geez, it's been a long time and a zillion things have happened.
Had the opportunity to visit Namibia where I went as far as Walvis Bay and stepped into the ice cold South Atlantic Ocean. Then drove another hundred kilometres into the desert and climbed a sand dune. I had my unfair amount of meat and red wine. And wiggled my backside at one or two joints at some hot Windhoek joint.
Came back and was immediately dispatched to Salima for some workshop. Was saddened by beer joint at Senga Bay thats sitting on a goldmine of opportunity but the owner just can't see it. Had to travel some 25Km to find a decent place to sip some Stout.
Came back exhausted, tried to rest but was quickly disturbed by our friends who visit at night - thieves. Luckily the good Lord protected us, I managed to scare them off and got some assistance to untie my guard who had been bound and tossed away by the thieves.
Life seems to be getting back to normal and we shall see how the year ends.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Ziese, GO HOME!!!!
Go Home!! Go Home!! Go Home!! Go Home!! Go Home!! Go Home!! Go Home!! Go Home!! Go Home!! Go Home!! Go Home!! Go Home!! Go Home!! Go Home!! Go Home!! Go Home!! Go Home!! Go Home!! Go Home!! Go Home!! Go Home!! Go Home!! Go Home!! Go Home!! Go Home!!
And the press, give him a black out. I thought this is the very same guy who said he would never talk to you again? Now he needs you! That should teach him next time to put his brain into gear before setting his mouth into motion!
Watitopetsa! Kulilira ndi choncho kodi? aaaaaaah!
And the press, give him a black out. I thought this is the very same guy who said he would never talk to you again? Now he needs you! That should teach him next time to put his brain into gear before setting his mouth into motion!
Watitopetsa! Kulilira ndi choncho kodi? aaaaaaah!
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Thank you Mrs Patel
Back in the days I uses to work for MalawiNet where I started off as an assistant engineer, had a brief stint in marketing before heading off to manage the Lilongwe branch office. After a bitter argument with my boss, whom I never even got to see face to face, I relieved myself of the post and some one else took over. For a good eight months I never knew what my post was but I was basically running around carrying out installations. In those eight months there were three supervisors who came in and left due to various reasons including one who died. Then after that they decided to put me back as the supervisor which I rejected. After much persuasion I accepted but knew I had to find an escape plan very quickly. Luckily enough I managed to leave a few weeks later!
Anyway, that history is besides the point. Before I was moved to Lilongwe, our board of directors got wind that staff were planning a sit in. They thought one way of defusing the action was to give us gifts. So, we learnt, board member Mrs Patel directed we all be given fans - yes, the ones that blow air around! We received the 'gifts' with 'both hands' (manja awiri). It only transpired to us a month later what the true intention of the gifts were. And to be honest, we had planned no sit in whatsoever. However this gift has helped ever since. It has seen rough days, working a good 22 hours of the day on most days in summer. It has been tossed around when moving from Zingwangwa to Area 18 in Lilongwe and back to Blantyre, to Chirimba and back again to Lilongwe. It has borne the abuse of my nephew and now my son. I can foresee it lasting another year which means it must brace itself for more abuse from my baby son if the character of his bigger brother is anything to go by.
Geee, thanks Mrs Patel. Those fans are providing so much reprieve during the hot, sweaty nights of October!!
Anyway, that history is besides the point. Before I was moved to Lilongwe, our board of directors got wind that staff were planning a sit in. They thought one way of defusing the action was to give us gifts. So, we learnt, board member Mrs Patel directed we all be given fans - yes, the ones that blow air around! We received the 'gifts' with 'both hands' (manja awiri). It only transpired to us a month later what the true intention of the gifts were. And to be honest, we had planned no sit in whatsoever. However this gift has helped ever since. It has seen rough days, working a good 22 hours of the day on most days in summer. It has been tossed around when moving from Zingwangwa to Area 18 in Lilongwe and back to Blantyre, to Chirimba and back again to Lilongwe. It has borne the abuse of my nephew and now my son. I can foresee it lasting another year which means it must brace itself for more abuse from my baby son if the character of his bigger brother is anything to go by.
Geee, thanks Mrs Patel. Those fans are providing so much reprieve during the hot, sweaty nights of October!!
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Happenings
It's been a while since I posted anything. The usual excuse - I have been tied up. But a lot has happened.
