End of my first week - I survived!

At the end of my first week already and I seem to have crammed quite a lot in what is a short period of time. I am now at my third go at acommodation. From the Mika Hotel moved to the Mwambula Garden Lodge which was ok but nothing near by and food very basic (chicken/steak or sausage and chips – not for 8 weeks!). So today I have moved into the Kapingila House Lodge in Kabulonga. This is a lodge and conference facility with breakfast, lunch and dinner facilities (providing traditional Zambian food)  run by the Catholic Church. Rooms are good size, enuite and very clean. Set in lovely grounds and  3 minute walk from a small shopping centre with a couple of cash points, restaurants, shops and a supermarket  (photos to follow). Have now got my own taxi driver Weston who picks me up in the mornings and back to my lodge in the evening. Every trip is Kw50000 (about £6.50) regardles of distance. Main roads are good but extremely congested therefore tend to go via unmade back roads that give me an idea of the size of the problem being faced here.

Weather is still extremely hot and talking to a few people the hot seaon this year is hotter and longer than ever before. People very concerned that once the rains do come there will be substantial flooding particularly in the “compounds”; the many shanti towns that are on the outskirts of Lusaka. Last year families spent 4 months in the national sports stadium because of the inadequate drainage facilities.

Wednesday I spent the day with the Civic Forum for Housing and Habitat getting to know them and what they do. I also met with one of the Forums partners The Peoples Process on Housing and Povety in Zambia. This organisation look to assist communities help themselves by providing advice, sources of finance and savings plans to build houses. Seem extremley committed and keen to work with me and as next door to where I am working very easy to get to.

Thursday was spent with the Katuba Womens Association based outside Lusaka on the Great North Road. This association has a membership of over 50 women clubs since its inception in 2009 and is there to provide practical help and advice on gender and land issues. They face major cultural and legal challenges. Over 90% of the land is deemed “traditional/cultural” ie owned by traditional structures such as tribes and communities. The majority of the remainder is deemed state owned and the rest in private hands. The traditional way of getting land is for the Head Man to give it to you. He can also take it away or reallocate it if say the husband dies – there is no legal title transferred. It is a real clash of cultures, old and new. Those there were extremly brave to stand up and say what issues they were facing. A very eye opening day and brought it home how much there is to do and the basic reforms around equality that need to be there before much can be done.

Friday I spent the day at a “study circle” meeting hosted by the Forum and the Swedish Cooperative Centre. Again a very good day where I not only learned about study circles (will post something on these during next week) but got to meet alot of groups and individuals committed to doing something about the situation. They included  Grace from the Zambia Collective Housing and Community Development Foundation (whose daughter is studying at Cardiff – it really is a small world) and Mututa Memorial Community at Kafue both of whom I hope to visit next week.

All in all a very good week. Getting used (a little) to Africa time but do find that difficult. The dust, litter, driving styles, noise, the massive size of loads carried by the lorries and povety are quite challenging but all adding  to what is so far a very different but good experience.

Welcome to Africa!

I am now in my second day in Lusaka having landed at 6-20am on Monday morning. I was greeted by temperatures already in the high teens and once through pasport control and customs, by the country Manager Peter Manda. For the first couple of nights I am to be put up in a hotel prior to moving on to self catering type accommodation. The hotel has been very good and I am making the most of it (picture below). I have had a couple of trips around the city and what strikes me already is the difference between those that have and those that have not - very pronounced.

Monday was the 47th anniversary of Zambia's independence from Britain and coincided with a celebration for the new govrnment of 1 month. As a national holiday most people celebrated including a large party around the small pool here at the hotel. Very high expectations of this new government paricularly around a more equitable share of the revenues from mineral extraction.  Everyone I have met so far is interested in politics, China are a major player here as shown by the Chinese sub titles on bill boards. Obviously a booming trade in counterfeight car parts as well going by some of the banners I have seen tying to stop it. No motor bikes here that I have seen or scooters of any shape.

Have had a first meeting with those that I will be working with and the team supporting them. First lesson learnt - never underestimate the effect  a smple thanks for the coffee (or whatever) can make.

Tomorrow I move into my permanent lodging and start work on planning out the next 8 weeks. Whereas I thought there were 6 partners there are 12 and one of them apparently is sharing my time with the Forum (I think they have some accountancy issues/questions - be ready to help out guys in Newport!!). Finding alternative funding is key and we start with that priority. However to get a funder to dip into their pockets requires a clear vision, strategy and plan with clear support and buy-in from the partners so I am starting there. Have already identifed some potential funding opportunities via the web.

This as quite a bit longer than I intended but already feel I can help here. Lets hope the feeling lasts!