"Going to See Mr B. V.", a short story in Shimmer Chidoya's Can We Talk and Other Stories. Review by Omowunmi Segun

The story focuses on exploitation of local workers by an Indian-owned small business. Mr B. V is the owner of a wholesales and department store which he runs with his younger brother, Mr J. V. His employees are engaged on terms which are dubious and do not offer any staff welfare packages. This is what probably prompts, one of his long-term serving employees, Mr Mahari, to send a letter of request through his son to pay his son’s school fees. Mr B. V. considers this an affront and his reaction reveals his attitude to his employee whom he demeans in the presence of Mr Mahari’s son when he calls his father a “…a good boy.”

Mr B. V. is overtly racist in his comments and humiliates his workers, insinuating that they are ‘uncivilized’. To add insult upon injury, he enjoys making his employees grovel for favours which, in a well-structured system would translate into allowances and benefits for staff. Instead, Mr B. V. announces his good deeds to anyone who cares to listen:

“… I say to you people, if any of you has a problem, come to me and I’ll help you. Didn’t I pay for your spectacles, Gideon?

Yes, you did, Baas.”

And you, Tarouna, didn’t I pay for your father’s operation last month?

You did, Baas,” Tarouma, the short young man in a suit behind George said.”

Mr B. V. not only lauds it over his employees, but also wants to show that he is boss. In chiding Mr Mahari’s son for referring to Mr J. V. as “Manager,” he says:

“Why don’t you just say ‘My father’s boss’?”

Mr B. V’s ‘managerial’ style is a reminder of an age gone by. Nonetheless, there are still vestiges of this trend among small business owners who feel employees have no rights.