BANKING ON THE NEW YEAR

A good New Year to one and all! As a Mission Partner you are expected to turn your hand to many things. We have been busy recently compiling our annual financial reports. Reading Fergus Macpherson’s “North of the Zambezi”, you realize how little things have in essence changed in 70 years. On arrival in Mufulira in 1946, shortly before Christmas, he was presented with 3 tomes - “There you are, your cash book, your ledger and your journal!”

Macpherson had operated a cashbook before at an Edinburgh Boy’s Club, but the word ledger had, and still has, a faint sulphuric tang of Scrooge about it and he had copies of David Livingstone’s Last Journals in his books. This task is often overlooked in the tales of Mission you hear, or the dreams you have of the work.

In an earlier blog this year we mentioned the fact that many Zambians, since banks were closed to them,  were being forced to borrow money from private microfinance companies who were little more than legalized loan-sharks at exorbitant interest rates. A number of hospital workers and school colleagues had got themselves into trouble by these rapacious pay-day predators. They are called often ‘caterpillars’ here., because of the rate at which they ‘eat’ your money and the destruction they cause.

The good news is the Bank of Zambia has now introduced a cap on the effective annual lending interest rates that licensed non-bank financial institutions can charge their customers. A similar recent measure was introduced for commercial banks as well. This has been done to make borrowing more affordable and equitable especially to the more vulnerable micro-borrowers. The maximum effective annual lending interest rate for them should not exceed 42%. The rate for other non-bank financial institutions should not exceed 30%. These caps had been arrived at by multiplying the commercial bank rate of 18.25% by agreed factors. These rates would be revised periodically in response to the prevailing financial climate.

Hogmanay was a bank-holiday in Zambia this year, as staff prepared for the first day of the rebased Kwacha. A series of new bank notes and coins have been introduced bringing the value of the Kwacha in line with neighbouring countries. Three zeros have been removed from present denominations.

The Kwacha is subdivided into 100 ngwee. The Zambian Kwacha is one of the most stable currencies in Africa. Kwacha and ngwee come from the Nyanja words for “dawn” and “bright” respectively.

In 1968 four years after Independence, the Kwacha was introduced at the rate of ZMK2:GBP1 and ZMK1.20:US$1.00 During the late eighties and early nineties in the severe economic crisis, the currency suffered from very high inflation and by 2006, the exchange rate was ZMK4800 to US$1.00. Throughout 2012 it has remained around ZMK5000:$1.00

The new rebased currency appeared from ATMs on New Year’s Day, 1 January 2013 with the new Zambian Kwacha being introduced at a rate of 1000 old Kwacha = 1 New Kwacha. The old notes will remain legal tender alongside the new kwacha notes until the end of June. New coins have also been introduced for 5, 10, 50 Ngwee and 1 Kwacha. 

During the period of the UNIP one-party state all coins and banknotes depicted President Kenneth Kaunda on the front and Zambian flora and fauna on the back.

With inflation and the Movement of Multiparty Democracy winning the election in 1991, 100 and 500 kwacha notes were introduced, followed by 1000, 5000 and 10,000 kwacha in 1992, and a decade later in 2003, 20,000 and 50,000 kwacha notes were introduced.

These notes all feature our national bird, the fish eagle, on front and on the back you find the Freedom Statue of the Zambian breaking his chains. As an aside, Zambia also became the first African country to issue polymer notes made in Canada . The 500 and 1000 kwacha were both printed on polymer. You still find the old green K20 note, which some people have as a keepsake in their purse or wallet. Below are images of the new notes and coins.

Some new exchange rates:

US$1.00                      ZMK5.2

GBP1.00                     ZMK8.3

EUR1.00                     ZMK6.7

ZAR1.00                     ZMK0.60 (60Ngwee)

PULA1.00                   ZMK0.64 (64Ngwee)

CNY1.00                     ZMK0.81 (81Ngwee)

AED1.00                     ZMK1.4

The Close of the Year 2012

The Close of the Year 2012

After two weeks of sporadic shortages of mealie meal, our staple, as Government and millers negotiated over price, some millers have finally agreed to print a recommended retail price on bags (K50 000/GBP6/US$10). It is surprising that Zambian Governments in a less developed country have not been more statist on this, as France only decontrolled the price of bread a little over a decade ago.

