First half completed!

I am now half way through my time here with just another 4 weeks to go. It has gone by very quickly. So what do I think of it so far? To be honest I would like to get hold of the whole country and give it a good shake to wake them up. It is a country with abundant natural resources in respect of copper, it has land, it has water and people who want to work. What it seems to me to be lacking is a strategy or plan (I like a plan – how can you expect to get anywhere if you havent got a route map to get there?).

The new government has set its budget and has committed itself to tackling corruption in both government and the civil service. From what I have heard it would appear to be a problem at every level, both centrally and locally. An ex-minister was arrested last week with more arrests on the way so the government seems to be making a start at sorting out but it is the civil servants that really need to be looked at by all accounts. Procurement is not surprisingly where the greatest issues are apparently being found. Not sure if the UK is going to help with  sending specialists over to look at the way procurement is done, or the National Audit Office to train auditors but would certainly be a good thing in my view.

The other thing driving around Lusaka is the number of international non-government organisations and charities here. Again all looking to help and I am sure all contributing in some way (if nothing else by employing local people and spending money day to day) but not sure how coordinated it all is. Again I think it comes back to whether there is an overall plan. I will have to try and find out.

Anyway enough of his thinking; the sun is shining, the birds are singing and I have my washing to do!