ACCUSED - Episode 1: “The Infamous Call”

I had just gone into the hallway to make myself a cup of hot chocolate. Since I wanted to have more than one cup I decided that I would gulp the first one while standing next to the Nescafe self service coffee machine. “Whoever invented this machine deserves a medal”; I embarrassingly said it to a work mate, who was also getting ready to get her cup of cappuccino. We laughed it off but went away wondering if my colleague was not laughing at the fact that I was being a true African that feeds by the buffet dishes.

Wednesday was my busiest day of the week and I was bracing for the pressure that would come towards the end of the day which would usually see me slaving throughout the night working on reports. I had not gone through half my cup of hot chocolate when my mobile phone rang. After looking for it in all my pocket I hurriedly checked in my drawers. I always give comments to people who take time to answer then phone like "Were you waiting for your phone to heat up". I therefore had to show good etiquette by answering within the first three rings. I struggled to find it under the heap of newspapers that I had not even started reading.

“Who is this calling from a Harare landline?”, I said, looking puzzled. I picked the call and there was a guy who sounded young yet very streetwise. “Is that Rabison Shumba?” he asked after clearing his throat. “Yes it is, how may I help you sir?”. I wanted this conversation to end quickly because I had a cup of hot chocolate which was becoming somewhat lukewarm. It was a young journalist from the Herald newspaper. He was not out review my book, neither was he out to interview me on the work I am known for such as youth mentorship, public speaking among others. He had a bombshell to drop in my ear. “Mudhara, did you hear a radio interview ya Thilda Moyo last Sunday? Pakaipa boss, this is very bad, I don't know how to put it”. he asked almost hesitantly. “My brother, get to the point, I hardly listen to local radio let alone the station you are talking about, spit it out, what is happening?”.

I was getting annoyed about someone intruding into my space talking about a subject not even close to my interest. “Pane nyaya mudhara, the issue involves you. There is a big issue issue mudhara, can we meet and talk? I can't say this issue on the phone. Kune vavengi out there. It is sensitive mudhara”. Now my adrenaline was pumping and my level of annoyance shot to the high heavens. "Pane anoda kuti mupinde mujere boss, and for this matter munopinda 15 years chaidzo", he continued with his parables and suspenses. I raised my voice while walking to my door to close it because I figured we were up for some early morning verbal bouts with this stranger. “Listen here, I am a busy guy, I do not enjoy having my time wasted, why don’t you take your jokes to comedians, they can make good use of your content. This is absolute nonsense. If you will excuse me, I have no time for time wasters”, I almost threw my phone down.

The gentleman persisted “wait, wait mudhara, I am here to help you on the issue in question, someone wants to tarnish your name but I need to know the details from you” he mumbled. My voice pitch increased as if I was some opera singer whose microphone had suddenly failed but could not be stopped by it. “Ini ndati number one, I do not know you from a bar of soap, two, I don’t listen to the radio station you are mentioning and three, I am busy and lastly do not waste my time telling me nonsense that won’t add a dollar to my pocket”. I could not sit still. My hot chocolate was now cold. I had to go and empty my cup.

My workmate, who obviously heard me shouting for the first time since we worked together boldly asked out of sheer concern, “Zvaita sei nhai Rabison, ndianiko akubhowa kuseni kwakadai?”. I calmed down and explained to her about this "good for nothing journalist" out to taint my otherwise productive day. "Wadini kumuona Rabison, maybe pane nyaya zveshuwa. Give him benefit of doubt shamwari" she said in her soft voice which seemed very disturbed. "Do you know something about this?" I asked her almost dropping myself on the couch in her office. I was convinced that there was nothing that I had done wrong to anyone to warrant such attention. I went back to my office of course holding another cup of hot chocolate hoping to not experience further disturbance this time around…… In search of Justice.