A WHOLE week of debate had characterised debate at the watering hole. The new year had unfolded with new surprises and one was heard from the slantforehead man who was delighted at the pace rainfall.
He was sure that Kariba Dam would reveal once more its full potential and spare citizens in the hood those special tailored apologies from the power company of ‘system disturbances’.
The slantforehead man thought this was a vague way of explaining an electrical interruption where even someone would suspect foul play.
Why on earth were more than five provinces switched off just like that and all customers get is a ‘system disturbance’ explanation which boggles the mind?
Some people waded in the stagnant water or pools in some places like ducks while others out of frustration would be seen holding their shoes as they walked in the pale brown water slowly sinking into the ground or forming small furrows draining to lower ground.
The man with popping eyes was sure that Kariba Dam would fill up to lessen woes of the previous year soon.
Not all agreed with him as someone hollered  out from near the counter.:”Forget that your troubles will soon be over because at this rate, it will take the next two months for the dam to fill up!” he declared like some self-acclaimed weather expert.
One could see that he was only shattering hopes of many optimists who always vested their hopes into   the best in the hood.
Lazzo then began to think about patriotism and being a detractor or pessimist in one’s country.
He also knew very well that some jobs called for the determination of one’s loyalty to a country and some people failed them!
As he kept thinking about what the pessimist had just said, another bloke of the hood appeared whose only chief routine was a shot of whisky or brandy.
He greeted Lazzo and began to wonder why he was so rare in the vicinity.
Lazzo explained that he had discovered that hurrying home was not the best solution because the earlier one appeared the earlier the exit from the watering hole.
He remembered that once, this man who had the look of a conductor came to his aid when Lazzo was tightly sandwitched between two people at the bus door.
The aftermath was a disaster for him because when he sat down, he tried to make sure he had all the money.
Then he began the panicky search of his own pockets to feel presence of a banknote and there was none!
He was sure thought that he had a K5 prior to the stampede at the door.
By now, the bus was moving and was picking up speed and as usual, the conductor was calling out:”Front row please and all the rows please put your fares together!” announced the conductor.
Lazzo was figuring out what sort of reaction he would get from such a character if he disclosed that his money had been stolen on boarding the bus.
He looked about helplessly and was expecting a lambasting for failing to pay.
Lazzo was staring at the conductor who was now saying that one person had not paid and he was bracing for the worst.
This was because crews usually drove those in Lazzo’s position straight to a police post on the way.
Behind his seat was seated the same man now standing in front of him at the watering hole.
This man had bailed out Lazzo when he told the conductor that he knew him as a mate in  the hood then he passed  over the  K5 note  over the heads of subsequent commuters in front as this was the established system of ensuring fares reaching the  conductor.
“We can have the larger plastic container of wine for now,” he suggested to Lazzo as he gestured to the keeper of the watering hole.
He had come to Lazzo’s rescue once more and this was how tradition worked in the hood.
This was a communal society that by its nature had drifted from the dictates of capitalism embracing ‘togetheness’ and defined itself as such for decades.
The slantforehead man usually called this ‘the act of sharing poverty’ and was at the time censured for his elitist view.
As they imbibed, the philanthropist from the blue began a conversation about current trends in the hood.
He had come to notice that those who had plenty seemed to have acquired their wealth suspiciously.
Asked why he thought so, he narrated an episode in which one of his relatives created a question instead of giving him an answer.
He Ganizani (thinker) had approached a relative the way a country goes to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a reprieve.
When he arrived, he found the relative parked by the shop and business was brisk that day.
His relative was seated near his Landcruiser vehicle and surrounded by a cluster of admirers.
Lazzo was taken aside near the vehicle where he had a chat with his kith and kin.
The latter told Lazzo that he wanted him to be as rich as he was and stop asking for alms from relatives or any other person.
He also added that he had a proposition to make to Lazzo: Become rich and abide by the instructions that he would get from the leader of a cult of which he was a member.
Lazzo was given a week to respond and be decisive about stepping out into the ‘world of affluence’ which bypassed many because they were too dumb to interpret life.
By now, Lazzo had registered his wants and needs to the wealthy kinsman and it was clearly at dusk.
He had travelled to the outskirts of the city to have this chance of registering his plight to someone who would help.
As he sat there by the verandah of the shop, he began to worry about getting home and his relative had driven home without leaving any transport money for him.
(To be continued)