Gallant pig heartbeat of Colcom City

They enjoy lying in the sun, cooling off in mud baths or pools of water, and using their excellent sense of smell to forage in the undergrowth for interesting foods. Being omnivores, they will consume anything edible in copious amounts. Describing people as being pig-like suggests only that their appetites are particularly large: There is no implication that they have a high IQ or can be good fun at a party.
I have always had an eye for a handsome pig, based on many years of viewing prize-winning livestock at the local agricultural show.
Successive readings of George Orwell’s novella, Animal Farm, failed to destroy my admiration and respect for this even-toed ungulate with its thick body, short legs and coarse hair. So what if power transformed Orwell’s chubby comrades into ruthless dictators, who learned to walk on two legs and carry whips?
It was the gallant pig that sustained Zimbos during the bleak days not so long ago of little or no food: Supermarkets bereft of bread, milk and mealie-meal always seemed to have the odd pork chop for sale.
A name synonymous with Zimbabwean pork over the years is Colcom, and Colcom City in Coventry Road is the undoubted Nirvana for lovers of chipolata sausages, ribs, pork roasts and a variety of processed meat products.
Whether you’re searching for a Christmas ham for a festive occasion, or a few kilogrammes of pork bones to boil with onion and tomato and serve with sadza, you will find it at the Colcom Shop.
But before joining numerous other shoppers and loading up your shopping trolley, drop into nearby Rafiki’s Take Away and Coffee Shop for a drink, a snack or a substantial meal.
Although Rafiki’s opened only a few months ago, its surrounding window boxes and small shady garden are flourishing. Exotic shade plants in differing shades of green and yellow, lush green grass and shady palm trees, provide a welcome oasis in the dry salvages of Workington.
George and I, arriving at Rafiki’s for a mid-week lunch in the last week of Lent, sat on the cool verandah, at a high metal table on tall, reasonably comfortable bar stools. Several customers were comfortably seated indoors, on lightweight, horseshoe shaped aluminium chairs. We gave our orders indoors, at the counter.
In compliance with the meatless Lenten fast, I ordered macaroni cheese, served with a green salad (US$5). George ordered a plate of ribs and extraordinarily delicious chips (US$8).
Businesspeople at surrounding tables were enjoying chicken and chips, ribs and chips and Rafiki burgers.
As my macaroni cheese was the US$5 daily special, the price included a cool drink. Daily special lunch options vary and always include a drink.
Main menu options include chicken burgers, hot dogs, cheese dogs, boerewors rolls, freshly baked pies and toasted sandwiches. Greek, chicken, tuna or bacon salads costing US$4 are also on the menu. Colcom breakfast of three bacon rashers, one egg, baked beans, tomato, sausage, toast and coffee costs US$6 from Monday to Saturday, but costs US$5 on Saturdays as a special.
We didn’t have time to sample Rafiki’s drinks menu. The milkshakes, smoothies, lattes and hot chocolate drinks will have to wait for another occasion.
Having discovered a cook who understands the art of making delicious French fries, it won’t be long before I find a reason to visit Rafiki’s again. If this includes a visit to the Colcom shop, I’ll try not to dwell too deeply on thoughts of the prize-winning sow and her piglets at last year’s agricultural show.

Rafiki’s Take Away and Coffee Shop
1-3 Coventry Road
Workington
Harare
Monday: 10.30am-4pm
Tuesday-Friday: 9am-4pm
Saturday: 8.30am-1pm