Jude in Africa
11th Oct 2006Fast Post 7.00 am was the stated time for the bus to depart!!! Needless to say … “although the mail must go through” delays are inevitable in Zambia so it was probably almost an hour later before we set off. The loading of luggage was interesting to say the least – the ‘Post’ definitely has priority and the space usually reserved for passenger luggage in the back, was taken up with large post bags. Passengers, eager to get a good place for their luggage and themselves crowded around the door. After a long wait the guy selling tickets for extra luggage, began to systematically call passengers aboard according to ticket numbers. However once inside the seats were numberless so that brought it’s own challenge and confusion. Almost last on to get on the bus were an elderly grandma and three young children … (probably orphans heading back with her to the village). There was no seat for gran or the children so she along with other passengers who were ‘chancing’ a ride without a pre-booking a ticket, sat on the luggage that crowded the aisles. One of the grand daughters, her braided hair complete with colourful beads, sat on gran’s handbag for the duration of the trip right by my seat. It’s a long way to Samfya from Ndola a good 8 hours+ that day. There were many stops along the way which made the trip longer. In between the stops the bus flew along, so much so that one could almost imagine that it had a “Fast Post” sticker plonked on front!!! Apparently even in Zambia the mail must get through!!!
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