XA ABAVUKELI-MBUSO nomkhosi karhulumente wawusilwa eFreetown ngo-1997, ndazivolontiya ukuba ndiza kuthutha yonk’ imbalelwano esuka eFreetown eya kwiofisi yesebe yokwexeshana eConakry, eGuinea.

Ndakhwela ibhasi nelinye iqela lamadoda. Kwakuvakala izithonga zemipu kuyo yonk’ indawo, loo nto yenza soyika. Njengoko sidlula kwizitrato zesixeko, kwavakala izithonga kufutshane nathi. Umqhubi webhasi wabuy’ umva wathatha enye indlela. Kungekudala emva koko, samiswa liqela labavukeli elixhobileyo laza lathi masiphum’ ebhasini. Emva kokusipheka lisophula ngemibuzo, lasiyeka sadlula. Kamva samiswa lelinye iqela lamajoni. Lasiyeka sahamba ngoba omnye wabantu esasikhwele nabo wayeyazi inkumanda yawo. Ngasekupheleni kwedolophu sadibana neqela lesithathu labavukeli elasibuza imibuzo laza lathi masidlule.  Njengoko sasihamba sisiya ngakumntla, sadlula ezindleleni ezazivalwe ngamajoni de safika kurhatyele eConakry ngebhasi yethu enothuli.

Kamva ndandiphatha iibhokisi ezinoncwadi, izinto zeofisi, iingxelo zesebe kunye nezinto zokunceda. Amaxesha amaninzi ndandihamba ngemoto okanye iteksi. Kodwa ndandiqasha nabantu okanye ndisebenzise iphenyane ukuze ndiwele imilambo kunye nempahla endiyiphetheyo.

Ngaxa lithile, iteksi endandiyikhwele yamiswa ngamajoni ndiphethe iimpahla ezisuka eFreetown ndizisa eConakry. Elinye lawo labona impahla endandiyiphethe laza landibuza imibuzo lindirhanela. Kanye ngelo xesha, ndabona omnye endandifunda naye esikolweni kula majoni. Amany’ amajoni ayesithi nguRoughneck, xa embiza, kwaye wayengoyena ukhangeleka njengendlavini kubo bonke. Ndalichazela eli joni elalindibuza imibuzo ukuba ndize kuRoughneck, ndatsho sendimbiza. URoughneck wandikhumbula ngoko nangoko wakhawuleza wasondela. Sabulisana sihleka. Emva koko watshintsh’ apha ebusweni.

Wabuza, “Akukho ngxaki?”

Ndathi, “Ndizama ukuya eGuinea.”

Wawachazela loo majoni ukuba ayiyeke le teksi ndiyikhweleyo idlule ingakhange ihlolwe.

Ukusukela ngaloo mini, qho ndifika kukho amajoni avale indlela, u-“Roughneck” wayewayalela ukuba andidlulise. Amajoni ndandiwanika iikopi zeemagazini zethu kwaye ayezithanda. Kungekudala, ayesithi xa endibiza, ndinguLa Mfo WeeMboniselo.