Take for example the 'new'
Then the news I have been waiting for for the past two years - that Bingu is ready to work with Bakili!! It did not take me long to realise that government can't run effectively with daggers constantly drawn. I wonder why it took them two years to realise that. Lets hope this is a start of a new beginning.
Then Madonna who traveled miles to cook up a storm in sleepy
Have a wonderful week!!
What a pungent stench
Yesterday I was running a few errands in Old Town, Area 12 and Area 18. I had an empty crate of bottles in my boot and hoped to buy some drinks after over week being off beer - antibiotics and lots of work were the culprits.
I contemplated getting my drinks from Area 12 PTC but though otherwise. On my way to Area 18, I though of buying them from Area 18 BP service station but the place can get hairy with parking. I considered going all the way down to Shoprite or PTC Hyperstore but remembered there was a PTC along Kamuzu Procession Road, so I stopped there. Big mistake!
As I walked into the shop, this stench knocked me over, in the real sense. I tried to figure out what it was and concluded it must have been some dairy product must have gone bad and spilled on the floor and was most probably under one of the fridges. To add to that, the shop was hot! And to my surprise the staff were going about their job normally.
It is interesting that almost every PTC you walk into has a problem with ventilation and it turn always smell. Chemusa PTC in Blantyre has not air inlet apart from the small access door which is partially blocked by fridge. When that shop is not smelling, it is hot as hell. Then take Nando's PTC also in Blantyre. they used to or still stock fresh fish. I don't need to elaborate what that can produce at times. PTC Hyperstore in Old Town has it's days too even though it tends to be better ventilated than the others.
What surprises me is that other shops like Iponga, Peacock and Shoprite don't smell. What is so special about PTC?? Time for a reality check!!
I contemplated getting my drinks from Area 12 PTC but though otherwise. On my way to Area 18, I though of buying them from Area 18 BP service station but the place can get hairy with parking. I considered going all the way down to Shoprite or PTC Hyperstore but remembered there was a PTC along Kamuzu Procession Road, so I stopped there. Big mistake!
As I walked into the shop, this stench knocked me over, in the real sense. I tried to figure out what it was and concluded it must have been some dairy product must have gone bad and spilled on the floor and was most probably under one of the fridges. To add to that, the shop was hot! And to my surprise the staff were going about their job normally.
It is interesting that almost every PTC you walk into has a problem with ventilation and it turn always smell. Chemusa PTC in Blantyre has not air inlet apart from the small access door which is partially blocked by fridge. When that shop is not smelling, it is hot as hell. Then take Nando's PTC also in Blantyre. they used to or still stock fresh fish. I don't need to elaborate what that can produce at times. PTC Hyperstore in Old Town has it's days too even though it tends to be better ventilated than the others.
What surprises me is that other shops like Iponga, Peacock and Shoprite don't smell. What is so special about PTC?? Time for a reality check!!
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
The 30cm Rule
Our office is setup in such a way that one big room is subdivided further into three by 6 foot demarcations. This leaves a little space between the ceiling and the top of the demarcations. Noise and smells flow freely through this space.
Am sitting here right now and a really strong fragrance has hit me hard. It is a lady who has walked into the office next door. She has obviously immersed herself in her bottle of perfume from the 'smell of things', she must have dived into the bottle this morning after taking a bath. I can't imagine the agony one would be subjected to if you sat next to her in public transport.
I think we need to enlighten our friend on The 30cm Rule when it comes to perfume application (if I may call it that)!!!
Am sitting here right now and a really strong fragrance has hit me hard. It is a lady who has walked into the office next door. She has obviously immersed herself in her bottle of perfume from the 'smell of things', she must have dived into the bottle this morning after taking a bath. I can't imagine the agony one would be subjected to if you sat next to her in public transport.
I think we need to enlighten our friend on The 30cm Rule when it comes to perfume application (if I may call it that)!!!
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
the new Mitsubishi L200
I have been seeing adverts in the newspapers for the new Mitsibishi L200 pick up and double cab. So yesterday i decided to get a closer look and browsed around. Boy! My initial reaction was 'what an ugly car!'. But as I looked at the different models I realised that those Japanese designers had just taken a bold step in their design. The pickup looks fine, the clubcab looks ok, the double cab looks weird. So I spent the rest of the day thinking why the double cab does not look quite right. I got the answer early this morning. It looks like the illegitimate child of a Nissan Murano and a Ssangyong Musso!!
