I've blogged before about how I have a few missing packages from etsy sellers this year (5 so far), so whenever I see that white paper that tells me something has arrived, I jump for joy! I don't care what it is, something arrived!
On Friday afternoon I went to the post office heaquarters. It's a very old building from colonial times, with long wooden counters, completely run down and with bare and stained walls, where the staff moves leisurely as if being there and actually serving the customers is the least relevant thing they could do in this world.
I approach the counter and wait my turn - there's no structure to this, no numbers, so you just have to eye how many people were there already, try to avoid people cutting in line, preparing to elbow someone if needed.
I give my notice to the guy behind the counter, and wait for 20 minutes for him to locate my package - wait to go, man, that was quick, you should be nominated for employee of the month!
After I get my package, he escorts me to the customs department.
The customs officer asks what's inside, I explay they're artisan beads. Note that handicrafts are the one out of two or three things that don't pay a thousand and twelve or four million and nine percent tax - they're actually exempt.
He opens my package and examines the beads and after a few "hmmmmms" he announces I need to pay 250 meticais tax for them (that's about 9 dollars). I tell him as far as I know, artisan components and handicrafts don't pay tax.
He smiles faintly, pulls the package closer to him, looks away and starts talking to the next customer.
Now after 12 years here, I know better than to open my mouth again. So I pull out the 250 mets and put them on the counter. His colleague, in the meanwhile, is filling out my receipt. The officer who asked me for the money rips the receipt out of the book, throws it in the bin, throws 50 meticais in my direction, pushes the beads closer to me, and puts the 200 remaining meticais in his pocket, in full view of everyone there.
Why didn't I complain to his superior, I hear someone say? Because his superior would say "what, he only extorted 200 mets? Hell, I want 400."
You see, it's not about the money, it's the principle. Unfortunately for me, I'm one of those people with a heightened sense of justice and of right and wrong. I remember once getting beat in high school by an older boy because I saw him bully a younger kid and thought I'd tackle him with my mighty 5,1' frame (even less back then).
And here I am, living in a country with one of the highest corruption levels in the world...
Lots of people I know here love it that way. They love to know that whatever they do wrong (double park the car, slap someone, throw trash out of the window), they only need to slip someone some money and it will go away.
Well, it scares the living daylights out of me.
The beads are nice, though...
Lovely beads. Too bad about the "tax." Ah, Mozambique! Many of my students are from Africa, and they are as troubled by that sort of behavior as you (and me). I would have been tempted to take the receipt with me out of the trash, but you know where that would have gotten me! NO more beads from Etsy ever again, eh?
ReplyDeleteAh Gale, I know, I was tempted too, but I've learnt what a waste of time, my energy and what a blow to my soul it would be to pursue this any further... Sometimes it's easier to just let it go... Although I also feel ashamed of doing it. I'm so starved for beads that I've continued taking my changes - how else can I get materials into the country to pursue my dream? Opened a P.O.Box in nearby SA where I go every month. Will try there!
ReplyDeleteIt's the same everywhere: the government steals from and lives off the productive citizens. In the U.S. it's similar, the bribery and thievery is not quite as open and blunt though; here it's more codified into "law" so it seems civil but it's the same thing. Steal from those who produce something of value. It's sickening, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, it is. Hopefully in the U.S. in a case like this you could still report this and get some justice - here, there's no chance at all.
DeleteUns correios da idade da pedra!!!lol
ReplyDeleteOi querida, sim, nao torna as coisas nada faceis...
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