adminSo rich in decorative detail was this young lawyer’s house that she least expected anyone in her sober senses to run away. The special wine she intended to share with them had no one to drink.
Ornate wine-glasses she had arranged on the teak table had suddenly been left with no one to use them.
Even her husband’s new car, which had been conveniently parked at the gate, had no one to view it, neither any visitor to be taken for a ride in it. To Shamiso’s surprise, even her eldest sister Tatenda who always complained of swollen feet was nowhere to be found.
Akanga adzadzambidza-dzadzambidza arova pasi!
Her albums, laden with photos of her at scenic places across the length and breadth of the world, which she had given them to view had been thrown recklessly on the carpet. Further assessment showed someone had made an effort to spoil the rag with soup.
On trying to investigate what was going on, or whether or not she was dreaming, Shamiso saw her daughter Chenai crying.
“Auntie vasiya vandituka nekundirova vachiti kushamisira kwaamai vako ndekweuroyi,” the young soul intimated to her mother.
To say Shamiso was shocked would be an understatement. The incident had in effect dealt a huge blow to her heart.
It was more painful than having someone squeeze lemon juice in one’s eyes. Akanga abaiwa panyama nhete.
These are times when one declares foul is fair, fair foul. Hapana chakanaka.
Unbeknown to her, her siblings had concluded in their mental eyes that she was dabbling in muti because in their minds or lack thereof, a young soul of her ilk was not ripe to have such wealth. She was too young to sit on the lap of luxury. They blamed the young soul for all deaths, sicknesses and calamities that visited their family on Shamiso. How could someone instantly become an island of riches in a sea of poverty, they said.
“Handei asikana. Tiri kushandiswa mumwe achidya achipfachura. She knows a lot and I am sure she uses muti. Maybe she is trying to kill us, let’s run away,” the sisters said as they made off from her home.
But the issue is not confined to Shamiso and her sisters.
Most people fail to realise that their benevolence towards relatives anger some people that wherever they go, they feel they are being looked down upon.
The way you live your life, no matter how peaceful, can be noise to others. At bars, some people are beaten up for downing countless cidars and roasting handsome portions of meat making others green with envy.
Your latest girlfriend is enough to trigger assault and the loss of a tooth or two.
You can be beaten up for not dancing to Macheso’s latest album or just failure to contribute to an otherwise dull conversation you find unreasonable to participate in.
“Ngaabetwe. Ari kutiiginowa pano apa. Bharanzi ngaribatwebatwe,” you hear those of a coarse and unpolished disposition saying without caring to understand how the next man feels.
Jealous is all over. Some people live as though they are driven by that shameless spirit to the point of waking up in the dead of the night to defecate on the stoop of a person they accuse of being pompous. If you leave your drink unattended, these people can even spike it or urinate in it. So consumed with hate are some people that even if you show them your car, they are quick to tell you that such investments are not wise.
“The car looks nice, but it’s not a worthy investment. The US$5 000 you spent on the car is enough to buy even 10 head of cattle. Inokwana futi kuripa mombe yeumai kunanatezvara vababa,” you hear people saying.
Some will even commit their lunch breaks to speculative tales on how the new car will kill you.
“Speed, speed, speed. Anyanyomhanyirei kutenga mota ari mudiki kudaro. He can die any time because he is such a bad driver,” you hear people saying of their blood brothers.
Even inviting someone of lunch is taboo.
“Look at that junior fellow, he wants us to see the latest furniture in his house. Some of us even have much more beautiful wives you would think they excrete icecream, but we have never done this. Kana kuri kuba kubasa kwamufurira kudai hameno,” yours truly heard certain fellows saying on the back seat of a kombi.
They had actually converted the kombi into a boardroom to discuss other people and issues that do not affect them in any way. A case of being in the business of minding other people’s affairs.
Hama kani hama we-e,
Hama kani hama we-e,
Pane chirwere chiri kurudzi rwedu vatema,
Chirwere chacho abudirira tinouraya,
Ave kuda kuratidza ruzivo tinouraya,
Ave kuda kusimudzira rudzi tinouraya, sang the late Marshall Munhumumwe and the Four Brothers.
True to the singer’s views, a number of people fail to excel in life by holding others in mistrust instead of striving to build economically beneficial relationships.
Most young people are no longer free with elders at work, in church and many other social settings. They fear being persecuted or being killed on allegations “wavekuda kuona.”
Scores of others are gripped with the Pull Him Down Syndrome which results in them parting with thousands of dollars buying dangerous muti to poison people they view as threats. Countless funds have also been committed to hiring thugs and thieves just to disturb someone’s life.
“I will buy you a crate of beer if you beat up that gentleman. You will get something from me if you just impregnate his daughter or steal his car,” some people say trying to derail their kinsmen’s success.
Usavenge mukoma wako, chinodiwa kuronga.
At churches such bad spirit is strangely gaining a foothold. Parishioners are no longer free. They fear if they dress the way their pocket permits, they are likely to be branded snobs.
“Ah amai avo havaite. Kubva vachena kunge hanzvadzi yaJesu kudaro. She is making us lose our way. We do not want rich people here,” you meet people saying shortly before the divine service.
Can people be free with each other any more without suspicion of kuvhairirana and kutsvaga dzvene. Even at funerals, such mentality rules supreme. Some women run away towards the body viewing ceremony for fear of being asked to lead in the singing.
“Tinoda kutiza tione kuti varungu vatema vavo ivavo vanoimbira chitunha here. Hapana zviripo makumbo enyoka. Ndiri murombo hangu asi ndakakosha,” you hear people saying while making good their escape.
Others tell you straight in the eye: “We thought since you are rich you could afford professional mourners. By the way I am not here to cry over your mother’s dead body, I have more problems of my own.”
Gentle reader, some people get to hate their successful relatives to the point of assaulting innocent children or even throwing away a newly-opened jar of Mazowe.
Scores of people are also driven by hate that they clap hands on hearing that a brother who was doing well has landed in problems.
“Mwari ndewemunhu wese. Waiti tisu chete here tinofanirwa kufa nenzara. Zvaiwana ngwarati.”
Gentle reader, if ever you find yourself celebrating someone’s downfall, then take it to heart that you have a problem. Kana kuri kurwara rapwai, kana ari mamhepo fambirai.
Inotambika mughetto.
Online Reporter