Time has once more run away.
It is almost a week since I posted
the last blog and in 3 days I will already be on my way back to
England! Unfortunately Jennipher will not be returning with me –
she has again been refused a visa. This is a huge blow to her and I
am devastated by the decision.
On Monday I met with Kai for a visit
to PIZZ school. Kai is a representative of Global Giving - an
organisation that promotes charities by giving them a platform on the
Internet where individuals are encouraged to donate. PIZZ school is
one of our projects that benefits from Global Giving's publicity.
We met Mrs. Sianga and a couple of
the teachers to provide Kai with a bit of background information
before seeing a series of sketches and hearing songs and poems by the
students. AIDS was a prominent topic dealt with very openly by the
children who are all affected by it in some way.
At the end of the performance Kai
was presented with some pictures drawn by the children – I was
impressed by their skills.
We returned to the office to discuss
with the teachers some of the challenges and the achievements. It is
very easy to identify the challenges and perhaps easy to become too
weighed down to recognise the achievements made by the school. The
results are improving year on year, but there is great concern about
the children who have no prospects of a proper livelihood after
finishing at the school.
The reality is that the current
situation in Zambia is very difficult and prospects are not generally
good. However, just to see the children performing with tremendous
confidence in front of us demonstrated to me a great achievement. I
doubt whether many who hadn't attended the school would either have
the skills or the confidence needed. Even if these children don't
immediately find jobs I believe they will have gained a lot from
their experience and hopefully, if things improve and opportunities
arise, they will move forward. A few will progress to complete their
secondary education and some might even obtain degrees and
professional qualifications. It would be wonderful if none of the
talent was lost and all could fulfil their full potential – I dream
that one day we will have a world were that is the norm.
We had a tour of the site taking in
the vegetable garden and visiting the additional plot before moving
on to have a brief look at the old school. This is in the midst of
the compound, with no playground space and noise from nearby bars
causing unwelcome distraction.
After the visit Kai headed straight
back to Lusaka where he is based while in Zambia.
I returned to my flat to catch up on
a few things. I contacted Jim on Skype and discussed the latest
progress with the bee-keeping project at Kaliyangile.
Jennipher had told me that when she
previously applied for the visa she was rung early and told to go
straight to Lusaka to pick up her documents. I was hoping she would
hear on Monday so that we could try to sort flights before I left
early on Tuesday for Chisamba – assuming the result was positive.
It seemed that this wouldn't happen and that it might be the end of
the week before things were settled – with the associated problems.
I was therefore surprised, when I finished my call with Jim, to find
that there was an e-mail to say that the documents would be ready to
collect within 24 hrs. It seemed that perhaps the miracle would
happen after all. I had checked the Kenya airways flight the previous
evening and found only on seat available – in business class!! I
had decided that if was what it took we should go for it. However I
couldn't go ahead until the decision was known. I asked David if he
would contact the travel agent to see if they could find a seat and
hold some flights for a day or so.
I decided I needed an early night.
Jennipher was staying with a friend in Monze so that we could make an
early start in the morning.
I was up by about 5.15 and by 6 hrs
I had met up with Jennipher and we boarded a bus for Lusaka. I was
surprised that no buses were outside Tooters when we approached –
perhaps they left a little before 6 am. The bus we were on didn't
look very hopeful, but it slowly progressed down the main road and
headed in the direction of Lusaka. Most buses try to pick up fares
wherever possible. They often leapfrog other buses to get to the next
pick up first. Our bus wasn't in that sort of hurry! It moved fast
enough on the open road, but seemed to find passengers at places
where none seemed to be – at least when we arrived!! On several
occasions we lost the driver and/or conductors for 10 minutes or more
while passengers made their way, or livestock were loaded onto the
trailer. So, despite the roadworks causing only minor hold-ups, the
journey took us 4 ½ hours!
Still we should be at the British
High Commission before 12 hrs - which I expected would be the
critical time. (i.e. before lunch break!)
Jennipher was negotiating a price
with the taxi driver and we were lead to his car. It is not a good
sign when the engine is started – with much difficulty – using a
strange device connected to a few wires under the dashboard!
So off we headed for the High
Commission. Now my sense of direction isn't good but when we headed
up Independence Avenue I was reassured. From memory most of the
Embassies, courts etc. are to be found in this direction. I was less
comfortable when at the first opportunity our driver made a left turn
into a very congested road. Still he was the taxi driver wasn't he!
My heart sank when he started asking people along the road the
direction to the Intercontinental Hotel!! (Which Jennipher knew was
close to our destination – as is the Supreme Court.) After several
people pointed us in a variety of directions we eventually hit
Independence Avenue a little further along the road and about 20
minutes later!! As we approached the Law Courts the engine stalled.
The driver started the engine again and we managed another 20 metres
before coming to another stop. It appeared that we had run out of
petrol and were stranded in the middle of a section of dual
carriageway just beyond a roundabout! I couldn't open my door – but
in any event it was probably safer to clamber over the drivers seat
to escape onto the central reservation!!
