FINALLY, ACCESS TO THE INTERNET . . .

Apologies for the lack of communication on my part. I have been in Chipata now for two weeks and in Zambia for a total of three weeks. I am trying very hard to adjust to the pace of life here. The red tape doesn't bother me as much, as I have experience waiting and waiting and, well, waiting for government agencies to pass papers through in the United States. Here, the wait is a bit longer, but there is a ton of exciting planning work to keep me busy. There's a lot to report and many ups and downs since I first arrived.

As soon as we landed, I was immediately taken by the wonderful Zambian air. We stepped onto the tarmac from British Airways and I could feel this light breeze lifting the hair off the back of my neck. I expected something drier and instead was rewarded with a refreshing, rainy season breathe. I hear in June, the weather gets insanely dry and hoooooot!!

I've met my co-volunteers, mainly from England and we all appear to experience our share of ups and downs. Some handle the frustration better than others and so I try to learn from the cool cucumbers.

Our in-country induction was full of information about gender, working, and in general living in Zambia. During this time, the volunteers were able to meet up with some of their employers from around the country. I was assigned after all to a district called Chipata in the Eastern Province. I work at the Chipata Municipal Council as a Town Planning Advisor. I was one of the lucky ones - my coworkers gave me a short briefing on their general goals for the first six months that I am here. And, I have been working very quickly to assess the town and country planning situation here by reading all the relevant documents. So far, I've worked out some plans to address one of their most pressing problems, which is unplanned settlements, and am now roughly sketching the settlment layout and other amenities. This project, however, is one of many and I expect to provide some details on them later on in the coming months.

I live in a motel. While the accomodations are good because we get running water, a flushing toilet, and a bath, I don't get to cook and try out some of the recipes we have been given. Privacy is also something of the past at the motel. On my first night, I could have sworn I saw two men standing over my bed, but I was a bit ill and couldn't tell if I was dreaming in the middle of the night. I told the desk clerk about this and she said there is only one key. However, in the last two weekends, three other people have managed to enter my room using a magical spare key. Being intruded upon is unnerving, to say the least, and I am now forced to deal with these break-ins more strictly. A little concerned about my personal safety and feeling the stress of getting a very typical response: circumvension and denial.

Until next week . . .

But, keep the funds coming. I will continue to fundraise over the next months. Remember, my goals is to raise a minimum of $2,000.

IN FLIGHT

So, the last few hours were a little hectic and filled with travel. I was dropped off at the Amherst Center at 8:30a.m this morning (2/17/2011), where I sipped a cup of coffee at Amherst Coffee, but the last several hours have been spent transferring from the bus to the subway to the AirTrain, before finally disembarking at Terminal 7.

I've just had a nice club sandwich at Starbucks and am a bit groggy from the Sam Adams pint I nursed a few hours ago. I think I might nap a few minutes at my gate before my flight boards. The time now reads 8:56p.m and I still have about an hour and a half to ward off before I am in flight.

There was a bit of hesitation on the part of the British Airways ticketing agent about my flight in light of the Homeland Security rules, but after much explaining and some verification of my documents and my placement with Lusaka, I was allowed through and am now swettled in at the airport. Airports - where I feel I am living now after two weeks of going in and out of them.

The long process of waiting for a placement is finally over. It was worth it for this opportunity. 

ONE MORE DAY FORWARD

Today is Tuesday. One more day towards my departure on Thursday, February 17th for Zambia. I received word from my advisor that I will be placed in the Chipata District instead to help strengthen municipal planning and to assist the planners working there. Meanwhile, I am gradually moving towards completion of my preparation, including temporarily suspending my cell phone service until August, at minimum. Tomorrow will involve more packing and  errands-running to facilitate my transition to the Chipata District.

Here is an update on my fundraising activity. I finally checked my company e-mail and found a message there from Byron Koh, who informed me that he is sending a $50 contribution to CUSO-VSO. The amount helped me to break the $400 threshold, bringing my grand total raised to $435. Thank you, Byron. I am as always grateful for any help.

SKWID Training

I just returned mid-week last week from the very intense, very fast paced SKWID training required of all CUSO-VSO volunteer newbies, otherwise known as the Skills for Working in International Development or Preparing for Change training in Ottawa, Canada. I must say, my brain is still processing all of the information and skills we practiced using role plays. The two trainers covered a LOT of different topics related to interpersonal skills, living in a different culture, and learning to manage emotions in the context of different surroundings. To belabor an obvious goal, the training forced us to imagine ourselves in different scenarios while in volunteering in our respective placements.

We ate well, became better acquainted, and fretted over our personal worries. We came from different parts of North America and Europe and are also headed to different parts of the globe. One volunteer, in fact, flew directly to Mongolia immediately after our five day training; she arrived safely.

But, now, I'm back in Sunderland, preparing my documents for entry into Zambia and planning my luggage. Pretty soon, you'll be reading more details about my work there.

