Petrol crisis fueled by our selfishness

Our threshold for getting sufficiently angry at shoddy public service so as to cause us to do something about it must be really high. Contrary to common opinion, it appears as if it will take a lot to galvanise us into a protest of sorts.

Take the ongoing, drawn-out fuel crisis, for instance. We have a common pain-point that afflicts us, the ordinary citizens, and the so-called middle class, as painfully. Yet, we continue to behave as if all is well.

Our lives have been made difficult by a spiralling cost of living and an inconveniencing shortage of a basic commodity. All in the backdrop of tough economic times due to the effects of the pandemic, geopolitical conflict and widespread famine. Surprisingly, it has done nothing to push everyone on edge and to demand answers.

Current happenings have dispelled a popularly held myth that it is only until a crisis of significant proportion threatens the comfort of all segments of society that people will be pushed to the streets. Those in the know have in the past claimed that failure to mobilise common anger to push for change has been held back by pains that have disproportionately hurt the ordinary citizens more. That where cost of living has spiralled out of control, a section of the citizenry could still afford, so the pain was not universal.

However, the fuel shortage is different and unprecedented. It has pushed everyone to the limits - motorists have had to drive for long in search of fuel and even after locating a station with some, have had to stay in queues for hours waiting for the commodity that is sometimes blatantly overpriced. After all this queueing and leaving empty-handed, some have had to hop from one filling station to another chasing the precious commodity. The other consequence of all the queueing for fuel is the overflow onto adjoining roads, causing unnecessary traffic. Commuters in public transport are suffering inflated fares and the increased traffic jams.

One would expect that all this prevailing chaos would be enough to push all of us to put our foot down and demand better of the people we elected to take care of our welfare. But alas! The long suffering is all being taken with a lot of poise and grace.

Not a single person raised a finger to protest. The closest we have done is whining and debating on WhatsApp groups, when we are not asking for the nearest filling stations with fuel with the same zeal we previously asked for alcoblow checkpoints – it is a personal struggle for survival.

Just to show how much we do not really care, a lone protester at the precincts of the venue of budget reading failed to move anyone else into action. Quite unlike other parts of the world where stories have been filtering in about civil disobedience triggered by high prices of food and other basic commodities. Not for us, we will keep at it. 

The powers-that-be seem to know us too well. It does not bother them much that our suffering could translate in them eventually suffering too. They know that we would not do much about it to escalate the situation. No wonder no one is making vigorous effort to sort the issue urgently and alleviate the rampant suffering. 

Even troubling is that this is happening in the run-up to a hotly contested election when we should be courted assiduously by the government of the day. Is there any more demonstration that no one gives a hoot about the public discomfort?

Perhaps this shows that we are not exactly good at team initiatives - like raising our collective voice to express displeasure about where the country is headed. For as long as the day-long hunts yield something for your jalopy’s fuel tank, the rest can suffer as much as they want. For as long as you can still afford the rising cost of living, it is up to the rest who struggle to figure out what to do. 

Unfortunately, this selfish attitude of not pursuing common interest has led to inaction in finding a proper solution to alleviate suffering. Rather than reprimand or take action against the interests that have dug us into this hole, whoever is responsible is posturing and only taking half-hearted measures.

One would not blame them though. We have made them believe we are okay with the suffering. They can take their sweet time to sort it out, if ever. We will be right here waiting.

— butunyi@gmail.com

@butunyi