The brown envelope

From Ndirande malabada to Ndirande matope, Chirimba Ntoso, Chilomoni nthukwa to Chilomoni Fargo, Namiwawa, Nyambadwe, Sunnyside, Mudi, Mpingwe hiets, Manja, Manje, Kanjeza forest, Bangwe mvula to Bangwe banana, BCA, Chigumula, Machinjiri khama, Areas 5, 10, 12, I could go on and on, but these are just a handful of areas I've gone to because of COVID-19. This is how this disease hasn't spared a group of people.

I've walked in probably the poorest people's slums and among the richest people's mansions in Blantyre. Slums I wouldn't dare wear my full protective gear because I would put my life at even more risk to something like 'mob justice' than just wearing a mask, simply because the combination of my people's perception plus illiteracy levels on COVID-19 among other things, is still very alarming, probably it's time for that ministry of civic education or whatever it's called, to take its wheel, I'm 100% ready to volunteer with you.

"Tomorrow you are going to collect samples from some high profile figure at 9 am, so be punctual"

From nowhere came that order from my boss

Oh ok, who is that person? I asked curiously

"You will know him when you are there, just be ready"

I can assure you I thought of all high profile figures I knew, but there was simply no clue who it could be. That tomorrow fast arrived, as I was told I quickly got ready, by 08.55 am I was already where I was told to be waiting. Anyway several minutes later I was told to go on the car park, like a soldier going to war with all his weaponry perfectly packed, that's how I feel whenever I'm going out to collect samples, with my well washed white gum boots on, my N95 FFP2 mask worn, my ID card dangling on my neck, and the rest of the guns inside my bio hazard carrier bags.

Boom, one latest ranger rover was there waiting for me. I was told to get inside. The driver was nice, he greeted me, from the things he did I was convinced he really drives a high profile figure. As soon as we started off, he made a phone call, "we just started off, we will be there shortly". Believe you me with all the potholes around our roads, in this car I almost felt none of their impact, that's how comfortable this car was, and I must confess it was my first time riding in such a machine. We drove roughly maybe about 10 to 15 minutes, I still was 100% blank of where we were heading to.

We were there, my eyes were still in denial on how on earth specifically in a country like ours someone could afford such a mansion, it was one dazzling mansion I only see in movies, the tiles were so shiny that I could see my face on them, the walls were so smooth like a baby's skin, a beautiful landscape and swimming pool was there reflecting the rays of mother sun. Body guards in suits were all over. As I helped myself outside the machine, everyone looked at me as a 'saviour' arriving.

In no time I was welcome by probably the loudest woman I've met in 2020.

"You are already here? Welcome to our home, feel free, follow me please"

She was talking too much, I was there smiling fakely, she guided us in some room, she claimed they don't use, so she assumes it's 'clean'. I concurred with her reasoning but I wouldn't take chances, first things first I pulled out my disinfectants and disinfected all the tables I was gonna use, placed my things there and donned my full PPE. I was still in kinda a state of shock, I wasn't believing much of the things I only see in Hollywood movies, being seeing in reality.

In the deepest voice I've heard this year, from my back came the husband. "Welcome to our home" he said. This was the moment I got speechless for several seconds, I would hardly believe who was in front of me. Anyway as a professional I still tried hard to pretend all was well, but deep down my heart was both in excitement as well as shock. Anyway I proceeded asking his name even though I already knew even his middle name, you know medical norms. Anyway we exchanged a few words I collected the samples. One other thing that bothered me a little was, I requested his contact details (not for my personal use) rather for the whole process. Did I just see a Samsung J2 phone from him?

Anyway, off he went then our loud lady came again, and asked "How much do you charge per test?"

Even if I said a million MK, I'm sure she would have paid lo. But anyway I told her they are for free, public resources we don't charge for tests. She never believed it, in her state of disbelief she was like "Are you serious? Really you charge nothing?". We answered yes ma'am. "Ok I will see what to do" she said.

We were given a brown envelope with some considerable weight, we were told it's our lunch allowance. I plan to open it once this pandemic is over. I don't want any distractions lol.