This measure has been achieved by appealing to milling companies to reduce their prices after a sharp rise recently. The floor price for the purchase Food Reserve Agency maize was K65 000 for 50kg, this was sold on to the millers for K60 000, in effect a K5 000 subsidy. 

This is another pro-poor policy which contrasts with the austerity programme and attack on universalism by neo-liberal governments in the more developed world. Zambia has managed to attain a growth rate of 7% up from 6% last year.

Substantial investment has been made in the country’s infrastructure, with shovel ready projects, in education, health and mining sectors, while inflation is kept reasonably low. No either/or but both here!!

This positive and continuous improvement has led to some improved social and economic development.

Finally the country has been plagued by an infestation of army worms in many places which could compromise food security if left undealt with. Army worms, also known as cut worms, travel in armies and consume newly germinated maize and grass. Cypermethrin is apparently the spray of choice.

Armyworms and cutworms are actually caterpillars or immature moths that feed on grass leaves and stems, chewing off young plants just above the ground. Mature females moths then lay eggs, on grass which the hatched caterpillars feed on. From the TV pictures seen, it looks quite like the variegated cutworm but I have not heard an etymologic identification made.

The larvae were dark brown in color with yellow stripes. The adult moths were yellowish-brown with black dots along the wings. Mated females can lay more than 1200 eggs in less than 10 days, and eggs are generally attached to the leaf blades or weeds plants. The pupae hibernate and the insect can produce four generations per year, depending on the climatic conditions. The life cycle lasts about 60 days.

Government and UN have helped to supply spray and seed to re-sow areas affected with early maturing varieties so that the harvest is as little affected as possible.

Over this weekend we move towards the nativity and incarnation. Living in the present but hoping for the future, with the coming of Christ, the Child, Messiah and Light of the World.

We continue to pray for rain and a good harvest here in Mwandi. The showers so far have mainly been soft and gentle. The people have cleared their fields and many are now ploughing and sowing maize, pumpkin and groundnuts. Some army/cut worm has been reported. The open-billed storks and egrets have arrived, signs of the coming of the rains.

There is some malnutrition amongst people as for many the last of last year’s harvest has finished and the new maize will not be ready to harvest for another 3 or 4 months.

So, wherever we are this Christmas and whoever we are with, we would ask you to remember the needs of friends and people in different parts of the world and especially the Christian Community in Bethlehem and the Holy Land and those celebrating in difficult circumstances.

Wishing you every blessing  with a joyful Christmas and a good New Year.

Getting to Zero

Saturday, 1 December was World AIDS Day. It was commemorated in Mwandi in the customary fashion. On the Friday evening, a march through the village, ending with an all-age Inter-Denominational Church Service in the Hospital Chapel to remember lost loved ones who died from HIV Aids took place. The march, starting at the MTN cell-phone tower, was led the Boys Brigade Drums, followed by hospital staff, local Church people and the children from the OVC carrying red balloons and smaller A4 posters saying, HIV is going to lose. A banner carried by staff displayed the official message: Zero New Infections, Zero Discrimination, Zero Aids-Related Deaths.

In the Chapel the UCZ youth choir and Praise Team led the worship with appropriate choruses and songs.
The UCZ Deaconess opened in prayer while one of the Pentecostal pastors was the Master of Ceremonies, the Wesleyan Pastor gave the homily and the Roman Catholic Father came straight from Mass for the candle-lighting and moment of silence. The doctor also spoke. Before the blessing, there was a wonderful and moving testimony given by a young woman living with HIV/AIDS. This was a first for us where a person spoke openly and publicly about her status.
The next day we were blessed by rain, so instead of having an outside ceremony at TB Square, the commemoration was held inside, again in the chapel. A former Deaconess, the Hospital Administrator, the UCZ Minister and the Doctor all graced this meeting which comprised of prayers, speeches, dancing, poems, drama and songs.

