Decision & Selection of Destiny

Written By: Joshua Chisa Mbele


I drive home very often. Passing through Zimbabwe. Mozambique. Along the way I meet a number of fellow Malawians stuck on the road. Car breakdowns. Accidents. Sometimes, you get fatalities. I know many that perished enroute home. They never made it back home. Today, I’m interested in those who came to South Africa, bought a car and picked it up from Beit Bridge. Off they went. I'm in interested in how they make decisions to choose a particular car from a sea of cars parked in a yard under  the scorching African sun. Second-hand cars from Overseas.

Well, I observe. It normally goes like this..

Upon seeing the cars from afar, usually from the roadside. They get closer. Peep through the window to see the interior.., They read documentation. Make. Engine Capacity. Model. Year of Make. Country of Origin. Km on the clock. They go around the car several times as they look at it from various positions. They ask if the agent can open the doors. They get in, feel the sterling wheel. shake the gear lever, press the pedals. Look around as they appreciate the cleanliness of the interior.

They ask if they can start the engine. It gets started. They rev the engine. With wrinkles on the faces and ears turned to the sound of the engine, the nod and say the car is fresh. New. Ikanali ya nthete....! They ask if they can see the engine. The bonnet gets opened. They look for oil leaks. Nothing.

How much? They ask. The agent says. US$6500.00. They say but I only have US$6000. The agent replies. No Sorry. I can give you this other car. The best I can do on this one is US$6400. They say...Pali bwino. Tiyeni timpatse.

The agent goes on to say.., It seems you know how to choose cars, this is the best buy. You are a very careful buyer. They smile and say.., we buy very often. We have learnt how to carefully select.

Transaction gets done, Paper work completed. Clearance Done. They cross the border. Driving carefully. They wish they entered Mwanza few hours later. The mind is already home. They drive on. Along the way, in the middle of nowhere the car breaks down. Gasket blown, water pump gone or some strange noise from the engine. Clutch Plate finished….etc..

Now they look for a rescue plan. Mechanic and Spare parts. Normally they will have to go to Harare or return all the way back to South Africa leaving the corpses of the car on the road. One of them sleeping in the car, waiting. Hungry. Dry lips. Thirsty. 

Recovering from a breakdown situation in a foreign territory is a nightmare. It is a definite financial ruin. Any assistance comes at a hefty price. Everybody is out there like a vulture to feed on you. They know you have some change left. They need it all. They know you are stranded and desperate.

Let’s stop here.