A ‘mzungu’ (foreigner) customer walks into the meat section at the local food market. There are no fridges at the market so hygiene can be a problem. The customer goes to the first stall and checks out the meat. It’s covered in flies. ‘Uugh’, he thinks. ‘There must be better kept meat around here’. So he walks to the next one. However, it’s the same as the first stall. Big slabs of meat hung up on hooks dripping fresh blood and all of it crawling with flies. The same experience is repeated at all the stalls he inspects until he gets to one where there are no flies. He thinks to himself, ‘At last. Fresh, clean meat.’ He checks with the butcher that the cow was slaughtered this morning. Yes. Checks the price. It’s a fair price at about €2 a kilo. So he buys his meat, takes it home and cooks it up. Delicious. He continues to buy from the same butcher, pleased at having found one that takes the issue of hygiene seriously and makes sure his meat is clean and free of flies. After a couple of months of this it’s obvious that his butcher is the only one in the entire market with such spotless meat, so the customer on his next shopping trip asks his butcher how he, and he alone manages to keep his meat so clean and fly free. The butcher puffs out his chest, clearly proud of his meat and, aware that for the ‘mzungu’ cleanliness is important, he shows his customer the secret of keeping his meat clean. With a big grin he pulls out from under the table a family size can of heavy duty fly killer and sprays the meat. – a true story.

home delivery service

And as we’re on the subject of true stories, here’s another one courtesy of a recent security email alert sent out to all VSO staff in Dar Es Salaam

Subject: FW: SECURITY ALERT

FYI

Dear Sir/Madam,

Information reaching Police formation indicates that: There is a syndicate of criminals selling beautiful key holders at Petrol Stations. They sometimes parade themselves as sales promoters giving out free key holders. Please do not buy or accept these key holders no matter how beautiful they look. The key holders have inbuilt tracking device chip which allows them to track you to your home or wherever your car is packed. The key holders are very beautiful to resist. Accepting same may endanger your life. All are therefore enjoined to pass this message onward to colleagues, family members and loved ones. Alert everyone in your clique, including Drivers, Domestic staff etc

Many thanks,

Yours faithfully,

Mkokota C. Kihiga

KK Security Tanzania

Too beautiful to resist