For the first time, a task force, comprising of young people, employed at the hospital organized and ran both events. It was a resounding success. As one of them said it was like one of these reality TV programmes - The Apprentice, sprang to mind, where you are given a task, a time constraint and then told to get on with it!
Some of the local constraints and challenges the hospital is facing needs to be highlighted. The annual AIDS Relief budget from PEPFAR is being reduced each year but an increasing number of patients are accessing ARVs and requiring care at the same time. The Zambian Government contribution to the budget has to reach 15% of the budget and they are being expected to take over the programme in its entirety in 4 years. There are still many gaps. Our lab machines often lack reagents as none are available at Central Medical Stores. While supplies of ARVs are usually adequate, medicines and drugs for treating opportunistic infections are in short supply or unavailable.
According to some recent statistic published in The Post newspaper on Saturday, the National AIDS Council recorded 69 000 new infections. 27 000 are young people between 15 and 24, and shamefully over 16 000 of them were girls.
The UNAIDS Report for 2012 shows Zambia has reduced new HIV infections by 58% and 80% of them are receiving HIV treatment. The national prevalence rate is just over 14%, but our testing rate is, regionally, one of the lowest standing at 28%.

In another article in the same paper an Italian Professor Paolo Marandola points out that the war against HIV is far from being won. Even if the number of people each year dying from the disease is lower than the number of the newly infected it means the HIV positive population is growing, so prevention is obviously weaker than treatment. Increased access to ARVs is for those with a CD4 count of less than 350. Those HIV positive individuals with a higher CD4 count are still apparently healthy and sexually active.
Resistance and adherence are looming problems that need to be addressed. Neither of these are helped by the current policy of waiting until a lethal disease such as HIV TB or cancer manifests itself then beginning treatment. In response to these problems, universal testing, universal early treatment and universal sex education in schools are suggested even although there will be objections raised about the cost of these steps.
The dream of getting to zero can only be realized if the Zambian people take their destiny into their own hands by owning the response and actively preventing new infections.

A Pastoral Letter: Seeking Justice for All

This summarises the recent pastoral letter from the Council of Churches in Zambia.

In a recent pastoral letter this month called ‘Seeking Justice For All’ the Council of Churches of Zambia met to discuss national issues, governance and the poor in Zambia. These Churches continue to advocate for social justice, peace and development, speaking for the voiceless

As regards politics and government the CCZ was concerned with the apparent direction the Government has been taking recently and it has not always been towards a better Zambia. The well-being of the elite is prioritized, infighting, hostile language and selfish desires appear to take precedence over care for the underprivileged.

The acquittal of those concerned in the corruption case over the theft of billions of Kwacha ear-marked for the health of Zambians is worrying. The Anti-Corruption Commission is considering an appeal. If those who have been released are not-guilty the question still remains: who then took the money?

In Bye-Elections the electorate in the affected constituency should not be threatened with underdevelopment unless they vote for the ruling party’s candidate. People have a right to make a free choice. Similarly the electorate should not be bribed by misusing Government resources, such as relief food and quick-fix development. Campaigns should be undertaken in a clean and non-violent manner.

Finally the CCZ encourages participation in and commitment to the 16 day campaign to reduce gender-based violence. This has an enormous bearing on improving the quality of life, poverty reduction and the enjoyment of an abundant life for many.

