Zambia Independence Day 2008

On October 24, 1964, Zambia gained independence from British rule. This year we spent most of this day of celebration at Katungu, one of the communities where ZMF-C has contributed to a fair number of development projects. I was able to enjoy most of the celebrations and Richard joined me after he and our main construction worker, Mr. Daka inspected the progress on the newest 1 x 3 classroom block.

It was a hot day but very enjoyable as many of the 502 pupils, teachers and community members gathered under the big tree in the Katungu School yard. Village life is very simple but harsh, with no nearby water supply and no electricity. All of the children’s games and entertainment come from well developed imaginations and the earth e.g. telling stories, playing with rocks and sticks, footballs made out of bits and pieces of plastic and whatever else, toy cars made with cast off pieces of wire and shoe polish tins!

Mr. Phiri, the grade 6 teacher, had all eyes on him as he told the students quite seriously a news story he’d heard about. “There was a rooster and a knife that got into a fight.” The children are not sure, if Mr. Phiri is serious, or if they should laugh. “The knife won the fight, of course, and the rooster was sent to the mortuary—the cooking pot. Beside the chicken in the cooking pot are the tomato and the onion and a few other vegetables.” Mr. Phiri relayed the gruesome stories of their deaths—by this time the kids are laughing, but trying not to laugh too loud because they don’t want to miss a piece of the story! The crowd of students is mesmerized as he continues, “Then after a while the relatives come to take the body home and of course the relatives are lumps of nsima!” (Nsima is the food staple for Southern Zambians.) By this time the students are in full laughter. Mr. Phiri tells it much better than I; he is absolutely serious as he leaves his story telling station—this is the Zambia News!

The picture above is of the girl’s dancing group. The kids have been practicing their traditional dancing for weeks for this celebration!

Celebrations continued until evening in all places. We caught some of what was going on at Kalomo High School but did not enter the school ground as there were MASSES of high school kids there! KHS was joined by NCSS and Mwaata schools for traditional dancing competitions and games.

October 30 is the Zambian election for president to replace the late President Mwanawasa. Schools will be closed that day! Pupils have already starting writing their final grade 12 exams. And yes, the election has altered the exam schedule! That may cause results to be late!