I join my frustrated brada. I hate to have to side with this lozi of a boy but since I cannot beat him, I will just…..
This afternoon I was very tired and hungry and decided to go eat at a very decent restaurant, or so I thought. In this place you do not get to have so many classic places for eating. (I have not explored more I guess)
I was the only customer in this restaurant. I asked what was available and I opted for fried fresh fish. I took off to have my hands washed. Found a middle table, made myself comfortable as I waited for my food to be served. Finally I can eat after a long day in the field.
"Am I really in a restaurant alone with so much noise?" I thought to myself. Before I could wrap up my thoughts this kama waitress comes with my nshima and fish in take-away packs.
I looked at her and asked if she didn't realize that I had sat within the restaurant an indication I was eating in.
"Do you mean to tell me you have run out of proper plates for you to serve me in take-away packs?" I audibly asked her.
She simply dumped the packs on my table saying "I will bring the plates."
She brought the plate(s) and what happened next left me speechless.
I was very shocked with what her fingers were about to do. Can you imagine she wanted to use her bare hands to transfer my fish from the pack to the plate she brought! Who does that nobantu surely!
The look I gave her told her that that was a very stupid thing she was about to do. She then just poured the contents onto the 'normal' plate.
Don't ask me if the food was delicious. I think when you are hungry the taste buds go on a break cos everything tastes very nice. I just had to eat. As soon as she left I went on with my business to fill my tummy.
But hey, the noise was back…. where is this noise coming from? I looked around and could not believe how noisy the restaurant staff are. If you have been to a bar, picture that atmosphere but without music in the background. I think they are also banging each other real bad judging from the way they went physical with their laughs…
I was enjoying my fish when I heard fishshsifhsishfhfii I looked and saw this man spraying a very strong insecticide (Kafrotox). I noted with concern inwardly and went on with my eating.
Moments later the spraying increased and now I was chocked.
"Badaala don't you know that you should not spray such in a restaurant, especially when am eating?" a visibly annoyed me asked.
"Am sorry sir, iwe stop spraying uko" is all he said.
Luckily enough I had had my share of the food stuffed in my tummy and was feeling better with my senses back.
My main concern comes with the unhygienic way the staff handle the food. I can only assume that in the kitchen where we can't see them, they handle the food without sanitary concern.
They spray insecticide at close proximity to the food or on the food in the name of getting rid of flies.
On Monday I had to seriously chase my tummy as it was sprinting after having a meal from the same place. I can now attribute that to the unhygienic handling of the food. Food poisoning comes to my mind.
On Tuesday when I passed through to buy water, there were a number of people eating and two girls were busy sweeping and mopping, in the restuarant. I shook my head, got the water and went away.
Now, this a strategically located restaurant at a filling station and caters for a hundreds of travelers daily that cross this part of the country to or from the North. Something must be done to make it more hygienic.
I noticed there are a number of CCTV cameras, I hope they are not dummies. The owner hopefully uses them to monitor the (behaviour of) his staff and not only checking if they are stealing cash or food.
These are youths that have been empowered, employed but they are taking this opportunity as a play-time.
The next time you are in or passing through Mkushi, watch what you buy at that restaurant by the filling station…
I wish I could voice out like one Sally Chiwama or Susan Mwape. I think on my next trip, I will bring these two along so that they put them in the right corner.
My dear frustrated brada, I join in your frustration. When I go back there, be assured that am just buying sealed drinks that I know they had no ugly finger in….
Sent through Mobile Gmail by HTC for Matongo Maumbi, Zambia.
