I live in a country that has gained fame for its fun loving people. We like to have fun day, night, during an eclipse, whenever. We are free to speak, eat, sleep, drink whatever we like whenever we want, wherever we want. We are aware life wont last forever and try to make the best of it before that day comes.
We have lived this way since time immemorial and we had ensured it got even better by passing a new constitution (Personally i voted against it...but that a story for another day.) This newly passed supreme law of the land was supposed to ensure that the government is as far away from our personal lives as much as possible, well excluding our pockets. It happens that we are the most taxed people on planet earth.
Anyway no sooner had we passed this new set of laws than a dimwit, named John (no relation to the baptist) Mututho engineered a scheme to deny us the right to consume one of our favorite drinks, alcohol. Mututho (wont refer to him as Mr here) is a self confessed teetotaler, is barely educated and there is no record of what he was doing with himself before he was voted into parliament.
Ok enough with the nonsense and onto my point. I had a busy day at work today. I have this job where i wear many hats and today was one of those days where i was required to wear all hats, in close succession. At 5pm i had to rush to class; my work mates call it 13th floor. It so happens that the 13th floor of our office building is occupied by the Department of Adult Education. Anyway... I left class at 8pm and headed for home. Im tired and need abit of unwinding. Being a Thursday, the most logical thing is to pick up a 1/4bottle of Viceroy Brandy and head home where i can unwind slowly after taking a nice warm shower. After all Mubarak is expected to step down tonight.
My first stop is Nakumatt Supermarket, the parking lot is full, the traffic queue for shoppers swelling by the minute. I motivate a sleepy watchman to let me park in the private residents parking nearby and dash into the supermarket. I quickly pick a tray and head straight for the alcohol counter. I am greeted by two levels of trolleys that effectively block access to alcohol area. I decide not to try anything uncool(a little Johnie Walker bottle lay vulnerably on an accessible shelf) and head out of the supermarket. The sleepy watchman makes his 20/- as i head to the next stop, a convenience store at a Petrol Station. I find it closed. Im not the giving up type so i turn towards town to the other petrol station shop. i find it open but a big sign greets me announcing that the shop enforced the new anti alcohol law to the latter. I plead with the lady attendant to sell to me just one bottle to which she replied "hata ukijaribu siwezi (however much you try i wont sell)"
I oblige and head home, a little irritated now. I spot a certain 4 star restaurant on my way home and decide to try it out. i was willing to spend upto 150% more than usual for a bottle of beer. i was informed by the head waiter that they closed the bar and turned it into a conference room because of the same Mututho law described above.
A dusty, rusty alcohol shop at the edge of my estate was to be my savior in the end. As i prepare to go to bed tonight i reflect on how far back our country has stepped. In a democracy, the responsibility of oversight over one's drinking schedule cannot be dictated by the state.
