Deep in the bush was our camp. A makeshift house made out of a military tent, furnished with camp beds with water flowing beneath following a heavy downpour, gave us a shelter that kept our eyes from glancing at the beautiful night stars of a forestry bush.
He was an old-almost retiring high ranking Paramilitary. Like wine getting better with age, he had grown some admirable tactics and had a lot of wisdom wrapped in his service stories. His machine gun and knife on the side, his eyes popped up, his feet well stamped to the ground, ready to take defense should the bandits, commonly the Nyamulenge on the loose, attempt to attack.
We had just smashed our meal that evening and chipped into a series of conversations. "There was confusion during the construction of the Kariba Dam." He recalled. About 57,000 people were set to be relocated. He went on explaining how dangerous it was for people to settle around that area as any accident that would lead to the breaking of the wall that far constructed would sweep inhabitants away. Interesting to hear was how people rioted as part of their resistance gimmicks-not some good sight unfolding of events at all.
One sad day, in defense, the security forces fired live bullets which resulted into a fatal incident. its only after this incident that residents of this area complied with the order of being relocated.
It does not need to get to that. People should not plan or be incited to rise against actions meant to save them and others. It should never be time for opponents to rise against executing authorities as this may work against them in future. Authorities should also put in place urgent measures to cushion the loss of income citizens are suffering. While solutions to curb problems are identified promptly, it proves that solutions to help citizens recover quickly from their loss should also be identified promptly.
Some of the immediate interventions would be instituting a relief fund to provide food supplies to the worst hit citizens, and there after relocation and small amount for capital.
At the end of the story, I had benefited from a wealthy of experience in tactics to tackle some dangerous situations that would put my life in danger.
(Photo Credit: Anonymous, Kariba Dam Bridge, 21st Century)
