The Rust of Words ( a Novel )
5 min readBy David Aoloch Bion
Chapter Seven
On the third year of peace, James Majok visited Border checkpoint. On this border post, there were hugest revenues taxed by Custom and Commerce departments. Majok boarded a room in the hotel to spend a night After that he went out to drink beer in the nearby bar. He sat on his table alone. The sun was setting. He ordered himself a bottle of beer.
Three gentlemen came, they looked around. The other tables were full with men boozing . The only table which was not full was the one of Majok so . they joined him . The men speak the same language with him . They introduced themselves to Majok , he also introduced himself.
“Do you drink beer?” Majok asked
“Yes, we do” replied one of the men
“Please, can you come, waitress” Majok called .
“I am here sir” said the waitress .
“Bring nine bottle of beer”
“Why do you order many like that?” asked one of the men pathetically , “will you manage to pay the bill?”
“Don’t worry, just take it” said he
The waitress brought the beer. The men started to drink.
“Where do you work, Majok?” inquired one of the men
“I work for finance in Napata”
“Do the revenues, which are collected here, reach Finance or the central bank ?”
“Yes , the money is remitted in finance ‘’ he affirmed .
‘’ Speak the truth ‘’ said one of the men .
‘’ Why do you doubt the money reaching us? ‘’ he queried
“The magnitude of corruption is greatest ” uttered another man
“Really, which kind of corruption ?”
“Well , when a new car arrives and it is supposed to be taxed and cleared for 15,000 pounds by Taxation . The clearing agent requests 7,500 pound from the owner of car. He, Agent goes direct to the custom officer, he gives him 2000 pound, the custom office will give 500 pound to police at the gate to release the car from the taxation compound. on the way to city , he , the agent will go bribing other policemen on the way with remaining 5,500 pound till the car reach the city . They tell the police, if you don’t take this money, I will pay 15,000 pound to government and you will not get single coin , after all no one is doing the right thing , no one has integrity , all are corrupted ” he divulged it to Majok.
“Indeed, I ponder when I see many new cars, vehicles in the city but a months past without receiving revenues for those cars ‘’ Majok said
Another form of corruption is changing the names of the goods in receipt to different good. For example, if you import cigarette, or beer, these two goods are highly taxed. So the Custom and Supply officials will conspire with clearing agent and businessman to change the name to maize. If the truck full of cigarette is taxed by 20,000 pound, the owner can pay 10,000 pound.because it is taxed as maize not a cigarette The officials will 5,000 pound for themselves and 5,000 pound for the government’’ he narrated .
“Another form of corruption is with the receipt book. Last year, the custom officers have two receipt books, one is for the official book and other is the private book. In a day, they write ten leaves from the official one and they write 5 receipts from their own private book . They report the money of five receipts.only . Recently, they went to Interior, they smuggled out the official original receipt book” another man revealed .
“When I go back to Napata, I will report it to the Servant in Charge of Finance” James Majok stated . he opened his note book and he wrote the poem entitled :Sunny Colour in Stomach
Sunny colour in stomach
There are two red cows on earth
One is Evil, one is Good
Every man, the black man
Has a sunny colour stomach
Like the different finger prints
Colour of corruption
Colour of correction
I have my colour that is why I sprinkle the seed with hot water
You have your colour that’s why
You help the poor
They have their colour that’s why
They steal public money
Men and women, don’t jump into
Things like housefly.
Have lion might to work harder for
Common good
Have fox wisdom to think harder
For common good.
James Majok left for Napata. He reported what he learned at the border to Servant . The Servant called his interior counterpart. This fraud was investigated, four men were arrested at the border and the director of logistic at the interior was for smuggling out the official receipt book . One month later, all the arrested men were releases without charges .
Through corruption, nepotism, tribalism, embezzling , ten percent of the population enriched themselves. They built few concrete tall building among the grass thatched huts in city.
Some expensive world class cars were cruising on the dusty road around the country. Whiffing and puffing dust at eyes of poor peasants .
There was no good road network connecting the ten provinces but for the interest of few who have money , there is airports in every province . This is so, because if the Servant want to travel to any province he charter a plane to take him there ..
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