God helps those who helps themselves!

The other day I went to the Main mall with my friend, and while looking out for a parking bay, one of the self-appointed marshals pointed him out to a parking space, and promised to watch the car.

When we returned, the marshal asked for money for a ‘cool drink’ and my friend offered him coins of about 10 bucks. The marshal asked for 20 bucks, which he said is the “rate.” Uhu. My friend dismissively told him he doesn’t have 20 bucks, and the marshal cheekily asked him how he could not have 20 bucks when he is driving an expensive car. My friend told him that life is tough for everyone, even “those who drive expensive cars.” But given his attitude and disposition, we could tell where this was going so, we fished around for extra coins and gave them to him before we drove off because wow, you really don’t want to get into a tiff with those chaps. Ha! Most drivers have had an unsavoury encounter with those marshal chaps and I know that some have a love-hate relationship with them. Look, most drivers can find themselves parking, thank you very much. However, those chaps are just trying to earn an extra back. It is unfortunate that the council has repeatedly disassociated with them and they have gained a reputation of being a nuisance, but they just watch over the cars parked there and sometimes wash them. In return, they want a little “something.” They are just trying to make money to feed themselves. They could have chosen a life of crime but they chose to hustle. It’s just that some of them drink and smoke too much, and are rude to motorists. But the smart ones are polite and understanding, and also use the money wisely. The only problem is that they tend to demand any amount they want instead of appreciating what they are offered. But tipping them is like giving those guys who help you with groceries at the shops or workers at the till, salon or waiters in a restaurant, a tip for good service. It’s just a small ‘thank you’ gesture. Mind you, many of them struggle to make ends meet. So, if you have extra change, just give it to them. Ga se go ba senya, ke go ba thusa hela ka mowa wa setho. The economic climate is unfavourable and most people try small things to make ends meet because there is no Samaritan to save them; everyone has to make a plan.

I recall around the early 2000s, there was a man who would walk around the Gaborone bus rank/station bridge dressed in a long black coat. Apparently, beneath the coat was his birthday suit and for two bucks, you could catch a glimpse of his nether region. He walked around shouting: “Phatsi, phatsi… tla o bone th**a e phatsimang… two pula, two pula!” Many people would flock around him to get a glimpse of his “shiny jewels.” After taking the money, he would slowly make as if to open the coat and just as quickly close it again and then exclaim: “Fa o bonya o jelwe!” Some people insisted that he had a piglet missing upstairs but maybe he was just “enterprising.” Khi! Instead of pickpocketing people, he devised a strategy to get them to give him money because he knows gore batho ba bangwe ba rata go bonela ba bangwe… So, that was his unconventional idea. Tota hela sometimes you have to be creative and think outside the box because God helps those who help themselves!