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Thought for the day
"The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings."
Eric Hoffer, social anthropologist and author
Eric Hoffer, social anthropologist and author
Tuesday, September 5, 2006
Umandidziwa?
Last month I travelled to my mothers village in Ntcheu for a funeral. The last time I had been there was sometime in June or July 1984 where I vividly remember my mother chasing rats in the middle of the night for fear they would chew her beloved children, my twin sister and I.
Well as usual at funerals, there were a host of characters and my mother was doing what she does best - introducing me to everyone around. Well after my mother got tired and went to rest, a young chap, a bit younger than me, approached me and asked that question I hate, Umandidziwa (do you know me)?
I thought I would be nice so I said 'no but your face is familiar'.
'Familiar from where?'
Dude, lets cut the chit-chat and get this over with!! I have met thousands of people in my life and you ask me where your face is familiar from? Well, check this out. You look like the folks that jumped off the flying saucer in the film Aliens!!
Anyway, it turned out he was my 2nd cousin. I've learnt my lesson, anyone I don't recall will have to get the rude answer of 'I don't know you'
Well as usual at funerals, there were a host of characters and my mother was doing what she does best - introducing me to everyone around. Well after my mother got tired and went to rest, a young chap, a bit younger than me, approached me and asked that question I hate, Umandidziwa (do you know me)?
I thought I would be nice so I said 'no but your face is familiar'.
'Familiar from where?'
Dude, lets cut the chit-chat and get this over with!! I have met thousands of people in my life and you ask me where your face is familiar from? Well, check this out. You look like the folks that jumped off the flying saucer in the film Aliens!!
Anyway, it turned out he was my 2nd cousin. I've learnt my lesson, anyone I don't recall will have to get the rude answer of 'I don't know you'
Didn't yo mama tell ya...
Last week we heard that Lucius Banda was being sent to Zomba Prison for a couple of months for forgery and uttering a false document. It is interesting to note that on his BBC interview, the reporter chose to ask Lucius about his moving of an impeachment motion. Excuse me, was this case anything to do with the impeachment issue? It is also sad to note that Lucius thinks he has been a victim of a political witch hunt or whatever they call it.
The issue here was forgery. Chete. Osatinso ku khaya aBingu atani. After all didn't yo mama tell ya to work hard in school??
Enanso ndi aMpasu akutisokosanso zoti pali anthu ena alibenso ma MSCE. Osangowatchula bwanji anthuwo? If you don't have the facts, spare us the noise!!
The issue here was forgery. Chete. Osatinso ku khaya aBingu atani. After all didn't yo mama tell ya to work hard in school??
Enanso ndi aMpasu akutisokosanso zoti pali anthu ena alibenso ma MSCE. Osangowatchula bwanji anthuwo? If you don't have the facts, spare us the noise!!
Thursday, August 24, 2006
The colour Blue
I read recently in the newspapers that there was this confused Malawian (who had just returned from the UK??) who found the colour blue a bit to confusing for his liking. He complained that most banks are using this confusing colour to the extent that someone who was meant to hand deliver a letter to Stanbic ended up at National Bank!!
Now I find this gentleman's character (the one who got lost) rather weird!! I think he needs to be schooled in the art of logo recognition because the next time he might end up at Nico Holding or Mobil or Stansfield Motors or even Blantyre Water Board. As for our friend who has just returned from the queens land, get a life!!
Now I find this gentleman's character (the one who got lost) rather weird!! I think he needs to be schooled in the art of logo recognition because the next time he might end up at Nico Holding or Mobil or Stansfield Motors or even Blantyre Water Board. As for our friend who has just returned from the queens land, get a life!!
Thursday, August 17, 2006
of speed traps
There was an article in one of the weekend papers where some official from the National Road Safety Council was trying to justify the introduction of speed traps. He claimed they had so far fined over 1,000 people for overspeeding. He then made an amusing yet shocking revelation that the maximum speed within Blatyre, Zomba, Lilongwe and Mzuzu cities is 50km/hour!!!
What amuses and shocks me at the same time is that this speed limit is ridiculous. The maximum speed limit for a learner driver is 45km/hr which means basically the whole city will be driving around at a speed very similar to learner drivers. Imagine vehicles leisurely strolling down Chipembere Highway, Chilambula Road, Kamuzu Procession Road and other such roads at those speeds!! I think sometimes we take our 3rd World status a bit to seriously. We need to shake of this primitive thinking that speed and drunk driving only is the main cause of death on our roads.
