From Lusaka

From our first look Lusaka is the most liveable city we have been in on our trip. The major road from the airport has a huge sign stating “Gift of the people of Japan”. Even in the middle class suburbs there has been curbing and no potholes. We are told there are very poor sections of town.

We received a great welcome from Daf and Zebina Kaonga. It is 23 years since we last were together in Brisbane.  A big surprise was meeting up with Kallipochi, Daf’s cousin, who also did post grad work at UQ and attended Taringa Baptist with us. Our first stop was a doctor for Greg who has had low grade diarrhoea for a week. Tested negative for malaria. Some other tests results to come back yet but he has a started an antibiotic. The labs and pharmacy were all in the same complex. It cost a breathtaking 369,000 kwachas! That is actually only A$69.

Zebina and Daf are definitely upper middle class here. Daf has an executive role on the cotton Regulatory Board which has international scope. Zebina is the personnel manager for the US Peace Corp in Zambia (has 230 volunteers with 2 year commitment in the rural areas of Zambia). Kallapochi had been living in Botswana and not finding work. His wife Mercy has a doctorate in vet and works at a Botswana Uni. Kallipochi has returned to Zambia and scored a longish contract as a Zambian representative on the newly formed SADEC – South African Development Economic Community? – made up of 15 African nations mostly south of the Equator. It is like ASEAN.

Daf and Zebina’s home is very humble but comfy. Wages are low. They employ a housegirl, Monde. She also helps care for Sepo, the 3 year old granddaughter they are raising at present. Sepo’s mum, Eva (who was 3 when we knew her) is studying in Canada. Nkumbu, Eva’s brother, is 22 and also at uni in Canada. There is also a gardener/security man, Ba Tambo, who lives behind the house.

L-R: CJ, Ruth (family membrs), Ruth & Sepo, Zebina in front,Dafolin, Kallippochi.

Zebina and Monde cooked a feast for dinner. I loved the cold potato salad. I had forgotten how good Nshema is. It is their staple food made from maize and looks a bit like mashed potato. Several of Daf’s family came by to welcome us. We had a wonderful time together.

We have also slept well. They booked us into a guesthouse which is very comfortable.  Internet hard to come by again.