Kabwe sat quietly as he listened to the elders discuss how they were going to share his late father’s property. A house, a shop, a lodge and an air transport business; his father was a rich man. Despite being a sixteen-year-old, Kabwe had the right to claim some of his father’s assets but seeing that his father died without a will it was difficult for him to say anything as his uncles shared the property.

Finally Kabwe’s eldest uncle said, “Kabwe, we are going to stay together since you cannot stay alone in this big mansion.”

Kabwe started, “But uncle I—”

Kabwe’s uncle interrupted Kabwe in a loud voice and said, “Do not but me! I have made the decision and it’s final.”

Kabwe was shocked as he had never heard his uncle speak in such an angry tone before; he wondered what had changed. Before his father died Kabwe was loved by everyone including his uncles, but now in a blink of an eye everything had changed.

Kabwe’s father had four brothers and so the property was shared amongst them. Kabwe’s mother died while giving birth to him so now he was an orphan with no one to speak for him. His eldest uncle got 70% of the property, claiming that he was going to use most of it to ensure Kabwe had a decent life but all that was a lie as Kabwe soon found out.

Kabwe finally started living with his uncle but life changed for the worse. He transferred from the international school he was at and moved to a local school. He did most of the work at home even though he had five cousins. His cousins moved to expensive schools and were often driven to school but he always had to walk to school. Often he would cry but he had no one to wipe his tears. When he asked his uncle for money, his uncle would say he didn’t have but his cousins always had notes to give friends and lovers. Even worse, his aunt would make up all sorts of false stories so that his uncle would scold him.

One day he couldn’t help it but let his tears roll down his cheeks while he was at school and a group of boys noticed and approached him, teasing him.

One boy said, “Hey cry baby, why are you crying? Did your mom refuse to pack lunch for you?”

Kabwe didn’t say a word, he only looked at them as they laughed at him. But he noticed one girl in their midst who didn’t laugh. Her name was Misozi. They stared at each other as the other boys and girls laughed. After the other boys and girls left she remained and started a conversation with him.

She said, “Hi my name is Misozi what’s your… Wait a minute aren’t you Kabwe from Simba International?”

“Oh yes I am, how did you know me?” Kabwe asked.

“I remember you… from grade 9 when you scooped first prize at the national jets fair.”

“Yeah I did but I don’t remember you.”

“It doesn’t matter anyway, you were too busy celebrating. So what are you doing here?” asked Misozi.

“I was transferred because my parents couldn’t continue paying for me,” Kabwe said sadly.

“Okay I see. Since we are in grade 12 now are you ready for the examination?”

“More than ready,” Kabwe said smiling.

“I am not. That reminds me, earlier I saw you crying, what is the problem?”

“Ah its nothing, never mind.”

“I insist, you can trust me. I want to be your friend,” Misozi said.

“It’s nothing. I have to go. Nice meeting you.”

Kabwe left Misozi, but Misozi was determined to know what was bothering her new found friend so she followed him after class. He couldn’t hide it anymore so he told her what had happened and how he ended up living with his uncle.

She was moved by what she heard and felt bad for him too. He also explained to her how his uncles shared his father’s property. Just then she remembered the discussion she had with her father who was a well-known lawyer in property sharing. Since Kabwe never learnt civic education, she explained to him how property is supposed to be shared in an event were the deceased did not leave a will. She explained that since Kabwe was the sole survivor he was supposed to inherit everything since he was a direct descendant.

Kabwe was shocked that his uncles shared his father’s property without considering the laws of the land. Misozi promised Kabwe that she would talk to her father to help him, but he was afraid of his uncle.

Misozi spoke to her father about Kabwe’s situation but because he was handling a very complicated case, it had to wait.

Tell us: Do you think Kabwe will someday get what’s rightfully his?