Reflections from the Zambezi

Getting to Mauritius Mauritius has often been referred to as the honeymooner’s paradise. This is a claim that I often wondered how credible it was. A visit to Mauritius in December 2009 convinced me that indeed Mauritius has the right to make that claim. It is an island in Africa nicely perched on the Indian Ocean with beautiful coral reefs (see first photo below). I travelled to Mauritius on 14th December 2009 to attend a UNESCO Validation Workshop on Case Studies on Education for Sustainable Development. I left Lusaka for Johannesburg using South African Airways in the morning. Later in the evening I boarded Air Mauritius at Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to Mauritius. I arrived in Mauritius at 20 00 hours after a four hour flight. At the airport in Mauritius I was met by Jerome a Tourism student in Mauritius. As I entered the vehicle I was given a wet face cloth to wipe my face and a bottle of mineral water to quench my thirst. This was the first time ever that I...

Mr. Lawrence Chibutu, who died in July 2009, was a headmaster whom one could not easily forget. He was headmaster at Kafue Secondary School, the first black Zambian head. He was headmaster whilst I was a pupil there from 1981 to 1984 when he was seconded to UNESCO. I remember Mr. Chibutu as a disciplinarian. He instilled a sense of discipline in both pupils and members of staff. You certainly did not want to be called to his office for having done some mischief. I also remember him as been a hardworking headmaster that took his work seriously. He would take time to go round classes and the dormitories (hostels) to ensure pupils (boys) were learning studying or sleeping as the case needed to be. He also was keen to ensure that boys and teachers attend morning prayers and Sunday afternoon services. He would ensure he arranged for Preachers to come for the Sunday services. Mr. Chibutu was also was a fatherly and friendly head teacher. Once you got to know him you found that behind...