THE FOREMAN'S AWARD

THE FOREMAN’S AWARD

Geo Sheng, the General Manager of Shen Shen construction Limited spoke as he handed over a bunch of keys,

      ‘’ Mike, this is your reward.’’

Dudu’s face looked sullen. He was sweating and shivering as he tried to open the house he had built for himself. But why was not amused with such a reward?

Mike Dudu was the last born in a family of ten. He was born when both her parents worked at a coal mine in Zimbabwe and his parents returned to Malawi when he was five years, leaving all his brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe. Unfortunately both the parents died just a year later. Since none of her parents’ relatives welcomed him in their homes he befriended himself with pastors at Mtendere mission such that eventually he worked as a part time houseboy. In turn the missionaries provided him with school fees and upkeep.

Although Mike was selected to Mtendere secondary school he only went up to form three because he could not manage to pay for his fees. Luckily enough he developed interest in building and construction such that studied building construction at Namitete Technical School. Back to Mtendere he was employed to help in construction of primary and secondary schools. As time went on Mike saved part of his earning and bought builders tools such as level, meter such that a Chinese Company, Shen Shen Construction, deployed him. So he used to travel to various sites and got promoted to become a foreman because of his special skills, integrity and dedication to duty.

Dudu married Nabetha and got blessed with six children within ten years. This was because the couple longed for a male child but all of them were girls. Dudu started to enjoy beer drinking and in due course started to substitute Nabetha with other women. Each time he moved from one construction site to another he would find a new concubine to keep him company since his wife Nabetha was left at their home village. By the time Dudu returned to his home at Mtendere he had fathered three other children that overburdened him. But all these children died at the ages of six and seven, remaining with the six  children. On the other side of his life the builders enjoyed the fun and beers that he bought after knock off.

          ‘’ There comes the king,’’ drunkards would clap hands.

          ‘’ Welcome guys, take your choice.’’ He would chip in.

Most of the builders envied him and knew his tricks. One of his friends informed the General Manager, who summoned him to a hearing,

          ‘’Am told you often have money to waste for beers. How far is this true?’’

‘’ But I only taste a bit of beer, not much, bwana. I know these builders hate me because you love me.’’

But things turned worse when Geo proved that Dudu was a drunkard when he caught him taking liquor during working hours. So the manager thought of dismissing him but with a house reward for Dudu. They gave him a house plan to build at Golomoti Trading centre. He was provided cement, sand and iron sheets enough to build a four bed roomed house. When he asked who would occupy the house he was told certain Chinese people wanted to grow rice and were planned to occupy it. Dudu smiled as he thought it was high time to enrich himself. He used to steal a lot of cement such that he built a mud house and only coated the walls with a few cement. Most of the cement was either sold and proceeds used for beer drinking or else he took some cement bags and iron sheets to his home village. In addition he used low quality burglar bars, including door flames. He tactfully produced fake receipts of payments whenever Shen came to supervise his construction.

Dudu was a creative and hardworking foreman such that within six months construction was completed. As he invited the manager to hand over the work he congratulated himself for the joyful moments he had gone through. When the General Manager invited him to go and see how far he had constructed,

          ‘’The house is complete bwana.’’

          ‘’ See you next week.’’

          ‘’ Thanks bwana, you’re welcome.’’ Dudu responded to his manager,the caller.

Before he met his manager Dudu went home to Mtendere to check on his sent property. He was surprised that his wife Nabetha knew nothing about the building materials he had sent. Julio, the builders he had self trained and entrusted to transfer materials home claimed to have sent through a track driver. But this time Julio’s where abouts could not be traced. Even his cell number could not be reached.

But Dudu had less time to track Julio since he had to rush back to Golomoti to meet as agreed with his manager, Geo.

So Dudu was accompanied by his assistant to the house which he built at Golomoti. The other employees were also invited. They all ate and drank amid cheers,

          ‘’ Long live Shen Shen Company… Long live Dudu.’’

Geo Sheng invited all the builders to the front of the newly constructed house. He took out a bunch of keys from his pocket and gave out unexpected speech,

          ‘’This is the foreman’s gift.’’ he spoke as he handed over the keys to Dudu.

          ‘’ Thanks a lot,’’ Dudu spoke, amid ululations from the other builders.

All the other employees envied Dudu. But Dudu’s face looked unpleased. He was sweating and shivering as he tried to open the house he had built for himself. Only Julio knew the reason behind the sorrow.

