Blousing

On the 25 August we set off to the Annual Women’s Christian Fellowship Western Presbytery Conference. It was held this year at Sefula Mission using the dormitory, dining and conference facilities provided by the UCZ Secondary School there. As well us Keith Ida and Mubita, we travelled with Dorothy Kataknekwa, Mwandi Consistory Choir Director and two other choir members from Mabumbu Congregation, Prisca Sinamu and Georgina Mutuluti.

 

We picked them up at the Celtel Tower on the outskirts of Mwandi and headed for Sesheke for fuel and to drop off some milk formula for little Liseli at the Social Welfare Department. On leaving we learned by text that the Reverend Mandi and wife had just been blessed with the gift of a little daughter, Taonga (Thanks)

 

We made good progress along the M10, the Livingstone-Mongu Road, also called the Nakatindi Road. The tar runs out at Katima Mulilo, but the Chinese who are rehabilitating the road have built a well-graded temporary road all the way to Sioma; it is harder going through Nangweshi and across the Matabele Plain to Kalongola using the untouched old road. Saying that we reached the pontoon ferry 2 hours earlier than our previous trip to Presbytery in November.

The recently acquired Church of Scotland vehicle has made travelling such distances on such surfaces much easier too. The pontoon costs K56 000 (GBP7) for the one-way crossing of the Zambezi. The causeway to Senanga on the other side is still in need of some repair. An hour later we reached Sefula, the whole journey of 375km taking just under 7 hours.

 

There we greeted old friends and we registered, then left to find accommodation in Mongu, as we were tasked with bringing ice and daily provisions. A bus had been hired by Sesheke congregation and around a dozen Mwandi Consistory members had travelled on it. Livingstone had used an overlander truck, they passed us having lunch en route.

Friday and Saturday dealt with Topics based on the theme of Seeking a Transformed Church. The speakers were Ministers from within the Presbytery.

It was moving and humbling to be welcomed ‘home’ by the Provincial Secretary and District Commissioner as descendants of William Waddell who was the artisan Missionary who accompanied Coillard.

 

Since it was a woman’s conference Keith met up with Rev Mubita, the former Moderator of the Church of Barotseland before it joined the UCZ. The book ‘The Spread of the Gospel in Barotseland” by the former Paris Mission Missionaries which is a chronological history from 1885-1965 has been warmly welcomed as a valuable contribution to sources for early Church History in present-day Zambia. The Western Presbytery Bishop has tasked a Committee with doing a similar job from the genesis of the UCZ till the present day.   

 

 

The next day 15km a drive was taken down the K1.3Trillion Mongu to Kalabo Road, still under repair, to the former Royal Capital at Lealui, once a thriving and busy settlement but looking rather drab and run-down. The Royal Palace is now little used, the King (Litunga) lives most of the time at Limulunga. This was a flying visit to Lwatile, a small island in the wet season, where the Paris Missionaries built a Church a clinic and school to serve this area. William Waddell built the church here, though now it is decaying and crumbling but the roof timbers are still in good condition.

 

On Sunday morning a huge congregation gathered outside the Dining Hall under the shade of a grove of stately trees for the ‘Blousing Service’. The Women’s Christian Fellowship are a uniformed group of women who play an important role in the life of the Church, helping to foster unity and oneness. They encourage and help those in difficulties as well as witnessing. They are also an important wing in the social and welfare work of the Church.

 

 

After receiving the invitation to join at last year’s Presbytery Meeting, Ida has undergone training and was bloused with 110 other women from all over Bulozi (Western Province).  She was helped into the blouse by the Rev Akafekwa’s wife and Mrs Mubita tied her headsquare The Bishop Louis Mubita Sipalo gave the charge and welcomed the new members. The benediction was given the Former Moderator the Rev Mubita.

 

After a photo session and farewells we set off for home, meeting 3 cavalcades of campaigning politicians between Senanga and the ferry.

Election and reprobation

Earlier this week the President, Rupiah Banda, dissolved Parliament and set September 20 2011, as the date for presidential, parliamentary and local government election. In response three Church bodies - Council of Churches in Zambia, Zambia Episcopal Conference, and Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia have issued a joint pastoral letter called, ‘A call to vote in peace, truth and justice’.

