Three Snippets of Bygone Days

by Lou Mendez

The Flagman (MOZAMBIQUE 1985-1988)

My posting came at a time the country was in a de facto civil war. More than half of the countryside was besieged by rebel forces called the Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO). I remember that the UN in Mozambique at the time had a long-term service contract with an NGO called Air Serve for our air transport needs to the provinces and to Swaziland.

I also vividly remember that while the UN had a full Security office for clearance of our internal travels, our Air Serve flights in certain districts relied on a “flag man”, a person close to the airport runway, who would wave a flag to signal if it was safe to land – “green” if there was no danger from RENAMO and “red” if danger was imminent.

Years later, a senior UNICEF official told me that he met our trusted “flag man” in one of the post-conflict meetings and discovered that the man was really a full member of RENAMO.

Bruce Lee (ZIMBABWE 1984-1985)

Sometimes one gets played by your own staff. My posting in Harare was in a period of liberation. Having been politically isolated for a lengthy period, southeast Asians were not a common sight in the provincial areas. My field visits with peers were warmly welcomed by shouts of “Bruce Lee” which I humbly accepted. Little did I know that the staff drivers were responsible for spreading the name when we arrived… mischief abounds.

The UNICEF Harare office was brand new; a white chalet style house ensconced in an upper class neighbourhood. It had a large well-manicured lawn with peacocks and a garden that would make the magazines, with a swimming pool that was minimally used but generously maintained.

Then the drought emergency happened. To refill the pool after cleaning would be a mortal crime. Thus we turned it into another functional meeting /lunch area – refer photo – some old faces very recognizable.


The Sauna (UGANDA 1991-1994)

I was Chief of Operations in Kampala. Personally, an excellent posting particularly during those years of rehabilitation. The UNICEF team was made up of the crème de la crème of that era with names like Bjorn L, Colin G, Sam D and Carol J. as co-members of the management team. The new Representative (not to be named) arrived and was housed in a UNICEF compound called Mbuya, which to this day has never been sold (I hear).

The houses were rather dated but quaint. One fine day, I was asked by the Rep that he wanted to install a steam sauna - this resulted in one of my eyebrows being raised which I could never do during secondary school plays. I informed the Rep that there were no funds and that HQ had to be consulted. I was instructed to use project funds. In gist, the sauna was never born, as whims change and a few months after, I was requested to canvass for a Benz S class as the UNICEF Rep’s vehicle.

I left that one to my successor.

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