There are plenty ways to bring sanity on our roads and I will try to list them here
1. Breathlysers is one of them - they are very welcome although it would be appreciated if they told us how we arrive at the legal limit of 0.08 grams per litre or what ever they call it
2. Mark the darn roads! For goodness sake, paint the white line, put street lights, put reflectors on bridges and other such structures
3. Cyclists. Enforce the sticking of reflectors on bicycles so we can see them. A biker at night without reflectors just looks like a normal pedestrian (at least to me).
4. Learner Driving training should be improved, brought to modern day standards. Driving schools don't teach the use of indicators, wipers, dim & full lights and a number of other useful thing that you encounter daily on the roads.
5. Pedestrians also need to know their limits on the road. the attitude of 'akundiwona, andipatukira' has to die and die fast. You have situations on Chilambula road where one group is crossing the road 5 metres before the zebra crossing, another on the actual zebra crossing and another group 5 metres away. Then there are those who choose to pass (stroll) in front of the car while you are waiting to join the road at a junction when common sense dictates to me that it is safer for them to pass around the back.
Am sure there a dozen other ways to enforce sanity on our roads than driving along at such a hopeless speed!
What amuses and shocks me at the same time is that this speed limit is ridiculous. The maximum speed limit for a learner driver is 45km/hr which means basically the whole city will be driving around at a speed very similar to learner drivers. Imagine vehicles leisurely strolling down Chipembere Highway, Chilambula Road, Kamuzu Procession Road and other such roads at those speeds!! I think sometimes we take our 3rd World status a bit to seriously. We need to shake of this primitive thinking that speed and drunk driving only is the main cause of death on our roads.
There are plenty ways to bring sanity on our roads and I will try to list them here
1. Breathlysers is one of them - they are very welcome although it would be appreciated if they told us how we arrive at the legal limit of 0.08 grams per litre or what ever they call it
2. Mark the darn roads! For goodness sake, paint the white line, put street lights, put reflectors on bridges and other such structures
3. Cyclists. Enforce the sticking of reflectors on bicycles so we can see them. A biker at night without reflectors just looks like a normal pedestrian (at least to me).
4. Learner Driving training should be improved, brought to modern day standards. Driving schools don't teach the use of indicators, wipers, dim & full lights and a number of other useful thing that you encounter daily on the roads.
5. Pedestrians also need to know their limits on the road. the attitude of 'akundiwona, andipatukira' has to die and die fast. You have situations on Chilambula road where one group is crossing the road 5 metres before the zebra crossing, another on the actual zebra crossing and another group 5 metres away. Then there are those who choose to pass (stroll) in front of the car while you are waiting to join the road at a junction when common sense dictates to me that it is safer for them to pass around the back.
Am sure there a dozen other ways to enforce sanity on our roads than driving along at such a hopeless speed!
Pay your bills or risk disconnection
I recently travelled to Blantyre to meet a certain service provider (name withheld to protect the very innocent). There was a notice at the reception that this provider will no longer give services to employees of Electricity Suppy Commission of Malawi (Escom) and Blantyre Water Board due to non- payment of bills by these two companies.
Yesterday I happened to be trailing an Escom vehicle and it had a sticker on the rear that read "Pay your bills or risk disconnection". The irony!!
Yesterday I happened to be trailing an Escom vehicle and it had a sticker on the rear that read "Pay your bills or risk disconnection". The irony!!
Thursday, July 20, 2006
2010
Well, a long time since I updated this space and plenty things have happened. The world cup and the famous Zizou head butt. Our circus parliament and their ludicrous salary demands. Then Israel and it's problems in that bad neighbourhood.
Going back to the world cup, how ready is Malawi for the 2010 event, I ask? There is talk from the sports minister about upgrading the stadium or stadiums - good news. There were similar sentiments from the tourism minister, I think - good news too. But how about the transport minister? The airports and roads need serious attention. Let assume they are busy with trying to get this budget through. We will see what they have to say after that.
