Kgaphamadi; where the streets tell

RUSSO LUMA | Friday April 23, 2010 00:00

The streets themselves have a story to tell. Though tarred, they do not have road markings; the reflective yellow line that should show pedestrians where the sidewalk is and the one that divides the lanes simply does not exist.

Pedestrians have to estimate the safest distance beside the road whenever there is an oncoming automobile.Motorists have to do the same whenever they drive in opposite directions to avoid head-on collisions.

Stagnant water and litter can be seen in trenches beside some of the streets. The haphazardly built and creviced mud house walls, in this and that plot look more desolate now. Here and there some walls are in apparent need of re-painting for the paintwork has long peeled off. The fencing itself in these plots is cheaply made. These are the hallmarks of a difficult lifestyle. In the better houses, though few, you will see a wall fence.

According to 81-year-old Mandaba Alban Mhlanga, originally from Mozambique, the location came into existence in 1958. 

This was after Tati Company moved them from Area W reportedly to re-plan the allocation of plots in the area. The company promised to build a swimming pool for the residents if they agreed to relocate to what is now Kgaphamadi. The swimming pool was never built. 

Historically, locations in Francistown were created along racial lines.

All blacks had to settle on the western side of the railway line while the whites settled in the eastern side of the railway line. That is why Kgaphamadi, Bluetown, Riverside, Aerodrome and Monarch are on the western side of the city. The whites built a beer hall in this area where Kaffir beer was sold. The revenue made from the sale of this beer is reported to have been used in community service delivery.

Life for some of the Kgaphamadi dwellers is not easy. Families struggle to put food on the table and for the elderly, it is even worse.

'I'm starving here. I used to receive destitute food hand outs, but when my orphaned grand children started receiving food hand outs too that was stopped. I was told that I could not double food hand outs, so I should eat what was given to my grand children,' says Luma Nfakosi who is permanently resident in Francistown, but was born in Senete.

Now an old age pensioner, she says that the little pension she gets pays for utilities and the service levy. She is even longing for the days during the Mogae presidency. Some elders believe that their lives would improve if the pension were increased. 'It would be better if they can increase the pension and exempt us from paying utilities,' Mandaba Mhlanga said. 'Only if the government can help us electrify our home,' his wife added.

Maria Phuthego, who sadly lost two of her children and now has to care for the orphaned children, also relates how difficult life is. 'I've some houses that I rent out.

That is how I get money for food and pay for water bills and service levy, but that is never enough and I've resorted to selling cigarettes.'  While she was still on that subject, a girl who looked to be about four or five years of age comes in with a P2 coin to buy a Kingsgate cigarette.

'Kingscase,' That is how she pronounced it. She tells us that she buys it for her mum. I watch thinking, she is too young to be sent to buy cigarettes. If she  had to start smoking even at that age, who is to blame? 

The little girl looks so excited. While still waiting for change, she frolics about holding the cigarette between her two figures!   Getting back on the street again, boards, not billboards anyway, advertising Chibuku beer are hanging at some compound gates. Men and women in a circular sitting arrangement quaff and circulate the beer.

Already looking bleary-eyed, the drinkers' voices sound husky and weary.

Getting to another street corner, music is blurting out from a big speaker and an able-bodied man seems to dissolve in the rhythm as he dances. He is not the only one showcasing his dancing skills anyway. The Afro-pop track has also attracted two young boys.

They are also dancing as their moves dovetail with the rhythm. It is a pleasant sight to watch, but there are Chibuku cartoons lying about. The question is: Do they never kill off the dregs? This is a drinking spot and these boys would grow up here. May be that is the only way for parents to make money for a living. But then the kids see this sight every morning when they wake up and are likely to follow suit.

The environment that a child grows up in most of the time influences their behavior. Some dwellers are frustrated by the perverted behaviour from inebriated individuals who seem to have been taken prisoner by beer. The owners of the drinking spots are a problem as well because of the loud music played. The parental grip has loosened in some families such that children often play truant from school.

'Sometimes there is irritating loud music at drinking spots in this location, especially over the weekend. Some drunks can just meet you along the street and insult you over nothing. The other worrying thing here is the school drop-outs. Some girls drop out due to pregnancy, while others-particularly those still in junior schools-just leave school. And it can be surprising to see parents sitting with these children during school time seemingly unconcerned,' said 23-year-old, Gaone Utukile.

The story about the difficult life, alcohol abuse, perverted behaviour, wayward children and just generally poor living conditions is common in many other locations besides Francistown. When you to talk to people that is when you realise that things have to change if the country is to develop.