In a plot to revenge the deed that his brother had done, Mukunda organised a secret meeting with the elders.
MUKUNDA
Fellow friends,
elders and fathers of our beautiful lands I thank you for coming here tonight.
I know some of you might be wondering why I called you secretly, it is because
I trust and believe that the future and success of the Barwa people lies within
you. Friends we have been betrayed not only betrayed but been embarrassed by
our own. For a long time the people of Barwa have been a proud people always
careful to protect their culture, heritage, values and beliefs. But look what our own brother has done,
Mangi, he has put shame to our own daughters by falling in love with the
foreign mistress. Mangi will fall in love with the foreign mistress, they will
marry make love and have a child. By then he will be chief. The boy will grow
to be a man and one day he will succeed his father. But I swear to you that the
mother will not forget her people slowly foreigners will flock into our once
beautiful land. They will take our daughters have our lands and eventually rule
our sons.
ELDER 1
The truth
has been told gentlemen. We hear your story Young man but what is your plea and
what would you want us to do?
MUKUNDA
Thank you
once again for being attentive. Let me present my plea to you. The major reason why
for generations we have always had the tribal council is so that it monitors
and maintains the values and beliefs of our people. Our values are at a threat
if Mangi falls in love with this mistress. Therefore I request that we agree for the sake
of the Barwa people that Mangi has no more relations with the mistress or
whatsoever. To please the people of the Barwa he returns the bed he gave to the
mistress and he initiates her transfer from the school.
ELDER 2
We hear your
plea son and it is true. We will put the interest of the people first before we
put that of one man. However it will take the vote of the whole tribal council
to agree on what you have suggested to us.
MUKUNDA
I am aware
of that and that is why I called you here tonight. I plead for your vote
tonight.
ELDER 3
What if
Mangi does not adhere with the conditions?
MUKUNDA
Then he will
be left with one option. The values of the Barwa people say if anyone is a threat
to what we have died for and always believed in, may that individual be counted
as a traitor and be treated as an alien. Therefore we cannot be ruled by a
foreigner. He will have to step down as Chief.
ELDER 1
Mukunda you
are just like your father. I saw the pain and hate when your father failed to
be chief. You chose us because you knew we were loyal to your father. We
will give you our vote but the fight is yours not ours. We will protect the
interest of the people not that of self ambitions and glory.
MUKUNDA
Thank you so
much. I want to protect what our forefathers have protected and I will make
sure that no one not even Mangi himself can destroy it.
Secret meeting ends
At Mangi‘s homestead, a knock at the
door
MANGI
Who knocks
there?
RANGO
It is I
Rango son of Mango, loyal as ever I will not change. My eyes have seen and my
ears have heard every word. Allow me therefore my chief into your lovely
homestead to sit and sip a hot cup of tea while I share these tidings to you.
MANGI
Rango, Rango
my friend I would have fallen into a trap unless you had warned me. I would
have not known who my enemies are but you uncovered their malice and hypocrisy.
Who else can I trust except for the almighty Rango, all reliable and
trustworthy? What brings you to my homestead this early my friend?
RANGO
Chief I hear
that Mukunda is planning a war against you.
MANGI
What war?
RANGO
Yesterday at
night Mukunda with some members of the tribal elders whose names I am yet to
find out held a secret meeting. In the meeting the main agenda was about your
relations with the foreign mistress. Mukunda is furious. He regards you as an
enemy, a liar and a backstabber. I am not sure what the full discussion was all
about but whatever Mukunda is plotting is big.
MANGI
He is
wounded and hurting. I know why he hates me but I cannot avoid what fate has
done to me. What do you suggest we do Rango?
RANGO
I think the
tribal council will call up a meeting very soon. Mukunda is furious and the
whole village is talking about you and the foreign mistress. This was a matter
of time before all this happens all we need to do is to be prepared. I would
love to know one thing chief?
MANGI
Yes.
RANGO
Do you love
the mistress and you willing to fight for her?
MANGI
I do not
know I guess I will find out.
A knock at the door
MANGI
Come in.
Enter one of the tribal
elders.
MANGI
OH it is
good for a man to have visitors this early it is sign that he is still alive.
Good morning elder.
ELDER
Good morning
Mangi, good morning Rango. I see Rango you have found yourself a new home.
RANGO
No sir, is
it not right for a man to wake up early to check if his neighbors are alive
worse of his chief?
MANGI
Rango is
more than welcome in this house he is family more than a friend. What brings
you to my homestead this early?
ELDER
I bring news
from the tribal council. They request that in the evening we meet for an urgent
meeting.
MANGI
What is the
agenda?
ELDER
I am not
sure of the agenda but I hear it is your brother Mukunda who brought all this
up.
MANGI
If the
elders insist I will be available.
ELDER
Thank you
Mangi I will see you at the meeting tonight.
After a small talk both visitors leave, leaving Mangi in deep thought.
#keep reading
written by Hawulethu Patrice Dube
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