The final ¼ mile was done on foot!!
Surprisingly it was still only just
after 11.30 when we arrived at the British High Commission building.
There was a notice saying that passports could be collected between
14.00 and 14.30 and this was confirmed to Jennipher at the gate. So
despite our 5 ½ journey we still had a further couple of hours to
kill. We were directed to a restaurant and I was pleasantly surprised
to find it was situated in some nice grounds with tables and benches
outside. We had some fish, which was very good, and then relaxed in
the garden – as best we could in view of the anticipation. I
decided to check my mail to see if any progress had been made with
flights and, if I am honest, to fill a little time. I was able to
deal with a couple of e-mails but nothing on the flight front. I
reflected that only a few years back dealing with correspondence in
this way while sitting in a park would be the stuff of science
fiction. (Many people of course would now be using their smart phones
rather than a laptop with a dongle!!)
At 2 pm the doors were opened and
Jennipher moved with the assembled group into the building. After
about 15 minutes she emerged with a sealed package which we opened in
anticipation.
I think I had convinced myself that
the application would succeed. So when Jennipher found the rejection
letter it was a huge blow.
When I came to Zambia this year I
arrived at Lusaka without a visa. I completed an immigration entry
form stating that I was visiting friends, that I was staying at
Homecraft, Monze and stating how much money I could immediately
obtain! The official placed a visa in my passport, stamped it and I
handed him $50.
When Jennipher wanted to come to the
UK she had to complete a complicated form – in English – using a
computer and accessing the Internet. Anyone without computer skills
is reliant on help. Anyone without any English is facing an extremely
difficult task and is absolutely reliant on a third party.
The form is in a format that
requires most boxes to be completed in order to move to the next
section. Dependant upon the answers different fields appear and need
to be completed. It appears that there is no scope to say that
information isn't available or that the question is not applicable.
In fact there are sometimes ways of indicating these things e.g. if
you don't know parents birth dates you need to record them as
01/01/1900 – perhaps not immediately obvious – but if you locate
the appropriate help icon it gives this information! The word 'none'
might be acceptable in some circumstances – though not in others!
The answers cannot be changed after
printing. So unless the applicant checks the form carefully on the
computer they have to assume that their 'agent' has completed it
correctly.
Perhaps this is part of a deliberate
policy to select only those with a good education and perhaps a
certain social standing – I hope not, but in effect that is what is
happening.
With Jennipher's first application
she relied on someone to assist her. He asked for details he clearly
couldn't know – passport nos, dates etc. but completed the rest as
he thought appropriate. For a reason unknown to Jennipher, he
referred to her as a business woman rather than being unemployed and
being confused by the new kwacha – as are most people in Zambia
(and to some extent even myself!) he made the mistake of quoting her
earnings as the equivalent of £2,500 a month. It was only when she
saw the printed form that she saw these errors – by which time it
was too late. The agent had found he could put that her business
company or organisation was n/a. Unfortunately a phone number and
e-mail address of her employer was an obligatory field and he filled
in his own details!
The first refusal didn't include all
these details and the application I completed only dealt with the
problems with the currency. Now they had two applications one with
Jennipher as a wealthy business woman and the other as poor,
unemployed and surviving from what she grew and the few animals she
kept. Their conclusion is that she is lying. In fact her offence is
that she is a poor Zambian who was let down by someone trying to
complete a complex form on her behalf in the way he thought best and
with the misunderstanding that Jennipher would be able to correct any
mistakes during an interview.
Although to some extent the decision
is understandable the fact that I completed the form myself on her
behalf, that I carried it 5,000 miles and intended to book her on my
flight to the UK might have suggested that my invitation for a three
week holiday was serious. Remember the evidence I produced for my
visit to Zambia – I am glad I didn't have an eleven page form to
complete in Chitonga!!
The decision has been made and it
won't be changed. I hope there will be another opportunity –
perhaps next year. It will take a lot of work to ensure that concerns
expressed in the rejection letter are fully addressed.
In the meantime I am considering
asking a few questions about the percentage of successful
applications from poor Africans. In summing up the reason for refusal
the entry clearance officer uses the phrase that “I am not
satisfied that a visit to the UK for 3 weeks is commensurate with
your economic or social circumstances.” I also want to know what
this means. I was told that a poor African has no chance to get a
visa to visit the UK – is this what is meant?
I would argue that the chances are
that a person with adequate means is more likely to overstay because
they would be able to support themselves in the short term. Someone
like Jennipher would find it very difficult.
It was 6 pm and dark when I reached
Chisamba.
I met briefly with Moses and Persis
at the Guest House in the evening.
