By Nelson Phiri( Phiri Altezza)
I know there are people who do not believe in God. Some of us believe in God for everything that happens in our lives. When we look at where we come from and where we are now. It can only be God.
In 2011, I decided to gift myself a nice Toyota ALTEZZA. It was a fashionable car at the time for a young man with a heavy foot and classic life style.
I gave it 18 inch chrome wheels and Pioneer music system. I used to live in Kafue Town then and Kafue Road was my race track. It was a six front manual transmission car and I would push it to the limit. Excitedly and foolishly, I Never saw any danger. But God did! And HE decided to save my life by burning the car down in broad day light along Kafue Road at the exact spot where the Shimabala Toll gate is located now.
At work, they used to call me “Phiri ALTEZZA”
Sometime in late 2011 on a Saturday afternoon, after watching Chipolopolo play Finland in a friendly game at Family 24 casino bar, I decided to take a slow drive home.
But immediately after passing Munda Wanga, I decided to race the ALTEZZA with some guy in a BMW. Before he knew it, I had smoked a BMW and it was miles behind me. Excited at my achievement, I slowed down and turned the music volume up. Considering the power of a BMW, it’s obvious the guy in the BMW was wise!
No sooner had I had done this than I noticed smoke in the car. Then the dashboard went black. The car stopped for a while…I pulled aside only to notice several motorists running after me and parking their cars and carrying fire extinguishers.
I tried to unbuckle the seat belt. It was jammed. I tried to open the car door. It was locked. I was stuck. A clever truck driver managed to break the car window using a spark plug. And cut the seatbelt with his knife. This man saved my life.
Within seconds I was pulled out of a burning car through the drivers window.
In minutes, the whole car had caught fire and was burning like hell.
I sat on the tarmac confused. Thinking it was a dream. Not understanding how a new car with no mechanical problem could suddenly catch fire.
By the time the fire brigade and Chilanga Police showed up, the car was steel ash.
To date. I still do not have any idea what happened. I lost the car. But I gained a new lease of life
It’s only later, after The ALTEZZA started claiming many lives on the road that I knew God decided to burn down that car in order for me to live to see my children grow up.
I will forever remain indebted. I managed to replace the car through insurance after Mayfair Insurance gave me a horrible, hell brewed claims service experience.
To God be the Glory!