It was not yet on our schedule and budget for 2008. But that Saturday 5th January directed our thoughts to one car: a Renault (1999). Thembi, Angana and I had gone visiting friends and relatives that Saturday.
To make up on time, we decided to hire a taxi and on our last leg, we went to visit the couple which had chaired our wedding teams 8 years earlier. Note that I had gone back to Lilongwe Malawi for holiday and research from Sweden where I was for studies.
We did not find both of them but only the wife simply
called as Regina. After chatting and getting out of the house, she pointed at her car and said, “You can get that car. I am selling it so that I get a RavRav.” All I need is 250 thousand Malawi Kwacha (About 1700 US Dollars).Neither I nor Thembi could believe what she said. So we just took it for a joke and shrugged it off as she escorted us out of her compound. But before we parted she said “I am indeed selling the car and I can keep it for you Victor until you come back from school” I said “uh, let me think about it-a good surprise”. In the evening, I simply talked over this with Thembi and thought may be we give it some further thought. But with my getting back to Sweden getting closer at the end of that month, I thought it was necessary to check with her if indeed she was serious fearing we would lose a golden chance. She told me over the phone that indeed she was serious and she would not lie to us ‘being her children.’
Kayunga, a longtime friend of mine told me that it was becoming a common practice for women in that poshy residential area 47 to sell off cars and buy RavRav! So somehow I got encouraged by his perspective and insight. We agreed with Thembi to use some of our savings and make a deposit of 200 thousand Kwacha. It was a bit a risky move as this was at the beginning of the year when normally we have lots of financial commitments but anyway we thought may be it was also time for us to consider buying a car though we did not schedule and budget for it that early.
Fast forward to July 2008.
Having come back to Malawi in July and feeling a bit settled, I started making a follow up so that finally I could arrange and get the car. Then the husband asked if we could meet and talk about it. When wee finally met, he said, “Victor, we have been thinking about your car.
Knowing that this will be your first car, we thought that may be you could do better with a car that is easier to maintain. We know the Renault and it can give you a tough time. We know you guys. So what we have done is to keep your money to this day. Can you allow me to buy another car for you in Hong Kong where I am going this coming September?” I responded with gratitude for their consideration of our situation and let him do just what he suggested.
In November, he sent me pictures of the car and promised that it would be shipped to Dar es Salam by the end of November. He kept briefing us all the developments and of course also telling us how much was needed to make sure the car arrived into our hands. I started getting worried as I was running out of money as I got to learn that getting a car from outside Malawi was not that easy.
Dream Coming True
On Thursday, February 19, 2009, he called me just as his team was entering Malawi at the Songwe from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania where they had gone to collect the cars (they were five in total, one for the wife and three for his office-Norman and Dawban) Consulting Firm).
He told me over the phone, “Victor, right now we are entering Malawi and I can see your car just right in front, a nice beautiful Toyota Corolla Bubble-shape. You will really like it. It is performing well. Please check it upon arrival in Lilongwe. My wife and the guys should be there by 4 pm on Friday 20th Febr
uary. He said, “Victor, I am very happy that you have waited for this entire long and I think you will like it.”On Saturday morning, I could not hold my breath as his wife quickly said over the phone, “Victor, we arrived yesterday evening, so just come over and see your car before it goes for bonding.” I was excited and thanked God that finally we could see the car in real.
At the same time though, I was worried about duty at the Malawi Revenue Authority. This was a bit of a worry because by February, I had run out money to pay for the car due to many other commitments.
I remember that one day, we literally had only 7 Malawi Kwacha in our account left yet this was around the time when we would need not less than 250 thousand Kwacha (1700 US Dollars) if we were to drive that car we had waited for so almost a year!
He himself stayed had stayed on in Karonga North where he was to contest on the Democratic Progressive Party ticket as a member of parliament. He decided to stay put in Karonga to do some campaign and also prepare for the DPP’s presidential candidate Bingu wa Mutharika who was to visit the district that weekend.
Mixed Unease
That Saturday morning having test-driven the car, I took it back to their home after showing to Thembi who was attending a women’s guild meeting at Capital City Baptist Church. We marveled at God’s goodness. Then back at her home in Area 47, she shared her joy that our car just like the other five were at her compound. She talked about some challenges yet looking forward to her husband getting to parliament later in the year.
