•A Presidential motorcade driver talks to the two brothers, Joseph and Brian Ngoma

By CHRISTINE MWAABA –
The event is characterised by pomp and splendour as colourful high-profile mounted security Police escorts on bikes weave their way through the road with blasting sirens.
This is what characterises official events each time the Republican president of Zambia attends national functions like the Labour Day, African Freedom Day, Independence Day or any other official event that call for such security escort.
Regardless of what some perceive as a risky activity to approach the presidential motorcade for two youngsters, Brian and Joseph Ngoma from Misisi Township, have for three years witnessed such a spectacle 35 times!
The two have gazed at the presidential motorcade scores of times making the activity a hobby.
While everyone enjoys the eye-catching convoy along the streets watching it as it passes traffic lights without stopping with other vehicles standing still to pave way for the presidential motorcade, for the two brothers this has become quite an interesting scene to watch several times.
Joseph, 13 and his brother Brian 10, place themselves at a distance to avoid attracting security personnel that are mostly stationed around the motorcade.
The two brothers have been doing this routine activity from the time of the late Micheal Chilufya Sata when the duo would walk to the Freedom statue just to have a glimpse of the presidential motorcade.
In addition, distance has discouraged the brothers to walk to any place were the president is scheduled to be knowing that they will be rewarded with seeing the presidential motorcade.
However, after seeing that the brothers had spent so much time beside the presidential motorcade without making any movement, it prompted this author to ask the two what their business was at the event-this year’s Labour Day celebration.
At such event most people are interested in listening to the speeches from the several leaders including the president’s speech and possibly entertainment and not pay attention to other things for instance the presidential motorcade.
Joseph says they sit closer to the presidential motorcade before the president’s arrival and wait till he leaves.
He says “we make sure we see the presidential motorcade when it comes and goes because that’s the most interesting part than when it is stationed”.
The two said seeing the motorcade is one way that makes them work hard at school since their parents always tell them that if they work hard at school and pass their exams they might stand a chance to drive a president one day.
Joseph, who is the older of the two narrated that he likes to watch the president’s motorcade for the reason that his dream of becoming a police officer and perhaps driving the president will one day come true.
We hope his dream, like the predictions of dreams by his Biblical namesake will come true.
Brian says he developed the interest after the brother took him along to watch the presidential motorcade early in 2013.
“Because there was no one to remain with my brother home, this is why I had to carry him all the way to Freedom statue so that he would not inconvenience my parents if he remained home”. Joseph says
To his surprise Joseph did not anticipate that Brian would develop the same interest that he had of watching the presidential motorcade.
“We started this in 2013 when President Sata was still president and now that it is Mr Lungu we have continued to watch the president’s motorcade, we have watched it more than 35 times”, Joseph said.
The two brothers say they stare at the officers and keep on wondering if for instance, the presidents wears a seat belt when being driven in a presidential motorcade considering the speed at which they move.
Presidential motorcades are definitely a sight to behold because they are rarely showcased and mostly it is done during national events or during an inauguration.
This is why Joseph and Brian had to walk from Misisi Township to Heroes’ stadium for the recent presidential inauguration for the current president of Zambia to take a look at his motorcade.
Joseph says the fact that the most interesting time to see the presidential motorcade is at the beginning and end of a state ride, the brother’s ensure that they are on sight early so that they do not miss it.
This entails that they have to be on site before hand and check at which point or direction the motorcade will pass.
“We make sure that we check where a lot of Police officers are stationed because that is where the motorcade will pass”, Joseph says.
Bearing in mind that the exact motorcade route is usually blocked way before the motorcade comes and seeing which roads get closed gives them an idea of where the motorcade will pass through.
Furthermore the motorcade involves a number of vehicles that are tasked to accompany the president which the brothers find interesting to watch as well.
In addition to the car that the president is driven in, the motorcade may carry his spouse, members of the press, security, state House officials, and VIP guests.
The motorcade may contain several other vehicles, police personnel, the medical team and traffic officers who are on motorcycles.
A police presence precedes the beginning of the presidential motorcade which allows cars and motorcycles to drive ahead to clear the way and block traffic.
On the other hand, not even with all these security personnel that are part of the motorcade can make Joseph and Brian not to pursue their interest of taking a glimpse at the presidential motorcade.
They will not stop at anything but ensure that their dream of seeing such a spectacle is attained.