SEEKING JUSTICE FOR ALL

Proverbs 21:7 and 8

Towards Seven Decades of Christian Unity and Service

(1945 – 2012)

THUS FAR THE LORD HAD LET US

1 Samuel 7:12

A PASTORAL LETTER

NOVEMBER, 2012

1.0 Preamble

We, the Heads of Churches under the umbrella of the Council of Churches in Zambia met on 7^th November, 2012 to reflect and to deliberate on a number of matters pertaining to the livelihood of the people in Zambia especially the poor. We also took time to interrogate national issues as we see them unfold in the nation which have direct bearing on the well-being of our country Zambia and impact negatively on the lives of the Zambian people. We also deliberated on governance issues in general.

We continue to reaffirm our role in the Nation as people who advocate for social justice, peace and development and as such we intensely endeavor to protect the interests of the majority of the voiceless people in Zambia. Our inspiration always comes from the prophetic voice according to the word of God. We believe we are obliged to bring to the nation an enlightened Christian opinion on issues affecting the spiritual, physical, social and well-being of Zambians and we offer a holistic ministry for human dignity informed by God’s truths and God’s desire that all may live a life of abundance.

2.0 State of Politics in Government

2 Sam 23.3b-4 “……. He who ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun riseth, a morning without clouds, as the tender grass spring out of the earth, by clear shining after rain.” (2 Sam 23.3b-4)

The Council of Churches in Zambia continue to believe that the government still has good will from the people of Zambia. The same good will Zambians exhibited during the last general elections when the Government was ushered into office in September, 2012. We hasten to say, however, that we are concerned with the direction in which the Government is leading our Country Zambia. This concern has been prompted by the way the Government has set itself to repeat all the things that the Zambians said they did not appreciate in the previous governments. This trend is a threat to the aspiration of the Zambian people who had hoped to see new dispensations, new ideologies, new work ethics, new values and new focus on the improvement of the lives of the people. People believed the promise of a better Zambia.

So far indications are that not much has changed as we continue to see concentration on the well-being of the leaders rather than the led. The leadership wrangles, in full view of the nation, perpetuated by very senior members of Government are an indicator of lack of vision, insight and discipline in the government ranks. The hostility and the language used are destructive. This state of affairs is disheartening and should not be tolerated by the party in government. Zambians are not interested in wrangles of people jostling for positions, but only want to see proper and long lasting development in the nation as they were promised before the elections. The wrangles are only taking away people’s confidence in the government. We call upon the President to bring these wrangles to an immediate stop. The news on conflict in our media should be replaced with plans of where and how the government intends to develop Zambia and lead her out of her poverty. This is the basic reason that the Zambians voted the current government into power; to bring long lasting development that takes precedence over all personal, selfish desires of individuals.

3.0 Fight Against Corruption

2 Peter 2:19 – While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

The acquittal of Mr Henry Kapoko and his accomplices is very suspect in our view to say the least. This takes away the confidence that people have in the government to effectively fight corruption. This is not the first time that a high profile case has just fizzled out of the face of the earth. We want to encourage the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), who have expressed that they would appeal this case, to boldly go ahead and do it in a way that it will be a water tight case. The Zambians would like to see the case dealt with to its logical conclusion. It concerns the loss of billions of Kwacha meant for the well-being of Zambians and for the case to be disposed off in the manner that it has been is very sad and very suspicious. This case, if not properly determined will only erode confidence of the people who generously provide the resource for the betterment of the people of Zambia especially those living with HIV/AIDS. The question we are asking is; if Mr Kapoko is not the embezzler then who is? This case must not be allowed to just go away. Someone must be held responsible for the disappearance of the money meant for development.

4.0 By-Elections

Mathew 5:9 – Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God.

We have noted the tendency by the new government to use the same language that has been used over the years to intimidate Zambians during the elections, to frighten the electorate into submission with statements like “we shall not bring development to this place if you do not vote for our candidate”. This type of campaign messages is erroneous and unacceptable. Many people in Zambia contribute to the national resource basket in terms of paying all kinds of taxes and therefore whether they vote for one party or another they are all entitled to development because they are all Zambians. Governance issues are not the same as party issues. Government’s role is to develop the country on behalf of all Zambians. Politicians must take note that all people have the right to freely elect leaders of their choice as this is their constitutional right and should not be deprived of their livelihood because they voted for a different party.