Remember, you can still sponsor me with your $10 donation. The best way to do that at this point would be to visit MY FUNDRAISING PAGE on this blog site and give using your credit card.

NSHIMA: ZAMBIA'S STAPLE FOOD

Nshima with relish (Miwzenge S. Tembo, Ph.D.)

Because I like food and find anything new and exotic interesting, I'll try it (barring, of course, some proteins that I might not be able to stomach). I have been wandering cyberspace in search of different Zambian foods in preparation for my volunteer placement, and came upon some informative articles about Zambians' staple foods.

It seems that Zambians rely on tubers and grains for their main dish, nshima, sort of like rice in the Philippines. Rice is used in various ingredients, including deserts, but is eaten most commonly as the plain, boiled form. Like Filipinos, Zambians eat nshima with side dishes, which has been most plaintively called "relish" (ndiwo). Like the "ulam" for Filipinos, the purpose of the relish is to accentuate nshima, rather than to dominate it. Ndiwo are usually made from poultry, dried kapenta fish, or wild greens. These ingredients are sometimes simmered into tasty stews, not unlike the meal illustrated in the photograph highlighted in this blog.

In an earlier blog, I mentioned that maize has become a staple for Zambians because it seems to grow well in the wetter, northern regions of the country. For this reason, nshima is most commonly made from maize, although other vegetables, such as cassava, potatoes, or sorghum, have also been made into nshima.

The relatively inexpensive price of maize also contributes to its status as the Zambian staple and iconic value in Zambian culture. Apparently, the cultural status of nshima is equivalent to the taro in Native Hawaiian society in that Native Hawaiians view themselves as having come from the taro plant. Perhaps to assert that Zambians are nshima is premature at this point - I haven't made it to the country, yet. But, Dr. Tembo implies this when he describes the preparation of nshima as being a community affair.

Also like the Filipinos, Zambians have traditionally eaten with their hands. Washing one's hands, therefore, is important for cleanliness and is a moral ritual. 

Dr. Tembo offers this rather simple recipe to try.
4 Cups Water
2 Cups plain corn meal
Boil 4 cups of water in a pot. Gradually add the corn meal into the boiling water until the 2 cups have been added. Stir the mixture until it boil sand thickens.Once the mixture has thickened, simmer for 3 to 5 minutes.

The preparation of ndiwo is somewhat more complicated, as the wild greens have to be cured and intricately prepared to get the right texture. I suggest reading Dr. Tembo's blog to understand how to do this:
<http://people.bridgewater.edu/~mtembo/menu/nshima/nshima.shtml>



Fundraising Updating:
Jon Loper contributed this week, which brings the grand total to $385. Help me break $400 this weekend by sponsoring me with a $10 donation, now.

A BETTER ORIENTATION TO THE SINAZONGWE DISTRICT

Location of Sinazongwe, next to Lake Kariba (in blue).

I was perusing the internet and came upon a Red Cross Vulnerability Capacity Assessment (VAC) report about the Sinazongwe District. Because I will be placed here, I thought it good to better acquaint myself with the district, following up on a previous blog, which highlighted some of the broad geographical characteristics of the district. The Red Cross report gave important information about education, health, and livelihoods, in which I thought many of you might have great interest.

The Sinazongwe District, populated by 11,528 people, is an elongated area situated at the very southern part of Zambia, comprised of two Chiefdoms: the Sinazongwe and the Mweemba. It is just to the northeast of Livingston, another major city in Zambia. It is a mountainous district with small pockets of settlements in the lowlands. The location of the district at the vortex of major roads leading to cities, Maamba, Choma, and Malima, has influenced the development of it into a rest stop for travellers.

The ethnic groups, who make up the Sinazongwe District, are the Valley Tonga. The primary livelihood here is livestock, specifically cattle and goats, and fishing. The reason so much of the economy depends on these two primary sectors is because the district is generally extremely arid and has had problems with droughts in past years. This was especially the case in the early 2000, when the area benefitted from very little rain. As such, agricultural crops are difficult to raise in the district, creating many food and economic challenges for the residents. Nevertheless, the Tonga people who reside in the valleys cultivate small plots of land of less than a hectare. The condition of the soil in the valley, moreover, are not very fertile, which poses another food access challenge for the people.

In 2007, however, the Sinazongwe district was victim to severe flooding, which took out the bridge connecting it to Lusaka and other major city ports around the country. About 100 houses, made of mud, were decimated. The district is still reeling from the impact of the floods.

The district is also home to the largest, if not the only, coal mining industry in Zambia, which has resulted in the population growth and development of the district. The conditions of the mine, however, have not met safety standards and is on its last breath. The district government is hoping to sell it if it can find a buyer. The mine, unfortunately, has led to environmental and health problems for the community, so continuing to mine coal may not be such a fortuitious endeavor, especially because maintenance and improvement would cost the prospective company and the district government some money to upgrade.

