Reflections from the Zambezi

On 11th December, 2013, exactly 2 weeks before Christmas, a dark cloud hung over our family when we lost our young brother Tendai. Tendai was the last born in a family of five. He died at the age of thirty and having just graduated from his studies a few weeks earlier in November 2013. This article reflects on events leading to Tendai's death and some lessons that can be gleaned from his death. Events leading to Tendai's death Tendai was first admitted to the University Teaching Hospital on 30th November, 2013. At the time when I received a text message from my young sister Catherine that Tendai was unwell, I was at a Christmas musical concert with Sepo my son. We had to leave before the end to rush to the hospital. Tendai was brought to the hospital by Pastor Chisenga and Mr Mwami, our tenants in Emmasdale. He was admitted to the Filter Clinic and later transferred to the wards in the course of the week. Each time we visited him he looked better and certainly better...

I found this blog article by Tim Unwin on Ebola and Security quite interesting. Read on... I had a weird experience on arriving at Los Angeles Airport yesterday.  For the first time ever, there was almost no queue as I approached the border guards for passport checking.  However, I did notice that they were wearing bright blue gloves.  My mind then starting putting two and two together, and I realised that the US was starting to put into practice border checks for people with possible Ebola entering the country.  As I read the press this morning, I note increasing anxiety across the more developed countries of the world, especially here in the USA as it is  reported  that “A Texan health worker who treated Ebola victim Thomas Eric Duncan before he died is also infected with the virus, according to a preliminary test”. However, as I lent forward to put my fingers on the fingerprint reader I realise just how ridiculous this is.  If someone with Ebol...

SCOOPING first place in the recently held National Jets quiz for junior category as well as Science Olympiads was both an overwhelming and challenging experience for me. Before the beginning of such an event, it is rare for one to feel happy and be calm.  My friend, Blessing Kalunga and I were selected to represent the province at the national level after we won the provincial competition. Both of us are from St Mary’s Secondary School in Lusaka and we are in the same grade nine class.  This year’s jets fair was held at Ndola National Technical High School from 10th to 15th August 2014.  The participants first lodged at David Kaunda National Technical High School before departure for Ndola. This was to enable students study and polish up their projects.  We left Lusaka about 09:00 hours. At about 13:25 hours, the bus stopped in Kabwe so that everyone could buy food.  The journey from Kabwe to Ndola was quite long. When we finally reached Ndola, the bus driver ...

The following article gives highlights of the tributes and sermon during the Funeral service of the late Ray Munsaka. The service was held on 15th April 2014 at Central Baptist Church in Chingola. Ray was born on 20th July 1968 in Choma according to the life history read out in church by a close relative. He did his Bachelors Engineering degree at UNZA from 1989 to 1993 and his Masters Degree in Augsburg in Germany. A number of tributes were made at the funeral.  The first tribute was by Melvin Munsaka, brother to Ray who was also my lecturer at UNZA. The tribute was read by Thomaidah, a niece to Ray. In his tribute, Melvin mentioned of how close he was to Ray and how Ray was there for his family. He expressed his anger at those entrusted with keeping our roads safe and our health care system for not giving them the priority they deserve. He described Ray as the shining star of the family. He expressed eternal gratitude to God for sending Ray to their family.  ...

It has been said by some women looking for life partners that a good man is hard to find. Perhaps from their perspective they could be right. A good and godly man then should be even harder to find. In remembering Mwamba Chibuta who went to be with the Lord on 3rd January 2014, one could say he was both a good and godly man. I would like to reflect on the life of Mwamba from three perspectives:  Mwamba as a friend, Mwamba as a family man and Mwamba as a Bible teacher. Mwamba Chibuta ministering at church Mwamba as a friend I first got to know Mwamba Chibuta at Lusaka Baptist Church in the late 1980s where we both members. He struck me as a cool and thoughtful brothers always looking out to meet the needs of the Christian family. It is not surprising that he served as a deacon at Lusaka Baptist Church. A faithful deacon I must say! One example of Mwamba's thotfulness that comes to mind is in 1992 when I lost my dad. Mwamba opened up his home for me to refresh mysel...

Today(5th January, 2014) marks 1 month since Nelson Rohilhla Mandela, world renowned icon and former President of South Africa, died on 5th December 2013 in Johannesburg. A lot has been said by many greater than I about this great son of not only Africa but the world at large that it seems almost pointless to say anything more about him. However, I thought of having a glimpse into the mind of Mandela through his words and what those words mean to us. Since my vocation is education, I will focus on his famously quoted words: "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." In reflecting on these words I will look at them from two angles i.e. agreeing with the words and also offering an alternative view to these words. Firstly, in agreeing with Mandela without a doubt education makes a difference in the lives of men and women, boys and girls. It makes them better persons who can handle the challenges that a changing world faces. It is for t...

It was just a few weeks ago that we returned from one of our annual “road trips” around South Africa. We had the privilege and enjoyment of seeing many interesting places and the beauty of God’s creation, in its many forms.  Whilst we prepare for such a trip by reading about the location, history and features of each place, when we actually get there, there is always much more to appreciate than what can be recorded in a book or website. There are also many life-lessons which can be recognised and applied. One such lesson was brought to mind after our visit to “The Big Hole” at Kimberley. As you know, the discovery and mining of diamonds made it world-famous, and as the saying goes “diamonds are a girl’s best friend” … hence the demand! Yes, diamonds are magnificent and very valuable gemstones. But … here’s the truth behind their beauty: they started off in life as black, dirty, common carbon! It was only through years of intense heat and pressure that resulted in their streng...