By Fadzayi Maposah – ZNFPC National ASRH Programme Officer
Being on the streets of some parts of Zimbabwe can be close to traumatic. There is a risk of being robbed of whatever one has and has had to sacrifice much to accumulate. I have heard people scream ‘thief’ and the responses have basically been varied. I guess it depends who has been robbed and who is around when this happens. It should just be the same for everyone. I am afraid of being at the bus termini within Harare. Forgive me and please be kind to me as you read this. The bus termini are always crowded. There are times I used to think that the large crowds were indicative of peak hours but I have since learnt that time is of no effect when it comes to congestion at the bus termini. As someone who stays in the East, I frequent Fourth Street Bus Terminus, more than the other termini. Besides being afraid of being mugged, I am afraid of coming face to face with some not so pleasant behaviors of my fellow countrymen.
There are behaviors that are unbecoming of Zimbabweans but that have not been curtailed. One can be harassed for the way that they are physically built. What I have realized is that there is no one physical built that can be said to be favourable to some commuter omnibus crews. There are distasteful comments that they make and always seem to get away with. When speaking out against the behavior, one must be prepared to be a lone ranger left to the mercy of the commuter omnibus crew and even the passengers.
When one is big bodied, the commuter omnibus conductor in most instances, will appear as if they are letting you off gently. This is what the conductor could say when one attempts to board the minibus. ‘Chimbomirai Maiguru kukwira. Imi Makati wandei, apa pamuri kuda kugara hamutombokwani. Ko imi muri kuzvibikira muchizvidyira muchiguta. Plus imi malandlord munoda pakasununguka. Haa mukoma wangu ari kugona kukuchengetai mhani, hamuna kumbobva kumusha kwenyu makadai’ Loosely translated this means, ‘wait my sister in law. You are a bit bulky and where you want to sit, you will not fit. You are one of those who are cooking well, eating well and ensuring that you eat till you are satisfied. Also being a landlord, you need ample space. My brother is really taking good care of you, when you came from your family, you were not like this’.
While he rambles on and on, he may ask one slim woman to get down so that she creates space for the big bodied one and then she gets to sit in a more restricted space. In the process, the conductor can say to the slim one, ‘Ko Maiguru, apa munokwana kanhai. Imi muri slender, slender. Kuzongoti maita wig mumusoro, otherwise tikakupfekedzai kasuit, zvotoita. Pamwe munofanirwa kuti wedzerei sadza ramurikudya otherwise vekumusha kwenyu vachati tiri kukunetsai kani’. My sister in law, you will fit here, you are slim, yes very slim. It is only that you have a wig otherwise if we dress you in a men`s suit, it will look good on you. Maybe you should continue eating more otherwise your family will think that we are bothering you which is why you have remained slim`
In less than ten minutes, the conductor can leave not only the two women that he is asking to switch positions scarred by his careless talk. It may be wise to remain quiet so as not to expose yourself to worse comments should they gang up against you. How are women and girls to be protected as they use public transport against the violence that is rife at the bus termini, not only in Harare but nationwide? Communities need to come together and think of how these termini can become safe spaces for everyone.