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The Ten percent country by Mia Couto
Another translation of a small article written by Mia Couto and published in November 2004 in Mais Magazine.
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There was a country where eveything worked on a ten percent basis.
It was the doctor - You send me that patient and I'll pay you ten percent.
It was the street child - I let you park cars in my street and you give me ten percent.
It was the boss - I'll let your company win the job and you pay me back ten percent.
It was the policeman - I'm calling to remind you of that ticket I've forgiven you... remember our agreement.
It was the director - I have given you a job as a technician... you know, right?
It was the other boss wispering to the foreign entrepreneur - You can invest in our country but... there are commissions, it's normal...
Everything seemed to go well in the ten percent country. Apparently, at least... People worked at ten percent, they dreamt of that percentage, they lived inside that narrow perspective. Everything at ten percent.
Even the hope to invest in the future took only a fraction of their hearts.
A certain day, however, someone thought of taking a hundred percent initiative. And so it happened. The man rolled up his sleeves and he worked.
Immediately friends, family and co-workers started laughing. The effort would be for nothing. Because in that country building was perceived as "eating". And no one could eat by themselves. The inspector would come and ask ten percent. The Town Hall officer would come and ask ten percent for licenses. The minister would come and ask another ten percent. Or more.
In the end, we would have ten percent less of all his ideas and the applied effort would result in almost nothing. Because in the ten percent country it is better not to do anything. It's better not to build, not to work. The best and healthier is to live on those who want to do. Particularly those who want to make things at a hundred percent.
And so, although seeming very normal, the ten pecent country suffered from a fatal disease. The problem is that a country at ten percent can only be ten percent of a country!
Mia Couto in "Beco com Saída" in Mais Magazine
November 2004
Hi, I found your blog while creating my own Mozambique site. I was a
volunteer there for two years in Nampula and I wanted to make a site with
my own pictures but then also put cultural information. I love the country!
I really like you blogs on Mia Couto. I put a link to your blog on my
cultural page. If you would like to look at my site:
http://heatherleila3.googlepages.com/home. It's very amateaur, but it's fun
to make. Thanks for your blog. Heather Leila