|
Mazabuka Mumblings
DELUGE DILEMMA My apologies for the brief news flash in last month’s
issue. The thing is, the rain does tend to dominate ones thoughts
when it’s around, hence my waffling on about the weather. After
being away from home for a few weeks in January, I was stunned to
see water cascading down the streets as we drove home through the
town. It was as if a dam had burst its banks, with thick, brown,
muddy litter-ridden stuff churning down the streets into the
overflowing drains.
A
few days later the first cases of the deadly water borne disease,
cholera, were reported in the Kaleya area. Because cholera is
highly contagious, the Kaleya market was closed, large gatherings
were called off and schools were closed. The situation was contained
there but other areas, like Ndeke township with its poor
infrastructure, blocked drains and open stream were likely to
follow. An emergency committee consisting of representatives from
the Ndeke Community School, Plan Zambia, Sister Angela Daly and a
member from the Council got together and formed a task force to try
and prevent cholera from taking hold in the area. Plan Zambia
sourced a supply of chlorine which they have made available to all
the townships in Mazabuka (it is up to the Township Supervisor to
collect their supply from Plan offices, contact Rhoda Sichilongo on
097 520-540). A sensitisation programme stressing the importance
of, amongst other things, boiling drinking water, destroying garbage
and washing hands was carried out. When it was discovered that raw
sewerage was flowing into the Nakambala stream in Ndeke, the Ndeke
Task Force asked Zambia Sugar for help and they immediately sent in
diggers to clear the drains and prevent garbage access to the
stream. The rains have subsided for the time being but because of
the high water table, there is still the danger of contaminated
water, particularly borehole water in Mazabuka. Because of this the
environmental council are discouraging people from building
boreholes for the time being.
On
a positive note, thanks to the abundant rains, the Southern Province
has never looked so amazingly verdant - not quite Ireland, but
pretty green nevertheless.. Crops are looking great, particularly
the maize, tobacco and cane and it’s just that teenie issue of the
strong Kwacha that’s giving producers the odd panic attack.
HOPE FOR SCHOOL LEAVERS – Mazabuka has always been held in high
esteem as a centre of learning, but where does a Grade Nine pupil go
after leaving school? The answer is that they can further their
education and their job chances at St Paul’s doing either Carpentry,
Metal work or Tailoring or they can train in the art of Leathercraft
or Catering with the Mazabuka Youth Project. All of the above are
two year courses and perfect preparation for future employment!
SPORT –Two national sporting events took place in Maz in mid Feb.
Kicking off with athletics, top runners from around the country
descended on the Nakambala Private School running track for the
start of the Zambia Sugar sponsored National Cross Country
Championships. Fourteen teams from around Zambia participated in
the event and once again, the Zambian Army “Green Buffalo’s” were
overall winners. Fourteen year old Namitondo Likana was the home (Nakambala)
side’s top runner. A Midlands and Southern Province boxing event
took place at Nakambala’s Community hall on the same day. Seven
teams took part in this event which was held to select a team to
represent Zambia in the SADC tournament which is being held in
Botswana in June. Four boxers were selected from the Nakambala
team, including the team’s top boxer, Douglas Mbewe |
March
2006