MAPUTO:
November 2002
It was a bit cold, and rainy day when my boyfriend and myself went by foot on the way to the
old city of Maputo. With our "cam" we started to take photos in every corner of the city.It can be trees, flowering plants,
buildings which look unusual to our eyes, it can be vehicles, or the people around us, vendors, children or animals.
Without excuse we documented them and made them as part of our collections. All of a sudden came two black Policemen
in uniform stared at us and and stopped. One began to talk in Portuguese language which means "Excuse but you two guys...it
is not allowed for you to take fotos here!" He pointed to the buildings. These buildings were normal business constructions
without any military or national or international security connections at all. I was a bit upset of his "hospitality", I should
say. Then he continued to say that he likes to confiscate our cam or else we have to pay penalty for taking pictures. I did
not find any connection to all of what he said. He became more and more unfriendly when I started to argue with him in my
broken Spanish language. He insisted and liked that we must show our papers or travelling documents. My passport was
everytime with me but from my Boyfriend he left it in the Guesthouse.
The policeman was hard in his opinion to confiscate the
papers or else our cam or we have to give a sum of money fixed as penalty for what he thought as offence....he means... because
we publicly took pictures of the buildings in which for our eyes were nothing especial at all. I didnīt stop to be friendly
with him. But deep inside me I was shiverring. I showed him a small amount of money to make a friendly
quit because on the other hand I know that Maputo is still not so civilized. But what he said, the money I offered
to him was not enough! At this moment I lost all my control and temper and with my asian charm I started to make a psychological
strategy.
I turned the situation otherway round. I asked him: "Well, if it is not
allowed for us to take photos of your city ...can you show me the rules and regulations where and which part here in
the complete area not allowed for us to take pictures, besides I want that you will bring us to your upper BOSS or maybe to
the German Embassy. I just wanted to have the exact explanations from them and, to be cleared if it is true
that itīs prohibited to take photos here".
This time , I was the one who was insistent and my voice became a bit stronger.
I repeated many times that I like that he will bring me to his Chief and from him I wanted to have the exact explanations.
And I added if he will go on with this kind of guest friendliness nobody will come and visit the country anymore.
I said to him that we just liked to make a good propaganda about the city. But if he will sucked up every tourist
in this manner then it is not a good example for this country.
After this strategy the two Policemen drew back the said penalty,
made excuse and bid goobye. This could be a lesson for everyone. If I showed my fear and ignorance I was
sure that we came home pennyless. Deep in my mind, however, I knew that every corner of the World corruption
is not to stop! My Tips: 1) Learn at least the language where you take your holiday;
2) Donīt be carried away what the Policemen tells esp. when it comes to penalties. Verify this with the respnsible person
or the Chief or go to your Embassy for proper explanations. 3) Of course stay nice and respectful but watchful
and clever! 4) If they ask penalty ask for receipts too as evidence.
