Voice reporter, Daniel Chida recently travelled by bus from Francistown to Maun. After Gweta village, in the middle of the bush the bus was stopped at a road block manned by four men dressed in light blue overalls and mine-like goggles. One of the men entered the bus and warned passengers about the dangers of illegal hunting. He then said he would not waste time searching every luggage in the bus as he trusted that no one was carrying game meat. When he left the bus, a conversation ensued amongst passengers who had all along been quiet. This is how it unfolded:

Woman in blue: If all police officers were like that man we could have arrived long back. He is polite and on top of that he saved our time.

Man in Suit: What makes you to think that he is a police officer maybe he is a criminal.

Woman in blue: But he introduced himself as an officer and who on earth can mount a road block like that.

Man in suit: Let me warn you, a police officer must produce an identity card as proof instead of standing in front of people and shouting that he is a police officer.

Woman in blue: Why didn’t you ask him to produce it when he was here, it shows that you are slow thinker.

Man wearing a hat: I support you mma he should have requested that in the first place, maybe he is carrying game meat.
The bus burst in laughter

Man on hat continues: If he had asked for a search we could have obliged while you seated on a good point. I believe those guys are genuine police officers.

Man in suit: That’s why you Batswana are always robbed, you believe everything and…(Interruption)

Woman in blue: What did you do? You see you were already taking out your identity card as if he had asked for it. You failed to ask which police station he comes from and you now want to give us a lame lecture. Real men don’t do that you should have asked him.

Man in suit: I didn’t invite insults, I am a man and the reason why I was taking out my documents is because I wanted him to show me his…(bus burst in laughter )
Man in cap: Old man you should have asked him immediately after announcing that he is a policeman. There is no how we can trust you. You do have a good point though because it is my first time to see that type of uniform.
Woman in blue: There is no need for that at this time because you were also quite; we don’t have real men who can protect us.

Man on hat: Mma wee, Batswana don’t ask we listen and do as we are told. I don’t have game meat with me and wasn’t going to bother myself by asking many questions. If we arrive in Makalamabedi remind that old man to ask for proof from those police who will be searching us.

Man in suit: Please leave me alone but one day you will be robbed daylight, you should watch American movies and learn something.
Bus burst in laughter.

Man on hat: Old madala like you watching American movies this is crazy.

Woman in blue: What more do you watch? I know you watch those blue…interruption

Woman in white: Please we have kids here watch your language, you are elders
The bus goes in silent.

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