Newsletter

Feed back on (Kondanani) Zambia January 2006

To our donors who have so faithfully supported us in all our projects.
Prepared by Annie Chikhwaza.

In about August 2005, the Lord began to speak to my hart about Zambia. After praying about this I knew that I was on the right track and that the town of Chipata was the place where Kondanani would also be established.
We would establish a replica of "Caring Hands" and start with the baby orphans.

Chipata is a town with 350.000 inhabitants and there are a further 130.000 people living in the villages which form part of the district.
It is a 500 km trip from Blantyre by car.
There are only 25 white people living. It's a backward town, although we found a supermarket a decent restaurant could not be found.
Most of the buildings are old and decrepit.

Cherie and I came back from Chipata Zambia yesterday.
We spent two days in this town, surrounded by mountains, really very beautiful. Our aim was to do some kind of a needs assessment and to meet with some of the authorities.

The District Commissioner of the district in which we live had initially contacted the District Commissioner of the Chipata District, to introduce us as an organisation.

We where very well received and given plenty of attention.
The DC informed us that although the rate of HIV/Aids is very high there is not one orphanage anywhere near the town.
It is a huge problem because the family can no longer care for the children left behind.
There are home based care projects, but many orphaned children are simply used as little slaves in the homes of their guardians.

We met with the Medical Director of the referral hospital who took us around the maternity and children's ward.
11% of mothers at that hospital die in childbirth. No one could tell us the fate of the babies who had to go back to the villages to the extended families. We where told that, probably half of them die, mainly because of lack of care and food.
We have only the figures of the hospital birth, what happens to the mothers and babies in the villages, no one could give us an answer. But it is generally believed that that the mortality rate is even higher than the hospital. We intent to spend time at the rural health clinics on our next visit.

We spoke to the owners of the local radio station, We would have to raise an awareness through the airwaves that there is help for their babies. They agreed to let our voice be heard ones we get started.

We spent time talking to other missionaries about the conditions in the town. We checked on housing for missionaries and the rent charged.

The DC will help us to get land or a building to start. He would also be involved in getting us registered as an Non Governmental Organisation. We found out that almost every building belongs to the Moslem Asians and they will not allow anything to do with Christianity in their buildings. Quite a challenge.

We will go back and spend some more time over there .At this stage we know we are wanted and that there is a very big need.
We need to meet with a lot more people before we make any definite moves. On our next trip we plan to meet with, the district welfare officer, the district health officer, World Vision, the business community, the town clerk ect.

We will continue to keep you informed.
With kind regards Annie Chikhwaza.