It is a Christian duty, they said, for citizens to chose their leaders freely and peacefully and to build for peace and avoiding violence. ‘ Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody.’ (Romans 12:18)

They also said that Christians should realise that they had a moral responsibility to vote for candidates who followed the example of Jesus Christ. They suggested too that only leaders with demonstrated integrity, a concern for social justice and with the courage to speak the truth should be elected so that clear and convincing political, economic and social programmes are implemented to reduce poverty and human suffering. This is a timely reminder that politics everywhere are about offering service to the people, especially the needy in society. Politics should not be self-serving or about self-enrichment. Political leaders, the letter continues should respect the needs of fellow human beings and works towards addressing them. This at times calls for personal sacrifice and the realisation that one is serving God's children

In the same letter, the Church criticized the Electoral Commission of Zambia for its refusal to accept parallel vote tabulation (PVT). This position says the Church is undermining ECZ’s independence and reputation as being free from manipulation but there was still time for all parties to reach an amicable solution regarding parallel vote tabulation. We have since heard that CCZ has asked for election monitors from the WCC to help to ensure a free fair and transparent electoral process

The Church urged the media to be fair and courageous in its reporting, the police to be impartial in policing the elections and called for issue-based campaigns.

However, the Church was saddened that these elections would be held still using archaic and discredited laws following the failure of constitutional reform. The Church, therefore, hoped that whoever won the 2011 elections they would commit themselves to revisit and conclude the constitution-making process.

Taking a break ...

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Summer update & prayer requests

We had a special celebration on Trinity Sunday, the induction of Deaconess Given Nanyangwe at Mwandi. It was a joyful time with the presence of the Western Presbytery Bishop, Secretary and Ministers from neighbouring Consistories of Livingstone and Sesheke and their wives.

There were three combined choirs from Mwandi and the outlying congregations who provided a wonderful musical accompaniment to the proceedings. After the service and charge by the Bishop, Deaconess Nanyangwe was presented with gifts from various bodies in the consistory to welcome her, these included an electric stove, a mattress, cooking pots, mealiemeal, chickens (live) and blankets. Deaconess Nanyangwe served at Senanga prior to coming to Mwandi. Deaconesses in the United Church of Zambia often take on the role as Social Workers. A celebration lunch of fried fish, chicken, stewed beef, cabbage buhobe and rice was then served to over 100 invited guests.

This year’s Mission Centre Programme continues at Sooka Church. This is the church that was roofed by Houston and Killellan. Fourteen young people are living there by faith for four months of hard work and study, a balanced combination of the practical and theoretical. It is a call to service, equipping them for incarnational work that is a reflection of the work of God in Christ in the Church and in the world. They are called to be expressions of his transforming love and to be his Body, a Church in Mission, through engagement and involvement in their local communities.

Two weekends ago the Anamoyo met at Sikuzu for a weekend of prayer and fellowship. Ida and the Deaconess and other ladies from congregations through out the Consistory walked there. Keith was drafted in to transport all the supplies and baggage that was needed there and back. It was a memorable occasion holding devotions in the dark round the campfire and sleeping in the church. There was nowhere to hang a mosquito-net so it was a new experience learning to sleep under a blanket with it covering your head. This is what is done in many rural households where there are no mosquito nets. Fortunately at this time of year, the cold season, the mosquitoes are fewer than at other times.

Gregor has just got engaged to Sarah, a lovely Welsh girl he first met at Mwandi where she was a volunteer. Mwandi is gaining a growing reputation as a place where matches are made. To our knowledge there are at least five couples who have married after meeting each other at Mwandi during our time here.

Finally, following the death of the Second President of the Republic of Zambia Frederick Chiluba on Saturday 18 June there are seven days of national mourning. The former President was a strong Pentecostal Christian and came from a background in the Trade Union Movement. He stood against President Kenneth Kaunda in 1991 in the first multi-party election held as the period of the one party African Socialist State, called Humanism in Zambia, was coming to a close. Under his presidency, freedom of expression was guaranteed for the first time, and more controversially the structural adjustment plan to liberalise the economy was implemented and Zambia was declared a Christian nation. On leaving office he was troubled for a long time by allegations of corruption.

We leave you with a number of prayer points:

- We give thanks for Deaconess Given Nayangwe and pray that she and her dependants will settle down and she will be blessed in her role as deaconess ministering to those in need.

