April 2008 - Zambian News

We'd like to move to Zambia - either possibly to start a business, buy a business or run your lodge or bar for you. We are "people" people, and have made a total success of our pub in SA, we want to see and live in the "real Africa"! Any offers or info would be highly appreciated!

20 Zambian Basketball Coaches graduated after undergoing ten days of training under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee and the International Basketball Federation. The programme was a FIBA/IOC Advanced basketball coaches course held at the National Sports Development Centre in Lusaka conducted by Kenyan instructor Ronnie Owino. Prominent among the participants were Aggrey Kabalata, head coach of the 2007 Sprite Challenge Champions Green Eagles, Assistant men's national team trainer Johnny Zimba and Kenneth Nkandu of Lusaka City Council Basketball Club.

Established in July 2003, the programme, an initiative of the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad), is the highest policy level framework for the development of agriculture in Africa. The purpose of the CAADP roundtable, to be hosted by the Zambian government and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, is to reach consensus among key stakeholders on Zambia's agricultural development agenda, forge the necessary partnerships to implement it and secure commitments and resources from partners to make the necessary investments. According to a statement from the Comesa secretariat in Zambia, Zambian stakeholders under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives and the Agricultural Consultative Forum met on March 27, 2008 to agree on priority programmes "that will bring the required higher growth in the agriculture sector." Further, outgoing Comesa secretary-general, Erastus Mwencha, on April 3, met Zambian Agriculture minister Sarah Sayifwanda and discussed the agreement, which will be signed by the African Union, the Zambian Ministers for Agriculture and Finance, co-operating partners, Comesa and the private sector under the Zambia National Farmers Union and Agri-business Forum.

For the past eight months, 34-year-old Regina, a mother in Zambia's Luapula Province, has been waiting anxiously for the final test results that will decide her daughter's future. It is possible that her child may test positive for HIV. Regina's local clinic runs a prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) program. By providing both the mother and newborn child with doses of the antiretroviral drug Neviropene, the program can reduce the chance of the virus being transmitted to the child. "During childbirth, they gave me and my baby Neviropene, and because of that I hope that my baby will be HIV-negative," said Regina.

A little celebration is in order: this morning we got up and ready and were on the road, all in under an hour! We even had time to savour the hot coffee in the new flask (me) and complete a final spin cycle on our washing (Matt). Setting up/putting down the tent is almost like second nature now, and every bag, equipment, piece of paper and even shoes have their own place in Foxy. There is still a lot of gear and equipment (and food) we could get rid of but it is definitely a huge improvement from a week ago. With breakfast on the go (smoked kudu and cream cheese sandwiches, courtesy of deli in Maun), we were off!

From last Thursday to Sunday we were in the North West province of Zambia teaching and preaching to the church leadership in the city of Mwinilunga. On the 9 hour drive there - over some very rough roads, I questioned my sanity in wanting to make this trip. However, once arriving and spending time around God's word for a few hours - the long trip became well worth it. The leadership of Mwinilunga all came together for this conference. It was a time of revival. A time of renewal. A time of repentance. Each teaching session and each preaching session seemed to build on itself as if the Spirit of God orchestrated it all. As I looked across the congregation - many had notebooks and pens working overtime to keep up with all they were being taught. It is a real joy to see the joy of the Lord and the commitment of faith in the life of believers!

Friday, April 25 is the first-ever World Malaria Day, commemorating the global effort to control malaria and reduce the toll it takes on individuals, families, and economies in endemic countries. Malaria is a top killer of children in Zambia, where I live and work, but the country is making progress against the disease by making proven malaria prevention and treatment methods available to the people who need them most. A week of World Malaria Day events started today in Zambia, where a nationwide Prayer Night took place this evening in churches across the country. My wife, Anne Jennings, attended and photographed the vigil in Lusaka, where a candlelight procession and choral music filled the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, the capital city's largest church. A 920-km cycling race also started today and the week holds many more events to raise awareness about malaria. Watch the ONE Blog and check my journal on for path.org for more all this week.

s we enjoyed the crayons, it made me realize how unique we all are. From ages 20 months to 29 years of age, we all are created with things we enjoy and God created us all different! As we minister to Zambians, it makes me also see how our world is like a Crayola box. Some of us are bright and unbroken and we are called to love those that live in darkness and are broken. Although we as Christians have our bad days, we are to be light to those around us and to brighten our world! So, what was YOUR favorite crayola crayon color growing up? Leave us a comment and we will match your favorite color with your name!