The snail and the bus station

by Valentine Marc Nkwame

Once upon a time, Arusha town used to have a bus station! Okay, at least, the bus station used to be located somewhere in the town centre.

One day, the World Bank (WB), decided that, the Arusha bus station, was simply an old, dirty, ugly and creepy outfit (which it was), that needed to be thoroughly renovated.

The World Bank, wasn’t only ready to fund the renovation of the main, central bus terminal, but also the refurbishment of the mini bus station, plus the re-construction of various town roads as well.

It was at this junction that the Arusha municipal council, stepped in and before we could say, "WB!" All hell broke loose!

The council pocketed the World Bank’s money and shifted the town bus stand to a remote place called, Kilombero Market area!

By the way! The World Bank had just funded the renovation of the Kilombero after the entire market went up in flames, a few years ago, under mysterious circumstances.

Anyway, both the Main and the Mini bus stations, were shifted there and bundled together with Arusha’s biggest market, Arusha’s biggest supermarket and about three big churches... God save the entire set up.

"It is only for three months!" Chortled the city fathers. "After which, the renovation of the two bus terminals would be ready."

Now, that was about One and a half years ago. Today, eighteen months later, neither the two bus stations nor the town roads are ready ... And neither is the council ready to explain why.

You see! To allegedly renovate the two bus stations, the council had employed the "services" of a certain construction company known as "Konoike!"

"Konoike" apparently, is a Japanese word, but somehow, it also suspiciously sounds like the Swahili word, "Konokono" which means, "Snail!"

As soon as they were given the contract, Konoike fellows set down to work .... Scooping up muddy waters from river Naura, which is located about half a kilometre from both bus stations!!!

Konoike played with the river waters for over two weeks before somebody wisely reminded them that they were actually being paid to construct the town’s bus terminals and not for attempting to fish using bulldozers ... Besides there is yet no proof, if river Naura contains any fish .... Okay, there could be some fishy businesses in there!

So, angrily, Konoike came up from the river and started bulldozing down, all the local shop verandas in town claiming to be constructing the roads.

Mind you, this is the same company which, four years ago, had made a pig ear of our town roads, then proceeded to choke all the drainage systems.

Now, it is being reported that, the guys who own that plot of land in Kilombero, on which the council had set up the "Temporary" bus terminals, have somehow run out of patience and therefore, want their land back.

According to the owners, the "Three months" time frame has already expired ... In fact, it expired about 15 months ago, so could they please have their land back?

Once more, Konoike was reminded that, the two bus terminals were supposed to have been completed 60 weeks ago, at the time when they (Konoike), were busy swimming in river Naura. As you read this, Konoike the snail will be digging up the central bus station in their attempt to renovate it in time .... That is before the "Three months" deadline, which was to expire 15 months ago, expires.

This single versed, Arushan song of Limmerick, sums it up;

nkwame@eudoramail.com

Last modified: August 29, 2003.
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