The story we hear about thing happenings in minibuses never fail to amaze us and, may time shock us! I tell you there’s a whole world out there. As there are stories which bring much needed smiles there are also stories which scare the hell out of you. “Isn’t there someone or some institution supposedly responsible to do something about the many abuses passengers face?” A very legitimate and timely question, wouldn’t you say?
Recently a friend of mine was in this minibus riding to the center of town. Along the way a passenger whom he said was probably in his early thirties goes into argument with the fare collector. As the fare collector unlike many of them was a heavily built middle twentyish guy so my friend tells me. The passengers were asked to pay twenty birr while the actual official rate was fifteen birr. Almost everyone pays without any opposition. The sad story here is that many passengers hate to go into arguments with the unruly minibus guys because many times they would be arguments they wouldn’t win. Even if they did it would be after being pummeled with all the four later words in the books despite the passengers being of any age.
This one person refuses to budge. He stood his ground and says he wouldn’t pay a single cent more. Will things got ugly as the fare collector called him all kinds of the foulest names he could think of. The passenger kept completely quite. He just kept on fumbling with his smart phone. When they arrived at their destination the man as soon as he disembarks grabs the collar of his tormentor. The chauffer pushes open his door comes around and tells the passenger to take his hands off.
Now the ugliest scene was other nimbus operators waiting for their turns to take passengers come rushing to the help of their colleagues without having the vaguest idea of what actually happened. My friend said with the passengers refusing to budge it seemed he was in for some real beating. Then out of nowhere a group of heavily built muscular guys come rushing, push their way to the center and all of a sudden things take a complete turn. Many of the minibus operators who rushed like agitated lions a little earlier slowly melted back. Something was happening! And the fare collector? Well, my friend said he was a very sorry sight as his every cell quivered at seeing the group. Finally it was the abused passenger who held back his friends. They warn the fare collector never again to be seen on any minibus in the city. The chauffeur who acted like an agitated Tyson got a few shoves and pushes and he also got his warning. And the very person was that was so much abused in the minibus finally had the heart to defuse tensions and save his abusers from real bad harm.
The story here is that the group was famous in the area for being a no-nonsense group and all who knew them were scared of them. I tell you this city has so many stories happening every day. Film makers could plan interesting documentaries!
By the way I can tell you riding in minibuses in this city could be one hell an experience. It’s on place where you see humanity in its many shades. By the way I’m almost always amazed by passengers who talk on the smart phones as they were the only ones in the wilderness! It is as if actual loudspeakers were attached to their vocal chords.
The interesting thing is that such people many times talk about some multimillion birr merchandises. And you miss a beat or two when you hear things like, “I’ll transfer eight million birr to your account this afternoon.” Eight million! Did that not very impressively dressed guy say eight million! What the hell is you doing on our turf. Yes, minibuses are our turf! Sorry, just not to be left out in the cold, we’ve a question; is it so easy to say you’ll transfer eight million birr like it was something where you just pull out from your wallet?
One thing about such minibus talks is that most of them are fake and have some malicious goals. Is it easy to do that? Yes, it is. After all you are one of a handful of strangers and no one knows your real identity. You’re just another talkative guy in minibus. That does it. The minibus is a collection of strangers and strangers would find it hard to drag your name and reputation in the dust. The village rumor mill wouldn’t have your name as raw material since in minibuses you’re somebody and nobody without a name! Of course once in a while recognition might come in the most unexpected of places, like in the streets.
“Do you see that guy over there?”
“Which one?”
“The one with that hand-me-down jacket.” (Ha!)
“Yes, I see him. What about him?”
“He is the guy I told you about the other day.”
“You tell me about so many guys I don’t know. Which one is he?”
“You know, the guy in a minibus who was talking about the eight million birr!”
“What!”
“Yes, that was the guy!”
“But I know this guy! We work in the same office.”
“Are you saying he isn’t a businessman?”
“Business my #%@! He doesn’t know what the number million means let alone having a million birr! The guy is a smalltime clerk in the office!”
In this case the place where you work would have some talking point’ for a few weeks until yours is upgraded by an even more bizarre piece of news.
Also may times you hear stories so melodramatic they could put Hollywood writers to shame. You can’t help blinking multiple times. Sometimes the passion the person talking is so much so they might be.
Your best info about the rising cost of living and the horribly inflated prices on almost everything is in minibuses. People might be going to the market or returning from one.
And there is the request for ‘cooperation.’ “Can you please move a little? There is one passenger.” On seats designed for two three people crowd together. In the beginning such things weren’t as bad. The fare collector would kindly ask you if they could add a third person by your side. Believe me many times than not you agree as it would beef up your claim for a place in Heaven! What’s a few minutes of discomfort to help someone who might be late for work or some important errand! Of course by helping the extra passenger you’re helping put extra money in the owners’ pocket. Good for you. You’ll get your dividends in the other life!
These days things are a whole lot different. When some person refuses to comply with requests (more of ‘orders; these days!) things could take real nasty turns. That person would surely be called names. Names which could even make the four letter obscenities sound harmless. The remaining passengers aren’t all silent observers. In fact, some try to play the Good Samaritan roles saying “What’s the problem if you cooperate!”
Someone should do a deep study of the human behavior in minibuses and I can tell you we would be offered some of the most interesting narratives of the times we live in. After all, for better or worse we’d be stuck with minibuses for the foreseeable future!
BY EPHREM ENDALE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 11 FEBRUARY 2024