Going back to the world cup, how ready is Malawi for the 2010 event, I ask? There is talk from the sports minister about upgrading the stadium or stadiums - good news. There were similar sentiments from the tourism minister, I think - good news too. But how about the transport minister? The airports and roads need serious attention. Let assume they are busy with trying to get this budget through. We will see what they have to say after that.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Outsourcing
I recently heard on one of the radios that Labour Ministry officials were not happy with emerging trneds of organisations to fire staff and outsource those services. They argued that it would be better to retain the staff and firing them would make them jobless. They have a point.
However outsourcing will obviously have positive effects for the organisations too like reduced labour costs (funerals, loans, etc). I think the ministry should look at ways in which to implement the outsourcing. A few years ago a company were outsourcing their security services. They struck a deal with the security organisation where at least 97% of the former company guards were now employed with the current security firm. There were casualties but very few. There are also other campanies that lay off skilled people like carpenters, plumbers, builders, etc and later on source those very same services from them.
So not all is lost when companies outsource!
However outsourcing will obviously have positive effects for the organisations too like reduced labour costs (funerals, loans, etc). I think the ministry should look at ways in which to implement the outsourcing. A few years ago a company were outsourcing their security services. They struck a deal with the security organisation where at least 97% of the former company guards were now employed with the current security firm. There were casualties but very few. There are also other campanies that lay off skilled people like carpenters, plumbers, builders, etc and later on source those very same services from them.
So not all is lost when companies outsource!
Wednesday, May 3, 2006
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
'Under construction'
Soyapi commented on the unavailability of MTL Online website. I share his frustration. Press Corporation until recently had a website that needed a facelift. I think they realised the same but rather than just work on the facelift in the background, they decided to pull the plug on it and replace it with a horrible 'This Site Is Under Construction and Coming Soon.' notice. What worries me even more is the fact that this construction is taking quite a bit of time and doing more harm than good. Lets hope the final product is a hit!
Wednesday, February 8, 2006
Misplaced priorities?
Earlier this week a friend of mine asked me to take a picture of the former presidents mausoleum. I sent him the pictures and thought I would send them to a few relatives as well who live outside Malawi. I also mentioned to them that next to the mausoleum, a new parliament building is also coming up much to their disappointment.
"As new parliament for what?" was the question. "Wouldn't that money have been spent on other things like water harvesting or infrastructure to improve trade of Malawian goods or on building the tourism sector?". I'll debate the last point.
For the past seven or so years we have heard many in top government positions urging the country to move away from dependency on tobacco and possibly shift to tourism. Fair. But what has govt done about it? Apart from just talking, nothing really! Instead they have just locked up large amounts of money in a project that will really bring nothing to the Malawian economy. Shame!
"As new parliament for what?" was the question. "Wouldn't that money have been spent on other things like water harvesting or infrastructure to improve trade of Malawian goods or on building the tourism sector?". I'll debate the last point.
For the past seven or so years we have heard many in top government positions urging the country to move away from dependency on tobacco and possibly shift to tourism. Fair. But what has govt done about it? Apart from just talking, nothing really! Instead they have just locked up large amounts of money in a project that will really bring nothing to the Malawian economy. Shame!
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Malawi Night
Am one person who would love to see tourism take root in Malawi sometime soon. There has been a lot of talk but not much action, all thing considering that the World Cup is just 4 years away in South Africa. What an opportunity to have teams camp here and acclimatize themselves before heading down for the finals.
There was recently an issue in the media about airfields to crucial tourist areas that are in poor condition. Then there is that road to Mangochi which had certain sections of tar removed almost seven years ago. Then there is Chileka Airport...
Anyway am glad that Shire Highlands Hotel have taken a step to promote Malawian culture. They have organised a Malawi Night where local and locally produced food, music and beer shall be served. It should give a chance to resident non-locals to experience some therere likupa, nsima and the like. Bravo Shire Highlands!!
There was recently an issue in the media about airfields to crucial tourist areas that are in poor condition. Then there is that road to Mangochi which had certain sections of tar removed almost seven years ago. Then there is Chileka Airport...
Anyway am glad that Shire Highlands Hotel have taken a step to promote Malawian culture. They have organised a Malawi Night where local and locally produced food, music and beer shall be served. It should give a chance to resident non-locals to experience some therere likupa, nsima and the like. Bravo Shire Highlands!!
Monday, January 23, 2006
Blogger Braai
Bloggers in Lilongwe met up on Friday 20th for a braai in Area 43 at Mike's house. It was a lovely cool night of fun and laughter. I made a promise to blog more than I have in the past. So check this space, expect more from these ends.
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