- We give thanks for the young people at the Mission Centre at Sooka and ask God’s blessing on them and on Pastor Percy Muleba as he runs the programme.

- We give thanks for provision of funds to build the Community School at Sikuzu and ask God to bless its construction and keep the workers and members of the community working there safe from any injury. We pray that the Lord will continue to meet the other needs to complete the project.

- We pray for continued peace in Zambia as we head towards the election campaign

Mabizo-Names

I think it is easier to answer each of the most recent enquiries in a special posting. (I have tried to reply using the comment box but my replies to Kalumiana and Etambuyu, I see, have still not arrived.)

Firstly, the meaning of Kalumianna it means a small, slightly-built man. It is Siluyana.

It is made up of the diminutive prefix Ka-, the root is –lume (ie mulume - man) and –ana the Sisotho diminiutive suffix.

Etambuyu: I am sorry I can’t be of more help here. I happened to find by chance a copy in Bookworld at Manda Hill about a year ago. It was the only one there at the time and although it had some pages missing I, nevertheless, hastened to purchase it. Amuzume hande!

Thirdly, Grace: Musa is the direct Biblical translation. Nasishemo is another Siluyana equivalent close in meaning to Grace.

Several variants are available for “listener”. The first set of names is derived from Itwi, the Siluyana for ears; therefore, a good listener. Other possibilities are Kamatwi or simply Matwi.

Another related name is Muleteetwi (Muleta-itwi) literally ‘ear-bringer’ so a good listener.

Humble: Noocana (*c is pronounced ‘ch’ and oo is a long o) or Noobu

(Na-ubu) both mean associated with small things so born of a humble family.

Another variation is Ikaacana

Matwi is found in the Siluyana proverb: Matwi a mwelwa luyupela kuule. The ears of pauper hear from afar.

Nasishemo: Lya sishemo ku mutala, lya ng’ole ku moyo. A kind one at home but a cruel one in government.

Another useful little book is Silozi Se Lu Bulela by YW Mupatu first published by NECZAM in 1978. It gives a simple Siluyana conversation and explains other more difficult idioms and proverbs.

I hope this is all of help - Keith

Doughville

Following the G8 Summit in Deauville in France, we hear the promise of more transparency by these Governments with their aid. This will involve the quality and outcomes of their aid. There will apparently now be a two-pronged approach: the quantitative reporting of disbursements and also a qualitative approach based on effectiveness, the measurement of results and best practices.

While this is encouraging, Oxfam have accused the G8 of manipulating figures to cover up shortfalls and ignoring inflation. To improve matters it is suggested Governments sign and implement the International Aid Transparency Initiative which provides a common standard for defining and disclosing aid information. This would make it easier to compare aid budgets and projects.

Transparency is vital to ensure that aid reaches where it is supposed to go. It is useful for taxpayers, NGOs and donors to be more efficient and could help expose corruption. It would help ordinary people to track the money – from the donor down to the jotters delivered to the school, or the vaccines to the rural health post. It will also make it difficult for donors not to give what they have promised in the fight against poverty and injustice. In Zambia it would be good to know how much aid the government is receiving, and how it is disbursed. Aid information needs to be comprehensive, comparable, current and accessible.

This week we learned the Zambian government has just received funding of about US $300 million from the Global Fund after the government returned part of the money and promised to pay back the rest of over K9.1 billion that was mismanaged by recipients. These funds were meant for the fight against HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB.

The re-imbursement of misappropriated funds has been justified by saying Zambia would not have received this new funding had the refund not been not done.But the refund of the misappropriated K9.1 billion to the Global Fund has not come from those who had originally misappropriated the money but from front-line cuts to the Health Budget.

Recent statistics showed that the formal employment sector in Zambia employs only about 10% of the available workforce. With so few formal jobs, small informal businesses such as tailoring, hairdressing or a small grocery stand or tuck-shop known locally as a ‘Kantemba' are run by many families here. Other outlets in Mwandi provide firewood, furniture, vegetables and fishing-nets. Profits from this kind of trade are often small and offer little opportunity to expand the business.

Zambian banks take little interest, though they earn great interest, in lending. The present annual Interest Rate is around 50%. Our nearest bank is in Sesheke over 70km away. The required minimum opening balances range between $150 and $300 depending on the type of account. This is far beyond the reach of most Zambians. Even monthy servicing fees are more than $10. A retired Headmaster we know is charged a K20 000 ‘service fee’ each time he withdraws his monthly pension of K90 000!

