Ever since creation, I have had a negative perception of seeing myself living in Blantyre, the land most call 'Kabula'.
It was a normal business day on this 6th day of November 2007 when my Bwana came in the Office wearing a confident and brave face. He announced it to me that I should be ready because on that day, I was to join him on a trip to Blantyre. It came like a shock and surprising indeed but that was it, he left my office with no more info on the trip.
Tormenting my brain box with so many questions as to what actually was in Blantyre for us to make such a sudden trip, I found no answer. I thought of following him to the office so as I get cleared on what exactly was the mission, I sat facing him and cleared my throat " .... aaa when are we coming back from Blantyre.......because I wanted to know how many clothes I should carry with me...?" It was there then that he told me the whole purpose of the trip. We were to work on the MTL recruitment exercise which was to take us few weeks. With all dual respect, I made no hesitation but to contact my better half to prepare my bag.
Upon departure, I realised there were three of us on this trip (Mr Chirwa, myself and Austin). It was around 17:45 pm (Malawian time) we were leaving the city. As wheels of the Mark II KA 3311 scratched the soil of Lilongwe, we left heading for Kabula "the land of dust free". I never knew who was going to host us, but I was sure there must be a place where I would rest my ribs and get my daily bread.
As time went past 20:30 pm, my nostrils started slowly smelling the city weather, my body gradually getting signs of approaching the city, my eyes indeed witnessed the twinkling lights from a far. I told myself that was Blantyre because on the way we had gone past lights at trading centres but the lights I was witnessing was a huge cloud that covered a big area. While in the process of trying to capture the place we are going to, I saw the man behind the wheels (my bwana) pulling over. "Have we arrived?" I ask myself. Seconds later I discovered it was Shire Road Block.
After that, I did not know the places we drove past till when I saw a sign post reading " SUN BIRD Mount Soche Hotel" and I saw the bwana branching off to this Building along the road. " so this is where we are going to sleep tonight....?" I asked myself.
Rooms were allocated and we went upstairs.