Kai arrived just after 8 am
yesterday. Kaliyangile is different in many ways to PIZZ School. It
has about 10 Hectares of land, a lot of chickens, some cows etc. The
project was described together with a bit of the history. Moses,
Patrick and Dr Nkata represented the management committee and
discussed the project with Kai as they toured the site and was shown
the buildings, equipment and activities. The tour finished with
myself, Kai and the three committee members planting orange trees for
the orchard – all of course recorded for posterity.
We called back to the room being
used by the tailors. There was now a class busy cutting material for
children's dresses. Earlier they had been disbursed in the grounds on
other activities.
Moses persuaded Kai to visit his
farm and set up his Skype account and he was happy to help. So we
found our way to Kalilele Farm. Kai did the business with Skype and
Moses showed us some of his business including a fish pond, a large
bed of strawberries (we were given samples!) and a shed were his
assistant was growing oyster mushrooms! Not exactly what I would have
expected from a Zambian farm.
I was given a lift back to Lusaka
and Kai joined me in the back of the car to talk about Hands Around
the World and my role. We also shared a little about our lives. Kai
has a Japanese passport but has lived in a variety of places
including studying for 18 months in Lusaka where his parents still
live. He is currently studying in Germany. It was good to get to know
him, if only briefly – he will probably see some of the people from
the two projects on 16th August, when he is running a
workshop on using the Internet to promote your organisation.
Despite leaving Chisamba at about
lunchtime, it was after 18 hrs when I reached Monze yesterday.
Soon after getting home the power
went off for a couple of hours. I reflected on the difference between
seeing the cup half empty or half full! After a long journey the last
thing you want to be greeted by is no power to see or cook by!
However, when I arrived home I put the kettle on immediately and the
power went off just after it boiled! In the past when I have had no
power I have cut up suitable vegetables and made a coleslaw. When I
looked in the fridge I found cabbage, carrots, capsicum, tomatoes and
a few spring onions. When I had finished I also had enough for
another meal this evening. A bit of bread and an egg and some
mayonnaise added to the vegetables completed what was a very
acceptable meal.
With the power off I decided to
abandon the computer and spend a hour or so reading a few more
chapters of my crime thriller – I am not sure I will finish it
before leaving Monze.
Apologies for the length of the
blog, but the laptop is due to pass into new ownership tomorrow so my
ability to continue the story will be severely limited for the next
few days.
This morning I attempted to meet
with Joseph at HHI and get some more cash from the ATM. Joseph was
out at the bank – not mine! The ATM was not in operation so I chose
to return home and book myself a hotel room. The hotel was full
Saturday night! I phoned Justina and asked if she could suggest
somewhere and she agreed to check once she was back in Lusaka. I
visited Diven and was surprised to find him at his shop – he told
me he has purchased yet more detergent paste! My phone rang as I
entered his shop. It was Justina who was at Tooters. I said I would
see her at Homecraft in five minutes. 10 minutes later I was home,
but no Justina. I waited a further few minutes and rang her. She was
still at Tooters so I said I would find her! We were obviously
playing hide and seek! A couple of calls later confirmed that we were
both at Tooters but somehow not within sight of each other. When she
told me she was on the bus going to Lusaka it was a bit easier to
meet. Jennipher found us and we were in mid-conversation when the
driver started the engine and Justina left us abruptly. We shall meet
on Saturday!
Soloman was with Jennipher,
unfortunately he was attacked yesterday and had to visit the
hospital. I am not sure what is happening in Pemba. My experience is
that Zambia is a relatively peaceful place. I certainly feel safer
here than in Cheltenham on a Friday night!!
They came back and Soloman was
introduced to my onion and tomato sandwiches! They seem to be quite
popular!! It was almost 14 hrs when I set off for my 2 pm appointment
at Manungu – for the second time I resorted to a taxi because it
would take too long to walk.
I was there to meet some of the
students who are supported by the parishioners at St. Gregory's
church. Most students were at school but Mutinta, Elizabeth and
Nelson met me along with Annie the mother of Gift who is also
supported. None of the children would be able to attend school
without our support. I like to get to know the children a little. I
ask them a little about their schools and themselves and then try to
give them some information about me and my life – encouraging them
to ask me questions. Nelson was the one with the clearest view of
what he hoped to do as a career. He hopes to be a lawyer. I was able
to tell him about meeting Best some years back. He had the same idea
and will soon achieve his ambition.
I hurried back picking up money from
the now working ATM. Joseph is now in Livingstone and will return
Monday, or maybe tomorrow! On my way back a strap on my sandal broke
– the third time during this visit.
Precious was my first visitor –
soon after I got back, Jennipher then joined us but agreed to get my
sandal mended. When she returned Precious left and, after a while,
Raymond rang to say he was outside. Somehow Raymond is always aware
if I have a visitor!
Raymond stayed for supper – which
I improvised from what I had left in the house! We had a little rice
and sweet potato together with the remains of yesterday's coleslaw
and an omelette which I must say turned out very well.
At 8pm I was ready to start work on
the computer – still more to do and it is 12 23!!
It might be when I am am back home
in the UK that the next instalment arrives.
Chris
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