African Soujorn - Amelia Paunde

AMELIA PAUNDE – Africa Sojourn-2 ( 2001 - 2004) On a quick thinking why only Domingo was a name and other days were not named ,could be that the other days were named as Segundo Fiera,Tierca Feira,Quarta Fiera , Quinta Fiera, Sexta Fiera & Sabado. Now this would translate into , second Day, third Day fourth Day fifth day , sixth day & sabbath.Now take your pick.Domingo also had another religious conotation – “of the Lord.” After Domingo left me at the hotel . I checked in settled down and came down to the small restaurant in the hotel.I looked at the menu which was all in Portugese, and was wondering what to eat. Luckily there were some pictures , which I still could not decipher. So then I started a dialogue with the waiter and showing the picture I would ask what the dish was ? ( gesture + english) .After going through the whole menu, the conclusion was pretty simple. The main courses were 1. 1.Galinha Chicken 2. 2.Carne di Cabrito Mutton 3. 3.Carne di Vakka Beef 4. 4. Peixe Fish All this could be fried 0r grilled ( Frito/Griladho) This would be served with potato finger chips and of course Pao ( yes, the very same Pao which was introduced by the Portugese in all their colonies including Bombay. When I asked for Rice ( Arroz) & vegetables( Vegetal) he nodded wisely. What was finally served was Chicken with a small helping of steamed rice and salad leaf . when I asked for vegetable dish pointed at the salad leaf…. I also came to know that a pint of water / a bottle of coke / and a pint of beer all cost the same. The local beer( cerveja) was a brand called Doishem ( 2M) So from that day on for the rest of the stay in Mozambique it was either Coke or 2M. So on Secunda fierra (Monday ) after fixing up the appointment with Amelia Paunde, a lawyer at KPMG, I left with Domingo in the yellow taxi to meet her. As I had already rung up, Amelia came down her building ,she was a black lady ,probably in her late 30’s smartly dressed in a formal skirt & blouse.She was very kind to receive& take me to her office on the first floor. In her office over a cup of coffee with milk( cafe - con - latte ) This phrase had interesting connotation which I came to know later) Have to specify or the norm was black coffee. So we went over my mail which I had sent earlier about establishing a company , acquiring land , and doing a pilot project of cultivating Urd Dhal ( Black Gram)in the northern province of Nampula . She explained to me the various rules & regulations on how to go about opening company & acquiring land. She said she would initiate the process. Over dinner that evening which she insisted on taking me , sipping a South African white wine ,she shared the fact that she was a Mozambicano a single mother who had a young daughter and how she had studied in the local university and her progress in her career to finally join KMPG a multinational consulting firm.More on who was a Mozambicano later. She then said she would fix up an appointment with the Minister of Development who looked into the investments coming into the country, so that we could brief him. The next day Amelia Paunde came to my hotel and in Domingo’s yellow taxi we went to the ministry. After due formalities we were shown into a conference room, and just a few minutes later entered Mr. Reface Mohammed. He was more asian looking and looked natty in his suit. We formally exchanged cards and shortly thereafter I explained the project to him , the benefits it would accrue to the nation ,in addition to the work for the local people and our collaboration with one of the prominent personalities in Nampula , Mr. Ibrahim Issuffu. Of course he knew Mr.Issuffu. He was very happy about the fact that we had come to Mozambique, and he would ensure that he would arrange full co-operation to me and my team and wished me luck. Thereafter we left to Amelia Paunde’s office and after lunch she explained the next course of action. The rules dictated that I submit my proposal for starting of the company to the Provincial authorities in Nampula. She would depute a person to help us through the process. Having thanked Amelia , I decided to leave for Nampula the next morning. More coming…