In the name of power
As the sun peacefully tucks into the horizon on the dusk of a peaceful day, unnecessary drama pops on stage in the rush hour of Lilongwe’s congested roads.
The setting is a junction near Lilongwe Hotel where the Chilambula and M1 roads meet. A silver Mercedes Benz pops up from the jam and overtakes over eight stationary cars, almost smashing into oncoming traffic on the other lane.
The driver on the crash course honks at the drivers to make way. But all the unapologetic driver can get is a clamour of horns from irritated motorists.
Unremorseful, the Merc driver pulls out of his vehicle and shouts unprintable grammar at the other drivers. Well, I can still savage a printable few:
‘Nyonyonyo chani? Mukundidziwa ine? Mukudziwa komwe ndikuthamangira? Anthu opusa inu!’
The young rabid mind barks with ferocious intent, the nerves on his neck tightening from a rush of his hot blood, signifying the fanatical fights that run in his hormones.
He turns round and round as he speaks, his eyes picking at random who to heckle at. He swears freely as can do any person void of morals.
Perhaps now satisfied that he has made an impression he wanted, the young man majestically walks back to his car and takes his time before he gets in, and as he finally does, adjusts the interior rear view mirror for no apparent reason other than to show off what is tied around the holder of the mirror — a piece of cloth emblazoned with insignia of power and influence.
‘Simungandithetu ine — mukanene kulikonse!,’ the young man announces his ‘an untouchable status’ as he levels up his car stereo.
When traffic clears up a bit, the vehicles in the queue start to move and the young man revs his Merc, which has no registration plates, and accelerates along the tiny space between the two lanes.
Too dangerous to be true.
Off he goes, leaving behind a regrettable impression for himself and whoever he draws his ‘power’ from.
You see, this might not be the first and last time this and many other young men of his sort use their affiliations to disturb peace and tranquil.
There are so many of this mould who terrorise others in the name of power and influence.
Such people intoxicated with status never want to queue in shops, at filling stations, at the turnstiles at stadiums or even over the counter in entertainment joints. They want to bully everyone they wish, as they wish.
These people are a shame because there are others that enjoy even greater influence and favours but choose to maintain their good relations with people out there.n
