KABWE TOWN

My home

Kabwe town

So, after a week of training, cultural adaption, security etc I’m driven across the plains – like the Somerset levels but dryer and little sign of any livestock.  We stop for a snack at the Frangilla oasis, a guest house and conference centre in wooded and well watered grounds apparently run by some ex-pat Britons. 

In Kabwe I arrive at my compound bungalow to find tiled floors throughout, 3 bedrooms (1 bed), fridge and hot water. Young lady from across the way insists on cleaning the floors and telling me what mops etc I need.  No money was being sought, just friendly help as I seem to be finding all round.  My immediate neighbours are a Japanese volunteer, teaching at the tech and his Filipino wife, and on the other side the deputy Provincial Permanent Secretary and family living here while his predecessor clings onto his official residence in some financial dispute.

My boss Raymond shows me round the town from the derelict lead mine, past the 2 hospitals, the golf course, army barracks to the high security prison.  The town is well spread out, rather dilapidated but with a good quantity of trees providing a green suburban charchter.  The office has a number of qualified planners – all apparently keen to discuss their system and problems with me.  So, after a week of reading reports and files, attending a seminar qhere some nut was encouraging the Mayor, corporation and Chamber of Commerce to think that Kabwe could rapidly become a ‘success’ like Dubai we will see what next week brings.

In the meantime it is the weekend, cold at 15C, raining and not really a day for exploring

LUSAKA

So, flying out from Bristol via Amsterdam and Nairobi where there was  traffic delay in taking off but arrived safely with all my luggage and checking in to my hotel at 2 am.  Quite noticeable how many elderly Europeans were on-board, presumably jetting off on holiday or visiting relatives but does show how rich we are compared to most of the planet! 

First thing after breakfast the young lady for whom I had brought a laptop from her sister in Bridgwater, insisted on taking me to her evangelical church where the oft repeated message was that the Lord needed you to give his servants lots of money in the collection. One girl is becoming a missionary and will set up a branch in Stevenage shortly so I guess they need plenty of money.  My hotel is adequate, with hot water, air-conditioning and no beetles but I’m eating in a nearby café or the town centre.  Got lost one morning walking 2km to the office but everyone speaks English and are very friendly. After failing to find any acrylic paints I took a bus trip right out of town by accident – through the settlements and into the more peaceful countryside, maize growing and stone quarries.

The only other volunteers I meet are passing through the office, one going back to her placement after 2 weeks treatment in South Africa following a snake bite, one needing emergency abdominal operation and a third one needing a tooth extracting. Friday I leave for Kabwe where I will be working – a two hour drive in a 4by4 with a cooker, kettle and the like.  Hopefully get my internet dongle working at last so i can post this before I have any further news

ps sorry for delay, faster next time and will try again with pictures, nevermind Lusak is not relly photogenic