The law doesn�t apply to non-politicians

Bame Piet | Thursday April 10, 2014 10:53

He argues that he almost gave up on ploughing this year after learning from his neighbour’s television news that there was going to be below-normal rain. It was in the first week of November, he claims, when the television warned that there were not going to be enough rains. He still holds a grudge against his neighbour. He accuses the neighbour of trying to discourage him by using a lying TV set on him.

Uncle Sporo offered me maize cobs and watermelons for my trip back to the city. He also uttered a few words that still haunt me – “remember that I must get that diff before Shonkololo sells it to another customer”.

It was even more refreshing to go home after three months of a life in the city, where your neighbour doesn’t feel obliged to greet you. It was a tough three months in that I spent the first one in a one-sided love affair with Tastic rice and soup. A church visit during the first month was also eye-opening, I had some amount of grass, blessings from my pastor, and of course started falling in love with a few scriptures in the holy book.

After the weekend at home, I now find myself embarking on a special assignment to find the contacts for the Mmamelaomogolo who is also a rocket launcher.  Uncle Sporo has declared his interests in meeting with the Mmamelaomogolo. He is confident that he can make a better partner.

According to the information I got from ‘news anchors’ from home, the ‘lawyer’ who went to beat up her cheating husband was also armed with a dangerous weapon, which she almost used during the brick-throwing assault.  According to one eye-witness, who even took us to her house to prove that indeed she is keeping one of the bricks as a souvenir, the lawyer was armed and dangerous. I saw her, she was wearing a balaclava and dark sunglasses in the night. She wore the Taliban attire”.

My journey back to the city was a pleasant one.  Despite his dirty attire, the bus conductor was kind enough not to throw me through the window of the moving bus. My money was not enough for the whole trip.  To this day, I still cannot understand how I survived this journey with just half of the full bus fare. Upon counting my money, the conductor looked at me and proceeded as if everything was okay. I explained my situation and he shook his head in disbelief. Perhaps I should thank the poor guy who was suffering from a runny stomach who had to stop the bus every 20 kilometers to run into the bush to offload. The conductor had run out of patience and thought that my case was a temptation on his belief in God. Infact, upon my whispering to him, he silently said “mo ke meleko mo ke go bonang gompieno. Badimo baa nteka”. 

I waited for his final decision and was relieved to see myself finally disembark in the city in one piece. I tried to thank him but he was not interested in holding any conversation with me. The distance between the city bus rank and my home is just under eight kilometres, but I took just 15 minutes. Along the way I felt so unsafe, fearing that the bus conductor was following me to finish me off.

The following day I bumped into a group of combi drivers who were enjoying their breakfast of magwinya and serobe. Being so broke, the meal looked more appetising than ever before.  Among the drivers was a fat dark-skinned guy wearing a T-shirt covering his body half way, exposing his big stomach. He was wearing Bermuda shorts, and flip flops. He laughed out loud at the same time busy fighting to free something from his teeth.  “Yeah, they are doing as they please, they break the very law that created this country. But when a poor man steals P50 he is sent to jail for more than five years. They just do as they please”.

Another driver said: “Can you tell me, how you can appoint four ministers to one ministry, and expect people to keep quiet. The whole saga reflects how these people undermine our intelligence as people of this country. Just a year ago, soldiers killed a person and they were left to go free; MaDomkraga are complaining about the process that made them lose the elections. When are they going to obey the laws these people?” he asks.

Another one interjects, “I am a true Domi supporter, but what I see is that Batswana seem to care less when leaders break the same laws they established. They are only interested in getting blankets, soup and other freebies”

Which laws are you talking about, the argument intensifies, perhaps the laws do not apply to non-politicians.  Remember how many times they have boasted that they are non-politicians?” Asks another. “So we shouldn’t be surprised when they break laws. In their minds, laws do not apply to them, they are mapolotiki”.

The fat guy asks: “You mean that they cannot be sued?” 

“Yeah, you cannot sue them, they are protected by the same Constitution that they are violating,” comes the reply.

I leave the place happy that atleast I learned a new thing, “Do not allow any constitutional review if it (the constitution) allows you to do as you please”.

Now I’m looking for the number.