Talking Blues

Whose budget? Give us that money

 

Whose budget? Give us that money
W
e just emerged from what seemed to be the longest month of the decade.  It is inspiring to see how the long faces that dominated our streets, workplace, and homes have suddenly transformed into smiles and grins.   I have heard politicians trick us saying; 'the economy is improving, but we are not yet out of the woods', referring to the so-called global financial meltdown, recession, financial crisis. This reference is made whenever a politician seeks an excuse not to fill potholes, repair streetlights, or attend to leaking ceilings in schools.
I am glad that after weeks of walking to work eight kilometers everyday, I can now afford combi fare. What worries me is that I have now lost a few kilos through this forced exercise. Now I face the task of regaining those lost kilos. I really enjoy it when I hear stuff like 'wow, you are so fat, or fit'. 
It is even satisfying when I go home and get the same accolades, with an additional 'you must be living well in the city'.  It is even gratifying when my admirers state that I have a complexion.  Wow!
Gladly part of the commuting elite, I jumped into a combi this week, on a mission to purchase vaccines for Uncle Sporo's cattle back home, albeit after a serious argument on when he was going to settle the debt.  He assured me that he would pay back by the Easter holidays, but I'm not convinced he will honour this promise. The money I had to part ways with, made a serious dent in my budget, and I may be forced to skip on the monthly furniture installment. Eish, Uncle Sporo!
Well, I got into this combi and it was a full house, with everybody silently listening to this radio announcer talking about next week's budget speech. 
Her conversation with the silent passengers was immediately disrupted when one of them bluntly stated that there was no need for the so-called budget. 'Why can't they just give each citizen of Botswana P2,000 and forget about this budget speech. Why? They can't build and complete stadiums, they can't create jobs, they can't provide us with medicines in hospitals, and even worse, they can't teach our children'.  Then there was a moment of silence as though the man was talking to himself.
Then this guy dressed in what seemed to be a security uniform made a contribution that would leave all of us in a fit of laughter. 'Hm, rona babangwe re merubisi, le boroko ga re itse gore go tewa eng, ha o tsena ko lapeng bana ba a go atlhamela...magtag! Yo mongwe o feitse gone jaana, ga re mo ise ko go duelelwang teng, banna!
'This government is playing with money. I read in the Daily News this week that they will be in parliament sharing the money amongst themselves. These people are thieves and they give us blankets, how will a blanket fill my stomach jerrrr,' another passenger interjects.  He seems to know a lot about current affairs.  'I hear that they have poured millions of our money into the pockets of unknown Chinese con men in Palapye. First it was some power station, now some glass project'
Galase hela ya galase, batho ba neela MaChaena madi otlhe, rona re sa bereke, tota gatwe re reng?
The driver seems interested in the conversation and he tries to interrupt the guy who is unyielding. 'When you walk around this city, there are potholes everywhere, robots are not working, drains feed a bad smell to innocent people, and there is nobody to collect garbage.  Just what is going on?'
The driver finally gets his chance to add something: 'Last week I read in the Daily News that thieves are now targeting copper cables at the Francistown stadium, which has been under construction for the past five or so years. Guess what, the main contractor was Chinese. I think our politicians are getting a share from the Chinese'.
'Eeeee, ba ja le MaChaena, o raya gore batho ba ka tla go re senyetsa jaana go satwe sepe. Bagolo ba ja le MaChaena ke a go bolelela,' another passenger swears. She is adamant that there is no way any government would continue engaging the same people who are inflicting pain on its nation. 
The man who started the topic puts emphasise on his earlier suggestion: 'I think they should just give us the money and forget about these projects since they can't complete any of them.  Motlakasenyana wa teng hela ha phefo e hoka wa tima,  ha motho a gotlhola was tima, ha go nna marunyana hela wa tima. Ke bone ba itsang pula go na. gatwe ba bangwe ba ikagetse matamo ba kganna metsi, tota gatwe re ba ga mang, le metsi ba a re tima?
'What concerns me is the JC results, the kids have failed because they belong to the government. When you try to punish your child they immediately rush to Ditshwanelo, they rush to Childline, while others threaten to commit suicide. 
 They beat their teachers, they date their teachers and it's all a mess,' said another middle aged passenger.  'They even talk about sex, and kiss in combis, right in front of you, and should you say a word, they ask you is o tswa pelo....kids as young as 14, 15, the world is coming to an end. Rona re ne re itewa, re ya sekolong ka dibuka, dikgong, re koropa di-class'.
The announcer continues taking calls from her audience on what they expect from this year's budget. An old man calls and says the government should build him a swimming pool at the cattle post, since it is too hot.... akere ba ikagela di backyard airport, backyard dams, backyard clinics, he said.  The full house bursts into laughter again.