Land tenure is designated as Trust and Traditional. The former falls under the control of the President vis-a-vis the Commissioner of Lands, whereas Traditional land tenure is the domain of the Chief, who then determines occupancy and use rights allocations. Men usually make the decisions on land use, while women are relatively dis-empowered in this domain.

Public transportation is available, but most roads are not paved. The only ones that are paved lead to the mine and to service areas, an indication that development of the transportation system has been connected to major corporate investment projects. While electric power is available in select towns in the district, telecommunications is poor, which creates a problem for me. I think this means I have to come up with an alternative means of communicating my progress in my placement during my tenure here.

Sanitation throughout the district is also poor. The drought conditions create problems with water availability. The paucity and unsophisticated sewage and water infrastructure causes health problems and makes residents susceptible to cholera outbreaks and to diarrhea outbreaks, both of which contribute to dehydration and later death. There is a desire to build more pit latrines as well as a well-designed water infrastructure that allows residents to access clean and drinking water. Presently, they gather water from the streams and do not boil them.

The health problems associated with poor sanitary conditions is compounded by HIV/AIDS and malaria. Malaria vaccines are, therefore, greatly needed by the residents. HIV/AIDS is exacerbated by prostitution in the area. Girls are known to be sold into prostitution due to household poverty. Respiratory tract infection, because of the district's mining activities, have also been discovered to be a major health issue among the residents.

One of the weaknesses of the district is in education. The Red Cross VAC documented 40 schools offering education from the first grade through high school. The report gave no mention of vocational training programs for adults in basic construction skills or in skills that would augment livelihood activities for a larger market. Vocational training programs might help the district move in the direction of future sustainability if the right skills and knowledge were offered.

In the next blog, I will write more about food production and food security in the district.

Lake Kariba

Makonkoto School

Distressed Man

(All images on this blog are courtesy of picsearch.com)

Fundraising Note: This weekend, I received more donations from residents in Amherst. Thank you to Susan, Robert, and my aunt, Chona. My old floor mate in Cashin Hall at UMASS-Amherst also helped my with my fundraising effort. Together, they gave $95 this weekend, which brings my total funds raised to $375. Thank you once again to everyone who has sponsored me. I hope to break $400 by next weekend.

THE COMPLEXITY OF LAND USE AND LAND LAWS IN ZAMBIA

Why is understanding land use and land use laws important?

Land has been credited for securing means to a livelihood and hence for building wealth. Because land renders socio-economic assets, under conditions of land constraints and/or scarcity, land has been a reason for ethnic conflicts and civil wars. In Third World countries, land is conventionally regulated as a common-use resource, albeit owned by a chieftain. Therefore, laws affecting land use and the resources featured within the land spaces are imposed from above. When exogenous actors gain access to land and corresponding resources as an outcome of political relationships, such as colonialism, foreign-trade, etc., local village access and entitlements are restricted. Understanding land use is, therefore critical to understanding how to manage and regulate land ownership and use.

Land use, access, and management in Zambia, not unlike other developing countries, has been affected by trade and colonial relations. Land ownership today is guided by customary law and common law. The former, customary law, stems from African customs and is the method by which Zambians conduct their land activities, which include contractual claims regarding marital inheritance, ownership, and disputes. Zambians mediate land activities in the local courts, which in judicial language means the lower district courts.

Common law is derived from the establishment of the English colonial government in 1924, which placed significant hectares of land as Reserves or that of the British Crown. The latter was open to only Europeans, an edict that forcibly evacuated Zambians, but reserves were open to Africans. Reserved lands are located in some of the most agriculturally prime areas. After colonialism ended in 1964, Zambia acquired formerly Crown lands that are now designated as State Land, Freehold, Reserves, and Trust lands.Reserves and Trust lands fall under the de-facto management rights of the Chieftains, although power is diluted, and is a status that was extended to them as a diplomatic gesture. Much of commercial agriculture in Zambia are held in State land, the bounties of which are channeled to urban areas. Now, 94 percent of lands fall under the administration of the Zambian government.

Like most countries, gender ownership has been delayed by customary laws limiting land ownership to men. Civic groups have proselytized for equal opportunity in land ownership laws, arguing that women in ownership of land will encourage productivity because they are likely to invest more in land they own, reduce economic hardship, as land is the gateway to livelihoods, and will empower women, overall.

The climate of Zambia differs across the country, modified by altitude. The southern western areas, home of the Luangwa Valley, are very arid and are prone to erosion, while other parts, specifically the Zambezi area, are flood prone. Around the Zambezi region, rain fall (precipitation) can average as high as 55 inches. Agricultural development is challenged by climatic variations and land use history.

I thank Martin Adams and the Online Edition of Britannica for improving my knowledge of Zambian land use laws.

FUNDRAISING UPDATE: I am now at $280, which includes the checks I have collected at the door and over Christmas. I would like to break $300 by this weekend. Please visit "My Fundraising Page" to the left of this blog and donate today.

Bangweulu Swamps. Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Web. 17 Jan. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/120057/Swamps-

Zambia. Map. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Web. 17 Jan. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/70837/>.]