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Of defilers and our airline
Somebody once said to me that the Zomba Mental Hospital (Box 38) was placed next to the Army barracks to ensure that the deranged men and women can spot enemies in good time and alert the soldiers! (Wamisala anaona nkhondo!)
For a moment, dear Raw Stuffers, I would like to consider myself as a “Box 38” inmate and still alert you that there is something we need to do about defilers and rapists. How, I ask, does one not only have the nerve to continue raping and defiling these days when there is so much outcry against the malpractice but also have the audacity to go and defile some maidens in the Lord’s Temple?
I have in mind the story from Limbe Catholic Cathedral holy precincts, where one citizen allegedly deflowered two maidens. I am really not sure what was going on in the mind of this fellow.
You see, esteemed Raw Stuffers, one can sort of put up some mitigation issues before the Lord for some of the sins we commit, but to rape in His own Temple? That, to me, is stretching the good Lord to the limits.
In my raw, Box 38 thinking, also allow me to draw your attention to the Jenda-Mzimba man who lost his “accessories” to some assailants, who allegedly took the man’s private parts for sale to some local businessman at nearby Champhira Trading Centre.
Dear Raw Stuffers, I saw the picture of the man: lying in agony in bed, with his dutiful wife beside him, holding the man’s hand, sort of assuring him that the world has not ended.
I pictured myself in the man’s shoes, imagining that basi? No more conjugals? I told myself that whatever assurance the wife would give the man, they both know that tough days lie ahead of the couple.
You see, in my raw thinking, I submit that it would be better if the Cathedral defiler was relieved of his “gadgets” instead of the good rural citizen from Jenda. It would also be better to cut off the organs of fathers who defile their own six-month-old babies (like in the case of the Nathenje man) than to leave such characters roam this country, demolishing the natural trust God put between children and their parents. At this rate of defilements, who are the children of Malawi going to trust?
What I am saying, which I have said before, is that it is high time we considered an Amputation Bill, through which all those who misuse their “equipment” should be relieved of the same, in public, at Kamuzu, Civo or Mzuzu stadiums.
On another note, I hear Air Malawi is contemplating selling our big planes to buy smaller ones which can be easily filled and profitably managed. I also hear in the interim we will lease or (in simple terms) hire the same crafts for our operations.
I must say uku ndiye kupepera. (There is no exact translation in English for what I have just said, but suffice to say that this type of thinking is myopic—selling your own good car and taking mini-bus rides?).
In the first place, the two big planes: the Kwacha and the Sapitwa, were bought not long ago, with a lot of foresight that they would cater to our growing needs in the long term. Turning 180 degrees on this course two days later sounds childish to me.
I don’t agree that there were strategic mistakes made in the purchases. Where was greater Air Malawi management? Where was the board? Where was the line ministry? Cabinet? The President? Zauffffiiiti basi! I am not being personal with management, the board chair or g’gafffment.
The issue is that Air Malawi has a problem it is refusing to address. Well, as a raw Box 38 madman, I will spell out some of the problems.
One, service is poor. I said this before and some air hostesses the other day crowded on me on one of my trips, pointing fingers at me that I was the Raw Stuffer who exposed their bad services and some bad looks among some of them!
The food served is also not what I would call food. (I think I explained this before). But just to add, the other day the airline served us expired water distilled and bottled right here in Malawi.
Then there is the issue of attitude and work ethic. When you go to some service counters, most of the guys and “guyesses” are slow, except for a few fellows that I know. The rest think they are doing you a favour when you go to their tills.
The airport service and the general infrastructure (even if it does not belong to Air Malawi) also contribute to the damage. Don’t go to the toilets! In fact, some stench welcomes you in the international arrival “lounge when you queue up to have your passports stamped. There are nearby poorly serviced “gents” and “ladies” that embarrassed you, especially when you look around and see foreigners blocking their nostrils!
Then there is the renowned sticker for Air Malawi: late departures and arrivals. This needs no further emphasis.
I think, to be raw and honest, the airline’s staff component needs massive overhaul, right from the top to the messenger. I just feel there is so much nepotism, political cronyism and appeasement or misplaced talent in the airline. We need good, experienced and business-oriented hands at the company, “anthu a jack-up” not some of the less-inspiring faces we see at Robbins Road.
What I am saying is that the airline industry is about spotless service, positive attitude, unparalleled facilities and confidence-building in passengers; all blended in right proportions.
That is why from the same Malawi, South African Airways and other airlines come in and go out with plane-loads of passengers, osakhala zausilu zimene tikumvazi.
I hope g’gafffment will not listen to the rot that has been sent to them, to sell the Ngwazi’s Kwacha and the Moya’s Sapitwa. Ngati mwatopa, just bid us farewell and go try other jobs.
—Feedback: echitsulo@yahoo.com
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