MKUSHI TOWN

A small town two and a half hours drive from Kabwe, the hills if not dramatic at least give the town some form and character and cycles remain a popular form of transport. As with Kabwe it has a low density of development with lots of unused or underused land. Nevertheless the Council have agreed with a neighbouring Chief to take over some of his land to more than double the size of the town and we are called on to make a plan for the new area.

First off a meeting with the Chief and his headmen to explain what we are doing but the District Council Chairman and the Secretary (chief officer) are not present which his Royal Highness Chief Chitana takes as a personal insult and refuses to allow the meeting to start even after the Chairman has been found “he is only a politician, here today and gone tomorrow, It’s the Secretary who signs documents for the Council and she must be here” so the meeting is deferred to the next day giving the Chief and his headmen another day’s allowances and overnight stay in the Council’s guest house/drinking den.

The lodge where Raymond, my boss and I are staying has no hot water, toilet seat or shower but does have a swimming pool in the grounds which proves fine at 6;30 each morning

The Chief naturally issues permits to build anything in his territory but appears to have been equally selling permits to build within the original town boundary, within school and hospital sites and even, the admittedly unused, air strip, The Local Authority think that such activity will stop now that the town boundary has been extended but are clearly reluctant to take any action that could upset relations with the Chief who would probably go direct to the President if he felt he was being harassed.  

our lodge chalets at Mkushi

 

 

 

 

 

 

town centre