Misuse of government resources, just like before, continues unabated. The sudden appearance of relief food, quick fix development belongs to the past and is not expected of the Government which promised Zambians new type of politics.

The Council of Churches is encouraged with the campaigns in Mufumbwe. It is our prayer that these by-elections will proceed and conclude in a non-violent manner. All parties who are taking part in the elections must exercise maximum maturity, self-control, self- restraint by all means. We are encouraged by the political parties demonstration of maturity in Mufumbwe which has been done in a non violent manner so far. We have said this before and we say it again that we will not accept members of parliament who to go Manda Hill riding on the blood-soaked backs of poor innocent Zambian due to selfishness and impunity of some politicians. We will accept nothing short of clean politics for a change in this country.

5.0 Gender Based Violence

Ephesians 4:31-32 – Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice. And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

The Council of Churches in Zambia will participate together with other stakeholders in the forthcoming 16 days of activism through a worship service, TV and radio programmes, bible studies, youth indabas. This occasion we believe provides a good platform for the church fraternity to show commitment to reducing Gender based violence which has become endemic in the nation. We, therefore, call upon all our member churches to ensure that they all participate in their various locations in this important programme. It has become imperative that we join forces with the government and other stakeholders to fight this ugly phenomenal in our country. As a church we should ourselves take serious steps in embracing GBV programmes in all our churches. This requires that we not only participate in the 16 days of activism but that we make it our business to put this matter on top of our programmes as it has a huge bearing on the improvement of quality of lives for the people, reduction of poverty and enjoyment of dignity for all as God intented it to be.

We wish all Zambians well.

Signed by: The Rev Suzanne Matale

General Secretary

For and on behalf of the Heads of Churches of CCZ member-churches

Lozi Names Part 3

We have just returned from furlough in Scotland. During our leave we were blessed by the birth of two more granddaughters. Our granddaughters have also been given the Lozi names: Sepo, Matauka and Lieto which are listed below. I have listed in a summary all the enquiries concerning the meaning of names to the blog from this year in alphabetical order for ease of reference.



