Online Reporter
Fadzayi Maposah-Correspondent
A young woman greeted the conductor as she got to the door of commuter omnibus.
The conductor who seemed to know her asked her what was for supper. She laughed and said she had begun eating part of the supper, but would finish off what was left of it in the commuter omnibus.
He said that it was time she stopped the habit of buying supper every day and committed to cooking at home. Soon, she assured the conductor.
The conductor said that he had watched her for many months and that every day she would either come eating something or eat as soon as she sat in the commuter omnibus.
He said soon he would talk to the driver and they would come up with a rate for her to pay as she had changed the role of the commuter omnibus from a transporter to her personal dining hall.
The young woman said that she would get more food and share with them as she felt that they were not happy that she was not sharing her supper.
He said that they did not want any food as every night they had supper with their families at home. The conductor stood by the door as passengers boarded the kombi.
The cheerful conductor greeted every passenger and asked them how their day had been. Having boarded this commuter omnibus many times, I knew that the greeting routine was not a once off.
The conductor makes one feel very welcome.
No wonder the young woman has found a dining hall in the commuter omnibus. She concentrated on having what remained of her supper of burger and chips.
The conductor quizzed her on why she did not have a soft drink like other days.
The young woman responded by saying that she was cutting on fizzy drinks.
The conductor expressed his surprise and then asked her if she was truly getting off fizzy drinks or that she was just broke.
She opted not to buy as she was fulfilling a promise made to herself.
The initial goal was to be off soft drinks for 30 days continuously and then she would assess how she had done and see whether to continue abstaining from fizzy drinks or start drinking again.
The conductor asked her why she did not cook at home. Buying food was the best option as she had no time for cooking and doing dishes.
He was very determined to get answers from the young woman and it appeared that he had been waiting for the right time to ask the many questions that he had and he could have had the questions for quite some time.
Did she get home and immediately sleep, he asked. The young woman answered that no, she got home took a bath and then would either go on social media to catch up on what had been going on while she was working.
On some days she would get a good movie to watch, she confessed that she had her favourite series that she always made time for. Her bedtime was around 9.30pm.
The conductor said since it was just before 6pm, there was close to three and a half hours before she slept. Out of those three hours could she not spare just about an hour to cooking so that she did not rely on fast food?
He even suggested that she could have some food cooking on low heat while she was taking her bath and after her bath, she could finish off cooking, eat and still have time for her social media catch up and her series.
The young woman just looked at the conductor. It seemed that no one had really discussed this issue with her. By this time the last passenger got into the commuter omnibus and the door was closed.
That did not stop the conductor from finishing what he had started. None of the passengers joined in the conversation. We were simply listeners. The conductor told the driver who had come just before the last passenger that his mainini was in the commuter omnibus.
The driver asked “which one?” and there were laughs from the passengers and the driver quickly answered “vabereki , vana mainini vakawanda”. (My elders, I have several sisters-in-law) and then back to the conductor again “Vapi?” (Which one?)
The conductor said “Vema burger vaya” (the burger one). The driver laughed and warned the conductor against labelling his in-laws. He called out a greeting to his in-law and asked her if she had a burger to which the in-law responded that she had finished eating the burger and chips.
The driver said that next time she must buy the same for him and the conductor. The conductor was quick to say that he was not interested in the burger, especially as at night, he was just looking forward for a home cooked meal.
The driver agreed and said burgers were a no for him too at the end of the day. He asked if his mainini had pots and if she did not have, he would talk to her sister (implying his wife) to organise.
The young woman laughed and said that she had pots and kitchen utensils. As the commuter omnibus went on it way the conductor continued to encourage the young woman to at least try what he had said.
He said there were too many people deciding to go the easy route of just buying food and not making time to cook.
He jokingly told her that the day she would have sadza and vegetables, she might fall sick as her body would be shocked by the food that she would have introduced to it.
There were too many people who no longer seemed to care what they ate, the conductor said yet as people we are what we eat. He said that he was surprised that people made time to catch up on movies and yet they had no time for cooking healthy food at home.
The driver asked the passengers to applaud his conductor.
He said that the conductor was young yet he was mature in how he looked at issues.
The conductor said he had seen too many relatives and neighbours have health conditions that they could have avoided just because of what they chose to eat.
The young woman said that she would try cooking at home and update the commuter omnibus crew. It was refreshing to see a young person advocate for healthy eating.
Most of the young people today are keen on fast food having grown up in a time of instant coffee, instant porridge, two minute noodles, they seem not to have the time to cook and allow the food to simmer.
#Commuter omnibus diaries
