Come to think of it, I am a rather misadventure-prone individual. This was brought home to me by a close friend who has either heard or read my accounts of the several escapades I have had in various parts of the world. Among them was an outstandingly scandalous misadventure in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, many years ago.
I shall explain. The Addis Ababa episode was an unplanned visit to that city, whose name, I was told, means “Pick a new flower”. You really have to meet the Ethiopian belles to understand why—they truly are “new flowers”.
Back to my misadventure. I believe it was in the early 1990s when I was on one of those official missions to Dar es Salaam. At the time, I was the Director of Conferences and Marketing at the famous Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC).
My mission to Dar es Salaam went smoothly and I had planned to fly back to Arusha on a Saturday. My booking was with the then notoriously unreliable Air Tanzania Corporation. Predictably, all flights from Dar es Salaam to Arusha were cancelled that weekend. To make matters worse, the Managing Director of AICC, the late Sammy Mdee, made it abundantly clear that I was required back in Arusha by early Monday morning. A major international conference was set to debut that day.
Through my wide network in the Bongoland travel trade industry, I managed to persuade Katema, the Ethiopian Airlines Station Chief in Dar es Salaam, to allow me to board his flight—uncondimented—bound for Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) en route to Addis Ababa.
Katema emphasised that I had to beat Dar es Salaam International Airport by 5 a.m. sharp. It was a most inconvenient time but, then, free favours often come at a high price.
In simple logic, I felt it would be a grave mistake to sleep that night. Instead, I chose to spend it with some nocturnal friends at the then-famous Orchestra Marquis Kamanyola gig at the Silver Sands Beach Hotel.
At 4 a.m., with my scant luggage in tow, I was on my way to the airport. True to his word, my friend Katema facilitated my boarding. I settled comfortably into posh Business Class—after all, I was considered an important asset since international delegates to Arusha conferences flew with Ethiopian Airlines.
My nocturnal overindulgence, combined with the warmth and comfort of Business Class, soon sent me into deep slumber.
I do not know how long I had slept when I was jolted awake as the plane began its descent. Believing we were approaching KIA, I fastened my seatbelt, preparing to disembark, as I was the only passenger supposed to leave there.
Then, in his composed manner, the Captain announced: “We are about to land at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa.” It was as if lightning had struck me.
I turned to my neighbour in disbelief. “Why? Did we bypass KIA?”
“No,” he replied calmly. “We landed at KIA and spent about half an hour as new passengers boarded. You slept right through it.”
To cut the story short, I disembarked at Addis Ababa. I had to accept my AICC ID and Tsh 3,000 in my pocket.
Interrogations followed. I had to confess everything—including how Katema and I had circumvented the system to get me aboard in Dar es Salaam.
When contacted, Katema was horrified. After vouching for my importance, I was grudgingly allowed remain in Ethiopia and was scheduled to fly back to KIA three days later.
The Tanzanian Embassy in Addis Ababa was informed and I was tasked with explaining myself to Ambassador Major General (Rtd) Mirisho Sarakikya in order to obtain temporary documents.
The stern General was furious. Upon my arrival at his office he ordered that I be confined at his residence for the three days. Fortunately, one embassy staff member—whose family was away in Tanzania—volunteered to host me. The General reluctantly agreed. Otherwise, I would have been a “special detainee” in his house.
As for my boss, the late Sammy Mdee, who was also a close friend of the General, I shall spare the details. Suffice it to say, the expletives and threats he hurled at me are better left undescribed.
Nevertheless, I survived the ordeal and went on to continue fulfilling the AICC slogan: “Bringing the World to Tanzania.”
The author is a veteran journalist and communication expert/consultant. mpumilwa@gmail.com