With most of the people living on less than a dollar a day, these minimum balances are designed to prevent most people from having access to basic banking services.

More people are instead turning to microfinance institutions (MFIs) which are increasingly becoming more accessible. Two groups, have with American church help, started this month at Mwandi. Unfortunately most people here have still have little choice but to turn to loan sharks.

There are only 25 MFIs registered in Zambia, and the total number of borrowers it is reckoned at less than 100,000. How to make banking services and reasonable credit facilities available and affordable to a majority of Zambians is a problem, but necessary to solve if the economy is to continue to grow and the country develop.

After all this talk of Mammon perhaps a little related linguistic levity is in order, especially for Scottish readers in particular - threats of banker super-injunctions forby. We sometimes get our messages in Katima Mulilo in Namibia which is just across the Zambezi from Sesheke. The two main Banks there rejoice in the names, believe it or not, of ‘FNB’ (Apologies to Matt McGinn!) This officially stands for First National Bank. I leave any locally suggested alternatives to your imagination. The other is called Nedbank! We wonder if this name is a reflection of the corporate leadership or of the clientele

And finally the Chinyanja for ‘No’ – the main language in Eastern Province, is 'Awe' pronounced: Away.

As in away ye go!

Sharing the Burden

25 May is a continent-wide public holiday, Africa Freedom Day. It was chosen by the African Union then (the OAU) as a celebration of the African people’s determination to free themselves from colonialism and foreign exploitation.

Yesterday afternoon we set out for Sesheke. That is the District HQ which is about 70km upstream on the border with Namibia. As usual we were killing two birds with one stone but more about stones later

Our first concern was the father of the little baby girl, Liseli, whose mother had died in childbirth. He had phoned us to let us know she needed more milk formula. We agreed to meet him at the Social Welfare Office for the hand-over. We arrived to the family waiting for us. Liseli, is now no longer sickly, but a healthy, active little two month old baby. After giving the milk Liseli’s asked if we could drop his son at Simungoma as he was being sent to the wife’s family farm to bring back food that they needed. God’s provision in all this was evident as we had been sent a gift for him which had arrived this week.

We also caught up with the District Social Welfare Officer. He would arrange the payment for some bags of maize purchased for Kandiana next week. The heavily-pregnant woman being held in prison had been released by the Magistrate and was back at home in Masese. This is near the Health Centre that we are working with an Irish Jesuit organisation to rehabilitate. We were able to report that Mubita’s mother too, is responding well to the monthly visits and treatment at the Psychiatric Wing at Livingstone Hospital. Ida reported too on the most recent baby to be put on formula as the mother has become psychotic and was refusing to feed the baby.

After some organisational teething troubles on the ground, work on the UCZ Sikuzu Community School has finally commenced. The Steering Committee is now in place and assuming its role to ensure effective and efficient use of resources, human and material in the construction process. Our suppliers had difficulties with a bearing on their truck and were reluctant to deliver to such a ‘remote place’! After much negotiation and assurances that they would not get stuck in sand, they came to Mwandi earlier in the month to pick up the 200 pockets of cement they were to deliver to Sikuzu earlier but could not because of the truck difficulties. There were steel bars and conforce to move as well that we were storing for them.

The first tranche of funding came through the IPC in March and all the cement and materials were bought then and have now been delivered to Sikuzu. There will need to be another three deliveries to bring all the cement that has been ordered. The 704 pockets are enough for the slab and superstructure to ringbeam level. The other 286 bags will be ordered later for the floor screed and plastering.

As you can see from the photo, brick-moulding is progressing apace and work has now begun on foundation footing. 60 tonnes of stones are required for the concrete for the foundations, the slab and ringbeam and our nearest quarry is on the farside of of Sesheke. Hence our trip yesterday. The stones by themselves cost K8 142 000 ($1800 or GBP1200) but the six trips to deliver them will cost much the same K8 051 400!

This morning we have just had a rather distressing visit from a teaching colleague. His nephew, one of our Grade 8 boys, went fishing on the river the day before yesterday in the afternoon to check the nets set earlier. The mukolo (dug-out canoe) he was in, was smashed by a hippo and he fell into the water. All that has been recovered is his jacket. The Uncle was asking if the Mission boat could be used to look for the body....