In retrospect, it was a rare chat. I spoke to the husband over the phone and thanked him for all the hard work in ensuring that the car was in Lilongwe finally. He said he was happy that I was happy with the car he had chosen and processed. She told me that the cars would all be processed within two weeks depending on her husband’s availability in town as he was partially busy with the political campaign and his architectural work at the Reserve Bank of Malawi new building in Malawi northern city, Mzuzu. Though I was excited that the car was finally here, I was very worried about the duty we were to foot.
Then the saddest day came. On Friday evening 27th February, as I arrived at home from work, I found Thembi crying uncontrollably in our bedroom. Why? “Mr. Mwandemange has passed away in Mzuzu. I don’t have details but that is what I have just been told by my sister over the phone” I could not believe it. I tried to compose myself but did not succeed neither did I know what to do. I phoned two people who confirmed that they had heard the same. “What happened” I asked. “We don’t know but we understand he was found dead in his guest room in Mzuzu where he had gone for work.” “Found dead?” I was shocked.
The following morning which was Saturday we went to their residence in Area 47 only to find lots of people mourning him and getting the relatives and friends ready for a trip to Mzuzu from which to proceed for burial in Karonga. A post mortem was to be done. All the five cars had been bought in his name and sadly I knew that we were yet to give him money for the duty on our car once the amount was established. It was a blow. Being a relative, we felt even more pain at the loss.
Patience Pays
After the mourning weeks, the wife briefed me about the developments with regard to the car clearing process. And then finally the car was delivered at her home on my younger brother’s birthday 12th May. That evening, she called me to go and get the car. As we (Kayunga and I) went to get it, she told us that her husband’s office had done all the clearing, paid duty, taken it for COF, registered it as well fixed the insurance on BP 9426. She said that all we needed to do was to pay her at our pace the amount for duty and other arrangements.
Mrs. Mwandemange told me that her husband’s spirit should be happy that finally the car was delivered to us after a long wait. She said that a couple of times earlier last year, they had wondered why we weren’t pestering them given some of the delays about shipping and processing the documents of the car. At the end of it all, the car’s total cost is around 4,700 US Dollars. We have since finished paying for it. Thank God for some money we have raised through small consultancy assignments and some savings. We have been humbled at how God opened doors for us to finish paying for it.
We could not resist giving praise to God late that night as I packed the car in our yard. None of our family members seemed to have heard me drive the car into compound. The following morning, I asked my family to see the car and offer a word of thanks to God. My sister Twitike who had just finished university education offered a prayer of praise. My younger brother Chimwemwe rejoiced and said that I pioneered car ownership in our family. Our daughters Nayumo, Sayiwe and Angana smiled all morning at seeing the car in the home. I am not sure if they expected me to drop them at school that school.
We had asked them to be praying for one and I think they believed God had answered their prayers. At the same time we thanked God for bringing Mr. and Mrs. Mwandemange at a time like this. We especially thanked God for Mr. Spence Mwandemange who having served us during our wedding season nine years earlier, was equally instrumental in ensuring that we could as a couple and family now own and use a car. We will live to remember his love for us and especially the role he and his wife played with regard to the car. His death is painful to us. May his soul rest in peace.
For those who know us well, it was and is something worth celebrating. Comparing ourselves with others career-wise, academically, prominence, generationally, etc, we should have had one over five years ago. But our incomes did not and of course even now do fully allow fueling adequately. We have been embarrassed many times for not having one, walking to church about a km or two with our daughters after disembarking from public minibuses, etc. We thank God for many who gave us a lift…. We will still need you!
Last Saturday, I asked a friend who happens to be a mechanic, Hermes Jana, to finally look at the car, fix any problems (if any) and most importantly take me through a class on maintenance and also show me what is what. Though this was not to be first time to drive, I thought it was necessary to assume I knew nothing and let the prof show me what is what and how to go about the usual general maintenance. He did his job. Thank you Jana. I am still adjusting to the status of one having and driving a car. I almost left by minibus a few days forgetting that I had driven to work.
Glory to God.
