My lLife in Malawi in Oct 2013 -Jan 2014

byVMthimunye

3.1K followers

7 years ago

THE JOURNEY

I went to Malawi for the first time with a Malawian friend using Public transport. Boy I was exposed to life at another level. Our journey was broken in bits an pieces,from one mode of transport to another.To me ,that was a an enjoyable adventure of my life.

From Johannesburg South Africa to Harare in Zimbabwe, was tourist bus. I tell you that bus was fairly good condition bus. Due to traffic police corruption, we could not have smooth traveling at all. If its not one thing ,it was the other. The solution was bribery all the way,even in Zimbabwe, while the bus was from Zimbabwe.

From Harare to Mzabiquean border ,were on those dramatic taxi ,which never got a limit on Loading. We crossed the borders from Minibuses,Coasters and more buses until we reached Malawi after 3days.

THE TRANSPORTATION LAWS IN MALAWI

Malawi is a truely Free Country. There I saw some Totally different life style Altogether. At Some point we traveled on the back of a Truch, with no canopy,as passengers. The luggage and goods that were Loader by different passengers, were huge 150kg bags of smelly Dried fish, Raw fish that were freshly caught from the lake.

When I thought that was enough, two guys stopped the truck being empty handed. They requested the driver to negotiate the drive through informal disorganized settlement. They came to a kraal of goats sellers and loaded 5 x tightened goats,which were sceeming all the way for 75km.Some were loading bags of maize,and some were beans and peanuts.Mangoes trees were all over along the public Road,you just pick them for free.

The road for truck and cars came to an end. We had to Catch the bicycle Taxis. For the first time in my life ,I rode a bicycle as a taxi. I was warbling with my luggage at the back seat of a Bicycle. The strangest part,when we got up hill. The rider could not afford to ride Up hill, with my wait and luggage. I had to get down and walk carrying bags up hill, for a remarkable distance,until we reached the flat part the road or down hill.

I asked the driver if he was going to give me discount for the distance, which I walked.He said no, because its my mistake that I'm a heavy weight. I rested my case.

MALAWIAN CULTURE AND SECURITY

Generally Malawi is a sweet place to be. I liked the respect that the nation have among themselves and the Tourists. Chambo is my favourite fish dish. Malawian don't commonly raise Dogs as pets. I ask them why? They said,it is waistful to raise an animal that you cannot slaughter. Most of them are Muslims in religion, to them dogs and pork are not clean animals to pet.

I don't remember seing a person smoking in public, man or women alike. I never heard people having a heated argument in Public ranks,shops or streets. They were like born of the same family ,with same Values across the State.

Given a Change I can migrate to Malawi and seek for citizenship there.Money is being openly carried in public without Fear of being Robbed! That sealed my Love for the freedom in Malawi. Traffic Police never troubled anybody for overloading or lack of permits or anything. I personally ENVY the Freedom of Malawi.

Cheers folks

Vusi