AKAFUNA They are troubling themselves

AKAKANDA One who doesn't spoil - a trusted person

AKAMANA One who cannot finish

AKAMANDISA They cannot make me a hero. Respect and dignity are earned

AKATOKWA You will need something in the future

AONGOLA If they strengthen me. Challege to enemy to show real courage

ETAMBUYU One who swears by Mbuyu

IKACANA Small one

ILUKUI Fierce one

IMUTOWANA Finder

INONGE Complaints

KALIMA Cultivator/Farmer

KALUMIANA Little Man

KANETA Little fighter

KASIKU Born at night

KAWANA 1. Finder 2. Small dish

KETIWE Chosen

KUNYIMA From the past

KUSIYO Pertaining to rank

KWALOMBOTA To follow them

LIETO Born en route

LIKANDO Suffering

LIKEZO Acts, Deeds

LIMPO Gifts

LISELI Light

LIWAO Sun or day

LIYWALI Bad Day

LUBASI Family

LUBINDA Stubborn, Argumentative

LUNGOWE Beauty

MASALISO Consolation

MASINGE Roofing sheets

MATAUKA The lost one

MBANGWETA He'll swear in my name

MBUYOTI Blessing

MEEBELO Place of anger or a manner in getting angry

MONDE Born in the first quarter of the moon

MOOTO Soft one

MUBUYAETA - PUMULO Resting one cf PUMULO

MUCHIMAEZI Karanga name

MUHAU Grace

MUIMUI Bad one

MUITUMWA Someone for whom something is sent

MUKATIMUI Bad woman

MUKELA The one who came

MUKUBESA One who plays with you

MUKUMBUTA Hermit

MUKUNGU Hippo path or tunnel

MULIWA One who is eaten

MULIWANA One who finds it

MUNALULA Cruel one

MUNGANDI Village near Kalabo

MUSA Mercy

MUTTAU Large Lion Lion Clan name

MUUKA The returnee

MUYATWA One who has been judged

MUYOYETA Redeemer

MUYUNDA Peeper

MWAKA 1.Year 2. Beloved

MWALA The onlooker

MWANALUSHI Born in the bush

MWANGALA Joy cf TABO

MWANGANA Someone who meets someone or something

MWENDA Traveller

NAKUBYANA One who eludes you

NALIKENA Pure

NALUMINO Cursed one

NAMAKAU Many hoes.

NANDEMA Weight

NANDILA One born on the way or path

NAWA Good company

NAWINA One at a women's gathering

NDANGWA I am bound or reconciled

NEO - LINEO Gift - Gifts (Setswana)

NJELWA The poor one

SAASA He is not there. There is nothing.

SABOYI Pertaining to a bad situation

SANALUMBA Belonging to the one that praises

SEPISO Promise

SEPO Hope

SIBESO Plaything

SIMATAA Bad-tempered

SIMATE Blessing (from mati)

SINKA Stop or block

SITUMBEKO Act of igniting

SIYOTO 1.I don't know him. 2. A soft thing cf MOOTO

SONGISO Deceiving Object

TABO Joy cf Mwangala

TAWILA Welcomed from afar

TEBUHO Thanksgiving

TWEMBUCI On our own

WABEI Born under bad circumstances

WAMBULAWAYE One who has nobody of their own

WAMUKWAMBA Born during quarrels

WAMULUNGWE Born at night or in a time of trouble

WAMUN'UNGO Born in a turmoil

WASAMUNU The one who is something belonging to someone else

YAMBOTO Discussion, Current affairs

AVERAGE, MINIMUM AND LIVING WAGES

The Zambian Government has recently raised the minimum wage. This is not before time, as the cost of living continues to rise, making Zambia one of the most expensive countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

It is good, too, that this rise appears to be non-negotiable. There have been the predictable complaints about stifling investment and threats of redundancy from the usual suspects - agri-business, construction, the mines and the Employers’ Federation.

Annual inflation is around 10%. According to the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection, the JCTR’s Basic Needs Basket’s (BNB) for June 2012 total amounts to K3, 395,660 for an average family of five living in Lusaka. See www.jctr.org.zm

The new basic wage, although an improvement, is woefully inadequate. Another JCTR survey shows that low incomes and high living costs make it impossible for people to save any money. In fact, it is even worse, as families all over the country are reducing the number of meals they eat, to eke out family income, so that they can reach pay-day. By raising the tax threshold to K2m or $400, the Government has helped to take many low-wage earners out of the tax bracket.

The minimum monthly wage for domestic workers has increased from K256 000 ($50) to about $105 (K525 000). The wages of other workers - such as shop assistants, farmworkers, and construction workers, will increase from $50 to $220 (K1 100 000).

Almost two thirds of the Zambian population of 13 million people live on a dollar or less a day, and only around 500,000 people are employed by the formal sector, according to the country's Central Statistical Office.

However, with these recent measures, Zambia seems to be giving a nod in the direction of the post-war Beveridge ideal of full-employment, something that was the political consensus here in Britain until the 70s, when tackling inflation became more important than decent jobs for the working population. Now, casualisation, short-term contracts and minimum-waged jobs are the norm.

Since inflation reduces the value of money, neo-liberal governments and the financial sector wish to control it tightly. As a result, we are now beginning to see: greater poverty, a wider gulf between the rich and poor, and the smallest amount of disposable income for many since the 1930s, as people lose their jobs and have their pensions cut.

  Here in Scotland, Members of the Scottish Parliament, MSPs, are trying to ensure that private companies who work for public organisations pay their staff a "living wage" to help those many families who suffer from “in-work poverty”. Child poverty campaigners reckon that 60% of Scottish children live in such households.

