Cloves and Zinc

Circa Zanzibar 1988

Mbarouk had said “Can you help us make more money from our cloves”

I have no idea, I will ask.

We can said the Agents, in the voice of Moule, the new Director, modern man, plucked from a successful career selling razor blades.

He knew a Greek who had experience of the Tanzanian sisal industry. Things progressed, meeting were arranged, a plan hatched involving future sales, credit limits and timely sales. It was for me, in those days, most mysterious and exciting. Zanzibar, closed and dark would be saved, I, at a tender age would have a part of it.

When first you come to Africa you know nothing of Africa. After two years you think you know something of the culture and will learn more. After five, some take longer, you understand you know nothing and never will. I stayed on and had fifteen years of learning nothing more but, say it now, there were some amusing moments.

The project progressed to such an extent that the Agents bankers came to Zanzibar to promote the scheme. Terry (the) Kettle, Michael Collyer and I, Michael Brian Harrison, met the Representatives of the Peoples Bank, at the banks head quarters facing a square in Shangani. Collyer, a banker then but ten years into a grey suit career that is maybe onward, made his logical pitch. The chief of the Peoples Bank explained that though the scheme Collyer had presented made some sense to him as a banker there were some political and cultural hurdles to be over come.

Collyer thought long, he rubbed his nose, he caressed his chin, he looked up and down, he sighed he said, po as you like

“If I were you I would get out of cloves sell your grandmother and move into zinc."

The Peoples man matched his contemplation and as I remember rubbed his nose, a cross culture gesture.

He said, at last,

“Harrison, you know us, could you translate that remark into Kiswahili”

I doubt given the time elapsed I will be hauled up under the Official Secrets Act. But to be sure do not make notes or remember anything of what you read here. After all I may have made it up.