Magreth Nunuhe
AWEH, aweh! It’s a brand new year and aren’t we all just excited about what 2015 might have in store for us? This year has a lot of milestones to look forward to. We will celebrate our 25th year of independence; we will have a new Cabinet and a new President.
On the international front, we will migrate from analogue to digital television, which means that there won’t be any more dotitjies on your television set whether it rains or your kaya is in a river. It’s also the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) deadline for some very important achievements that have been set, such as eradicating extreme poverty, halting the spread of HIV/AIDS, providing universal primary education and upholding gender equality.
Some people will be changing careers for the better; others will be graduating from college; some got tenders and are dreaming about that big farm and the Range Rover; others are going to the altar to swear before all and sundry that they have exchanged their playing cards for a suffering – a wedding ring I mean.
Now that I have the very important things out of the way, what’s uuuup? How are things after a very fun-filled holiday with family and friends? I know for some of you things are bleak after a holiday of endless chopo-life, running to the butchery and Uukwamatsi at the Single Quarters three times a day to get those ‘just what the doctor ordered’ goodies. It was kamastig just “uria ije, unua ije” (what do you drink, what do you eat). The season of swiping has come to an end and huuuu the bank charges are astronomical and I can see some people counting sixpence under the trees or selling the empty bokkols through the back-door. What happened to “you see me, you see money”?
Etche! We will never learn. But you will never hear someone from the kasie has starved to death or has kama shot themselves in the head because they are broke. It’s ke-Januworry fever and word is on the street that Tant Mina’s neighbour has hit a jackpot at the last cattle auction at oresevate – ongava jaranda like they say. You will see Tant Mina sitting under the tree, like she is expecting someone, but only to watch the arrival of her neighbour so that she can send the “list of needs” that she so carefully crafted.
“Ousie Christofine, you know I don’t normally do this, but I was expecting a cheque from Finance for N$2 000 but it hasn’t arrived yet. Can you please send some left-over butter and polony, it’s for the school bread. And if you also can in the name of God, add a little bit of cheese and tomatoes and three eggs, asseblief my lovely Christie. I have sent Steven with a 20-litre jug for water, because ours has been closed since last month. Something is wrong at that municipality sowaar.
Thank you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Pssst…I almost forgot, they also decided to switch off our electricity. A matchbox and just one candle will be fine for now. I promise to pay you back when the cheque comes.”
Ats, some of us might just have to peep through half-closed curtains this month when there is a knock-knock on the door, because this ke-Januworry is no joke. Sorry Ngo!