The lowest paid worker for the Scottish government now earns at least £7.20 an hour. MSPs want this to be the case for all workers from private firms on contract to the government. £9 billion is spent by Scottish authorities to pay for services provided by private companies, but between a quarter and third of these workers earn less than the living wage.

To make the living wage a condition of any government contract, may breach European Union law some complain. However, European Law is not the Law of the Medes and Persians yet, and should not be used as an excuse to stop doing what is right.

  The Joseph Rowntree Foundation reports that a couple with two children now need to earn £36,800 a year to have a "socially acceptable" standard of living in Britain. This has increased by one third in 4 years, due to rising childcare costs, food prices, utility bills and transport costs, combined with cuts to benefits.

The minimum income standard (MIS) study was commissioned by the Foundation and undertaken by Loughborough University. Its main finding was that increasing numbers of people in Britain live below what is an acceptable standard of living. This MIS standard includes earning enough to eat a balanced diet, run a car and heat a house.

A couple with two children each need £18,400 a year.
Single people need £16,400 a year.
A single parent with a child needs £23,900 a year.
A pensioner couple need £12,000 each.

Like the JCTR basket, the breadline is not being considered, but instead a level of income that is required for an acceptable standard of living.

Childcare has risen by nearly a third since 2008.

Travel:
Bus fares have doubled in 10 years.
Public transport has been cut, so for a family with children, a car has become essential.

The minimum weekly amounts for “socially acceptable” life essentials are listed below.

Childcare: £147.85
Beds and bedding: £3.29
Garden equipment: £0.66

Meat: £18.08
Vegetables: £11.27
Snacks: £3.65

Parent social activities: £30.00
UK holiday: £18.52
Birthday gifts: £8.42

Car: £60.25
Public transport: £12.38
Cycling: £1.40

(Based on a couple with two young children with a weekly income of £685).


All this talk about minimum wages, living wages, MIS or BNBs in Scotland, Britain and Zambia leads on to the question: "What is the world's average wage?". The United Nations' International Labour Organization (ILO) recently had a go at working it out.
First, they worked out the total wage bill for every country in the world. To do that, they took the average salary from each central statistics office, and multiplied that amount by the number of earners in each country. Unfortunately, the data covered only 72 countries and only formal wage earners were counted - not the self-employed or people on benefits, so in some countries the data is incomplete. Then they added the total wage bill for each country, and divided that by the total number of earners in the world. That gave an average salary of $1,480 (£928) a month, which is almost $18,000 (£11,291) a year.

The ILO then used a specially adjusted exchange rate called Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) dollars. One PPP dollar is equal to $1 spent in the US. This is because it is cheaper to live in some countries than others. In other words, it takes account of what dollars can buy in each particular country, compared with the United States.

Some Average Salaries in PPP$:

Luxembourg:  $4,000 Monthly; $48,000 Yearly
US & UK: $3,000 Monthly; $37,000 Yearly
Bulgaria: $1,500 Monthly; $18,000 Yearly
Tajikistan: $225 Monthly; $2,700 Yearly

The world average comes to $75 a day for a 20-day working month - but a third of the world's population lives on less than $2 a day, and no account has been taken of child labour, pensioners, children and stay-at-home parents, and the self-employed. The number of self-employed is also huge. In developed countries, about 90% of working people are paid employees, but that figure is much lower in many developing countries.

In Zambia, most people are self-employed or work as independent farmers, and less than 20% of workers are salaried. In the same report, ILO Global Wage Report 2010/11, the PPP$ minimum wage for Zambia was given as $77 per month or $924 per annum, which is not the same as the average, but nonetheless it gives a good idea of the starting threshold. In 2011, Zambia was surprisingly awarded middle income status by the World Bank, with an annual Gross National Income per capita of $1160, even though the average national wage remains under $100 per month.

GREGOR & SARAH’S WEDDING

We have been out of circulation recently.

