Bwana Steve, bwana Steve, can you help me please ?

Indaba Malema, what’s the problem?

Now Malema was a larger than life Zambian, about six foot tall and built like a, well he was a big guy and thats why he was so good at not only driving our Oshkosh horse and low-loader but skilled at transporting Caterpillar Graders and Cat Bulldozers.

Bwana Steve, if the police come here, can you say that I was in the yard yesterday as I have a maningi problem.

I think you had better explain Malema.

Well Bwana Steve, you know I was bringing back the D9 Bulldozer from Mpongwe yesterday and you know its dangerous to travel at night.

Yes Malema, that big blade sticking out from the low-loader could cause a nasty accident.

Well, Bwana Steve, I was passing Ndola when it started to get near to dark but I thought I had a good chance of making it back to Kitwe before it was full dark.

So, what happened Malema ?

Bwana Steve, you know those police Bedford trucks with the canvas sides and the long seats inside for the police ?

Yes Malema, I have seen how they transport the police sitting facing each other on long benches.

Well, I got near to that place where the road gets smaller and I saw a police truck coming towards me.  I can't move over because of a culvert but I thought we had managed to pass OK. But when I looked in my mirror, I saw that the D9 blade had cut  the canvas on the side of the truck and all the police were falling out on to the road.

Did you stop to see if they were OK Malema ?

Ikona Bwana, I was laughing too much and anyway, they would have put me in the jail for a long, long  time.

So, Bwana Steve, if the Police come today, please say I was in the yard.

OK Malema

Dzikomo kwambili  Bwana Steve.

A police Land Rover was seen later going around the industrial estate but they didnt call in to us at Marais Construction …

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Words in italics are possibly in the Bemba language and I have spelled them as they sound. If anybody can correct my spelling, I would be very grateful.