 

 

THE BLIND AMBASSADOR

THE BLIND AMBASSODOR

‘’ Antafada! Antafada! Antafada!’’ All animals of Umtomosya chanted as they jumped and ululated. They had spread out palm leaves on all roads for this poor fellow that had usurped the Annual Festival Award. It was a bitter pill to swallow for the giants of the forest. Giraffe, lion and elephant whisked their tails and shook their heads in sheer disapproval. But why had they not managed to win the trophy as they had always done?

Umtomosya Kwenu was a civilized animal village that grew various crops and tamed other smaller species for consumption and security. All neighbouring villages envied this community because of their hard work and support for each other. Once a year the animals celebrated their crop harvest through festive activities like football, jumping castle, really race, long jump, traditional dances as well as javelling. During the festive season competitions were grouped into two distinct categories - the smaller animals competed among themselves like mice, rats, coach roaches and frogs; while the giants- lion, leopard, buffalo, cow were in another group. Winners of these activities were recognized through an Annual Festival Award. After several years of the contest the giants ruled out the smaller animals’ competition so that the reward for the winner would be increased. The smaller animals tried to protest but the lions’ roar was enough to send all smaller ones into hiding. A day later the young ones came and apologized to the giants and agreed they would try their luck. The big animals guessed and teased they will forever be the winners. Kalulu the hare was adamant. He flapped his ears, crossed his legs, poked his nose before he spoke out,

          ‘’You know my tricks, I will be the winner.’’

When the duke heard this it looked at the hare twice then spit on the ground, covered it with soil and said,

          ‘’Never listen to this stupid one, I will surprise this village.’’

The giants silenced the small animals, leopard was first,

          ‘’ Unless the sun changes direction, you can only win in your dreams.’’

          ‘’ Don’t ever dare to enter this competition,’’ Lion chipped in.

Giraffe calmed down the animals and Chipembere announced that the winner will be the one who first manages to climb to the top of the wall obstacle. One frog, Antafada by name, had big patches around its dark,rough skinned body. Its legs were flat but long enough with clips that would grip strongly. Antafada  was guided by another frog to join the cue. But the buffalo pushed the frog aside and mocked,

‘’Go and rest with your small body mass.’’

Lion echoed these sentiments,

          ‘’You better watch out you tiny creatures.’’

But Antafada, scratched it’s his patched body and clung to the line,

          ‘’ Come rain or sunshine, we are here to win,’’ these were sentiments by the escort frog.’’

          ‘’Shut up!’’ Shouted Chipembere the organizer.

The giants laughed and continued to scorn the two frogs,

          ‘’This is a joke of the year.’’

More animals came close and spit on the frogs. They bulldozed the frogs, squeezing them to a far corner. When the whistle blew all the giant animals were busy with mockery such that they did not hear it. But the escort frog was attentive. As soon as he heard the whistle blow he pushed the blind frog and it started climbing upwards slowly. By the time the other animals noted that the whistle had already been blown they too started climbing. The giants pushed their body masses forward. Some tried to jump in a bid to surpass frog. But as they touched the wall they failed to grip. One by one they returned down. The lion broke its left leg and cried loud with pain. He was treated by first aid crew and laid down to rest. Next was the giraffe who managed to get up to half level but could not hold on strongly to the wall such that he finally came down. Some of the giants felt tired due to their heavy weights and the scorching heat since it was getting to midday.

The blind frog continued slowly and confidently upwards. He could not hear the mocking or jeers; neither did he know how many animals they were still struggling up or had fallen down. Small animals continued to cheer up the blind frog while the giants looked on. Interestingly, by the time the last whistle blew the blind frog was on top, panting and clearing sweat from his body. For him he had given up,

          ‘’ Seems this is the end; there is nowhere else for me to continue,’’ he thought.

The other animals called aloud,

‘’Antafada! Antafada! Antafada!’ .

The rest of the animals turned to the escort frog who threw out a long rope to Antafada. The frog felt the rope and started to follow it with its fore legs until it landed down. Chipembere, the master of ceremony held the frog by the hand and escorted it to get its award trophy. It was news to all animals in Umtomosya Kwenu ,

          ‘’Antafada is the winner of this years’ race,’’ announced the master of ceremonies.’’

The escort frog touched Antafada and led him to get his trophy,

          ‘’But doesn’t see,’’ commented Lion.

          ‘’How come he has beaten us? Asked another giant, the hippo.

          ‘’He has won because he has a foresighted mind. He listened to no discouragement.

All animals including the giants opened their eyes wide as they obeyed command to bow down before Antafada as he got dressed in silver attire and put on a lion skin chair. Kalulu the hare, mocked the giants as they knelt before Antafada as  he was being crowned a bright cap. All this signified end of wrestle; all the animals were told to listen to the new ambassador  of Umtomosya who would represent them at all meetings of the year.