Last Wednesday, we set out as the vanguard of the Waddell Clan’s outing to North Wales and Chester, for Gregor and Sarah’s wedding.

We took over 2 holiday houses near Wrexham for a week. Ruairidh and Lucy had arrived on the Tuesday from Zambia, and caught up with Gregor overnight in Chester before moving to be with us. Fiona had already flown home to Australia. Their second baby is due on 19 September.

Keith, Ida and Mubita left Edinburgh and went through to Catriona’s and Kirsten’s to pick up some of their katundu. They would be travelling down the next day with Stuart and baby Iona and what with prams and other infant impedimenta, their boot would be packed tight.

We continued comfortably down the M6, then M52, and finally to the North Wales Expressway to Rossett. We took a short break at a service station outside Lancaster, where Keith was bombed by a gob of guano from a low flying bird of the air. This we took as a good augury for the forthcoming nuptials!

We met up with Sarah, Gregor, Ruairidh and Lucy, and had a convivial family supper at a local inn that evening.

On Thursday, we got ready for the Glasgow contingent who arrived in the afternoon. Another expedition that afternoon was taking Lucy and Mubita shopping for shoes without the benefit of reins, or the pushchair, which was still to arrive from Dubai. Ida suffered a similar misfortune with her luggage both on the way to Washington and on the way back. So it is not just on the Jo’burg – Livingstone run these things happen.

On Friday, Gregor had the day off, so he came to join us for his last day and night of bachelorhood. It was good spending time in the Church, Northgate in Chester, seeing the creative and artistic way Sarah and Gregor had decorated the sanctuary. We helped to decorate and prepare the hall for the reception. That evening we organized a braai for both families.

On the Saturday, the maids of honour withdrew to Chester to visit the hairdressers and to dress, while the groomsmen and lady arrived at our house to get ready. Ruairidh was best man and Kathy and Anthony, both from Auchencruive student days, were together with Sarah’s sister’s husband, Paul, and the others. It was a kilted affair, reflecting the groom’s Scottish extraction. Other than a thunderstorm over lunchtime and the non-arrival of the groom’s family taxi, the wedding was a relaxed and laid-back event. The Church was full of family, friends and their children, including the confetti elves; Mubita, Leo, Nancy and Lucy.

The service was made especially personal and memorable through the warm message delivered by Brian, the vows led by Dave, the readings by Sally and Keith, and the prayer offered by Laurence and Bethan. This was followed by canapés and champagne while the photos were underway. The Bride and Groom then arrived at the reception for the vegetarian buffet. An English Country Dance Band provided the music for the ceilidh, held in the Church building, after the meal. The cake was cut and served during the interval. The last dance took place, the bride and groom left and those remaining returned the seating in the sanctuary to order for the Sunday Service.

We had a good family time on Sunday, with various comings and goings. After breakfast, Stuart, Kirsten, Iona and Catriona all left for Glasgow. We had Mum and Dad around for lunch, and Gregor and Sarah for supper. The newly-weds left on honeymoon on Monday. We drove Ruairidh and Lucy to Manchester airport on Tuesday evening. They are now safely back in Australia. We arrived back in Edinburgh, a week after leaving.

On Friday we had an interesting lunchtime spot at St John’s Episcopal Church, as part of the Festival of Spirituality and Peace. As part of the World Church in Action, we were invited to take part in a conversation about our work in health and education at Mwandi, sharing about our faith and how this was connected to social justice, development and peace. The Convener of the World Mission Africa & Caribbean Committee, Rev Dr Russell Barr, chaired the discussion. We appreciated seeing some friendly faces from World Mission as well.

On Sunday we were invited back to Callendar Kirk. We took part in the service and had the opportunity to let the congregation see how important teamwork was in our work, and the commitment it required to work together with others at Mwandi, in the Church, the hospital, schools and wider community. We were able to show a PowerPoint simultaneously, to reinforce this. It was good to meet up with old friends there afterwards, and enjoy some special fellowship over lunch.