Mugabe and Evan’s Admission of Guilt – by Ellen

OK, that title may be a little misleading; it sort of implies that Bob may be admitting that he’s guilty of something. Can’t even begin to imagine what it could be...

Anyway, as we were driving to Vic Falls we were stopped at yet another road block. This time, they wanted a little more than just a glance at out TIP and driver’s licence.

‘Aha...I have found two problems with your car. You do not have the reflective stickers on the front of your car’.
WTF?!
‘Oh, sorry officer, we didn’t realize that you needed to have reflective stickers on the car. And what is the second problem?’
‘You do not have reflective stickers on the back of your car.’
‘Oh, I see.’

Once they’d found out that I’d been to university in Manchester (where the policeman had been born) and that my sister supported Chelsea (who the policeman supported) he decided to only fine us for the front reflective stickers.

‘Either you can pay me the fine or I can arrest you’ the policemen said, rather too gleefully.
Once the policeman had filled out his little book (in triplicate) Evan paid the $10 USD fine and signed the Admission of Guilt. Under the threat of arrest he signed that he was guilty of the heinous crime of not having reflective stickers on his car, and that the trial should proceed in his absence.

At the next roadblock, the policeman’s eyes lit up.

‘Aha...I have found two problems with your car...’

We (smugly) showed him the Admission of Guilt, and off we went.

At the next roadblock, we were stopped again. But this time we were asked to pull over on the side of the road and switch off the engine. Hmm. Not good. The policeman walked over to us, AK-47 swinging by his side.

‘The President is going to the airport so we have to close the road.’

Wow! Mugabe was about to drive past!

As we waited we overheard the policemen talking:

‘How old is he now?’
‘Too old.’
‘Ah. The evil ones live long.’

Interesting to hear such open opposition to the President – particularly from the very people who are protecting him.

Eventually we saw the lights of the convoy. Twenty-four black cars and bakkies sped round the turning to the airport. Once that excitement was over we carried on to Vic Falls to track down some reflective stickers for the car.