Liberation

On the way home on Friday afternoon who should I see but Hardwick walking along the side of the road! He was all dressed in a suit and tie, his slightly wonky glasses perched on his nose, brolly in his hand – not looking any worse for his time ‘inside’!

We had a long involved conversation about what had happened, he was a bit shady on the details but adamant he hadn’t been directly responsible, just wrong place, wrong time it seems. He was taken away by the police and because unable to prove anything was slung in prison to have a think about things. He was let out after 3 days once the charges were dropped but he got no food, no nothing during that time – the whole thing seems to be a horrid display of power and intimidation but despite losing his job he is a happy man because at least he is free.

He said he’d come back because he wanted to explain things and tell me where he’d hidden my spade (under his bed!) but the real reason, obviously, was that he needed money. I’d already written the letter to his family, just not sent it yet, telling them to get in touch so I could help out. I’m expecting to be his (their) only source of income as the likelihood of him getting more work, especially at this time of year, is not good and he is 65 years old for heaven’s sake, he should be sitting outside his house watching the world go by.

Its all so unfair and even if the poor guy was involved in the whole thing I can totally understand the reasons why, life here is so hard for some people and so easy for others and the gap between the two is widening all the time. Is the development of a rich middle class really what Malawi needs? I think probably not, but its happening anyway and the social conscience that should come with new wealth that makes those who have it see that they can help those who don’t obviously isn’t part of the deal. Malawi is not ready for that kind of concept, liberation from that cultural constraint is going to take a long, long time, until then, for the most part, saving this country will still be very much be down to NGOs and aid money – take, take not give, give!