Chordort - Week Two
I started to write this on Saturday evening but I expect that it will be Sunday before I get it posted. The temperatue was in the mid 30s today and it is still over 20 as the sun goes down. The sun sets here are beautiful, but stay out doors for too long in the evening and you are a prime target for the dreaded mosquitoe . I have been very fortunate not to be troubled so far but I have however caught the sun a little. I do try to stay out of the sun in during the hottest part of the day
The working day here starts at 07.30 and officially ends at 17.30. Although it is only a five minute walk from the house to the Centre I tend not to go back to the house at lunchtime. There is a staff room where folk congregate at 10.00 for the morning smoko (Australian for tea break). The staff are most inquisitive and never stop asking me questions with topics ranging from Margaret Thatcher to the independence referendum. Mr Simataa who is from Sesheke asks the most questions and is very interested in the Scottish Independence debate. Sesheke is in Western Province (Barotseland) which before Zambian independence in 1964 had special status as a British Protectorate. The traditional Monarch of Barotseland is the Paramount Chief, called the Litunga meaning 'keeper or guardian of the earth', who is directly descended from the ancient Litunga Mulambwa who ruled at the turn of the nineteenth century and through his grandson, Litunga Lewanika who ruled from 1878–1916, with one break in 1884-5, who restored the traditions of the Lozi. There has been some unrest in the province of recent times with calls for independence. The population of the Province is about the same as Scotland. The politicians seem to be talking to each other and things are quite now in the province, Zambia remains an oasis of tranquility compared to some other countries in this part of the world
I am now well into the work for the Challenges Worldwide assignment and have spent the week meeting and talking to staff members about their roles and what they see as the challenges for Chodort over the next three to five years. I have lots to read as many of the staff have completed the diagnostic review questionnaire that I sent out the Chodort before I arrived in Choma. I have also started to analyse some of the financial records and have prepared some break-even calculations based on the information to hand. Record keeping is something that needs some attention and I will be addressing this in the coming week. Another area that needs some work is in Costing and Pricing of the work undertaken by the production unit. Mr Mwango, the vice principal is responsible for this. Unfortunately he is not in the best of health and during the time I have been here he has been to Lusaka - a five hour drive - twice to visit hospital. He will be away again at the start of next week, returning on the day that I leave for the Copperbelt. Jenny, the principal at Chordort has some meetings in Kitwe and she has kindly offered to take me with her. I will have three days to catch up with the folk that are still around from the time I lived and worked in that part of the country.
Continued Sunday Evening
Just back from a visit to Lake Kariba. This was not planned for today but came about by chance. I was invited to the Boys Brigade Enrolment Service this morning by one of the carpenters at Chodort. He is the Captain of the Brigade based at St. Stephens church which is in the complex at Chodort. It was quite an event with boys as young as 4-5 being enrolled. I was given one of the best seats in the church sitting next to the Bishop. It was at the end of the ceremony that Vincent, the BB captain told Jenny, Chodort Principle that the father of one of the new students had died at Maamba which is very close to Kariba. Jenny offered to take the student to Mamba and so began the trip to Kariba via Maamba. The economy of Maamba is reliant on Maamba Collieries which is the largest coal mining
operation in Zambia. It is 65% owned by a Singapore based holding company and ZCCM has a 35% equity.
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| The Open Pit at Maamba |
It is an open pit mine with reserves of 140 million tonnes of high grade and thermal grade coal, spread over 1070 hectares. Like most large mining operations in Zambia the company is very much involved in the development of the local infrastructure and community development like construction of roads and bridges and recreational and educational facilities.
After taking the Chodort student to Maamba, as Kariba was so close Jenny offered to take me to Lake Kariba. The road was beginning to show signs of being affected by the rains as most rural roads do that this time of the year. We were fortunate to be in a 4x4 vehicle so although the ride was a little uncomftable we arrived there in one piece and enjoyed our lunch and a cold beer by the lake shore.
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| The Road to Lake Kariba |
Lake Kariba is the world's largest man made lake and reservoir by volume. It forms part of the border between Zambia and Zimbambwe. The lake was filled between 1958 and 1963 following the completion of the Kariba Dam.
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| Kariba Dam |
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| Lake Kariba from Space |
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