I have heard politicians trick us saying; 'the economy is improving, but we are not yet out of the woods', referring to the so-called global financial meltdown, recession, financial crisis. This reference is made whenever a politician seeks an excuse not to fill potholes, repair streetlights, or attend to leaking ceilings in schools.I am glad that after weeks of walking to work eight kilometers everyday, I can now afford combi fare. What worries me is that I have now lost a few kilos through this forced exercise. Now I face the task of regaining those lost kilos.

I really enjoy it when I hear stuff like 'wow, you are so fat, or fit'. It is even satisfying when I go home and get the same accolades, with an additional 'you must be living well in the city'.  It is even gratifying when my admirers state that I have a complexion.  Wow!Gladly part of the commuting elite, I jumped into a combi this week, on a mission to purchase vaccines for Uncle Sporo's cattle back home, albeit after a serious argument on when he was going to settle the debt.  He assured me that he would pay back by the Easter holidays, but I'm not convinced he will honour this promise. The money I had to part ways with, made a serious dent in my budget, and I may be forced to skip on the monthly furniture installment. Eish, Uncle Sporo!Well, I got into this combi and it was a full house, with everybody silently listening to this radio announcer talking about next week's budget speech. Her conversation with the silent passengers was immediately disrupted when one of them bluntly stated that there was no need for the so-called budget. 'Why can't they just give each citizen of Botswana P2,000 and forget about this budget speech. Why? They can't build and complete stadiums, they can't create jobs, they can't provide us with medicines in hospitals, and even worse, they can't teach our children'.  

Then there was a moment of silence as though the man was talking to himself.Then this guy dressed in what seemed to be a security uniform made a contribution that would leave all of us in a fit of laughter. 'Hm, rona babangwe re merubisi, le boroko ga re itse gore go tewa eng, ha o tsena ko lapeng bana ba a go atlhamela...magtag! Yo mongwe o feitse gone jaana, ga re mo ise ko go duelelwang teng, banna!'This government is playing with money. I read in the Daily News this week that they will be in parliament sharing the money amongst themselves. These people are thieves and they give us blankets, how will a blanket fill my stomach jerrrr,' another passenger interjects.  He seems to know a lot about current affairs.  'I hear that they have poured millions of our money into the pockets of unknown Chinese con men in Palapye. First it was some power station, now some glass project'Galase hela ya galase, batho ba neela MaChaena madi otlhe, rona re sa bereke, tota gatwe re reng?The driver seems interested in the conversation and he tries to interrupt the guy who is unyielding. 'When you walk around this city, there are potholes everywhere, robots are not working, drains feed a bad smell to innocent people, and there is nobody to collect garbage.  

Just what is going on?'The driver finally gets his chance to add something: 'Last week I read in the Daily News that thieves are now targeting copper cables at the Francistown stadium, which has been under construction for the past five or so years. Guess what, the main contractor was Chinese. I think our politicians are getting a share from the Chinese'.'Eeeee, ba ja le MaChaena, o raya gore batho ba ka tla go re senyetsa jaana go satwe sepe. Bagolo ba ja le MaChaena ke a go bolelela,' another passenger swears. She is adamant that there is no way any government would continue engaging the same people who are inflicting pain on its nation. The man who started the topic puts emphasise on his earlier suggestion: 'I think they should just give us the money and forget about these projects since they can't complete any of them.  Motlakasenyana wa teng hela ha phefo e hoka wa tima,  ha motho a gotlhola was tima, ha go nna marunyana hela wa tima. Ke bone ba itsang pula go na. gatwe ba bangwe ba ikagetse matamo ba kganna metsi, tota gatwe re ba ga mang, le metsi ba a re tima?'What concerns me is the JC results, the kids have failed because they belong to the government. When you try to punish your child they immediately rush to Ditshwanelo, they rush to Childline, while others threaten to commit suicide.  

They beat their teachers, they date their teachers and it's all a mess,' said another middle aged passenger.  'They even talk about sex, and kiss in combis, right in front of you, and should you say a word, they ask you is o tswa pelo....kids as young as 14, 15, the world is coming to an end. Rona re ne re itewa, re ya sekolong ka dibuka, dikgong, re koropa di-class'.The announcer continues taking calls from her audience on what they expect from this year's budget. An old man calls and says the government should build him a swimming pool at the cattle post, since it is too hot.... akere ba ikagela di backyard airport, backyard dams, backyard clinics, he said.  The full house bursts into laughter again.