubwa unconditionally and in the spirit of reconciliation.
Fanaka is liberated but the hard work begins. The nation is gradually rebuilding, healing its wounds and trying to move into the twenty first century. Magdalena Mama Mukubwa and her associates are now part of this rebuilding process.
Weeks after their release, Shida and Banda meet again at Sunrise for a Friday evening drink. They are again engaged in an animated discussion, but this time it is about their favorite football teams. As they walk out, they leave with broad smiles on their faces, probably saying to themselves." the revolution started here!"
Short story by Mike
Read 638 times
Written on 2006-08-25 at 18:35
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