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The embassy had arranged my transportation for the morning to get my visas but
before I left, I quickly went to the bank to change my travelers' cheques. At the bank, the
clerk was very friendly and said something to me that shocked me:
“The worst thing that the white European brought to Africa
was democracy. Africans don't have the same concept of
democracy as the West does. Our government officials are
isolating tribes and causing rivalry between them. [Offi-
cials]…only cater to their people and not to Cameroon. A
dictator cannot become a democrat but the opposite can.
Our president grew up in the upper echelons of government
for 20 years, but since the elections were to open the door
to freedom, he fixed the vote (it took 14 days to count
the votes). This is the greatest problem here in
Africa…corruption.”
I could only empathize with him for it truly was frustrating when you see children
going hungry, roads in disrepair, teachers unpaid for 8 months and the wealth of a nation
being squandered for personal gain by those with the keys to the coffers.
I left the bank and headed to the embassies to pay for my visas (Gabon was 10,000
CFA and the Congo was 25,000 CFA.) I quickly returned to the Canadian Embassy and
had lunch at the ambassador's residence. I was then taken to an institute for deaf and dumb
children were they were preparing a dance sequence to music for an anniversary concert
run by some French Canadians.
I returned to Rosa's place where Daniel picked me up to go to a dart competition.
We arrived at a heavily guarded compound which staffed executives of a major English to-
bacco company. In the sprawling mansion, there were large glass bowls full of cigarettes
and clusters of alcohol bottles within arm's reach throughout the rooms. The conversation
dwelt on how so-and-so drove into town, “Darling, did you take the 305 or the Suzuki?
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