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Mazabuka Mumblings
MOONTALK -
Thanks to everyone who took such great interest in the Celestial
Tourism chat that, of course, didn't take place on April 1. However
from the enthusiasm shown it should have, and I'm quite sad that
it was an AF joke. Apologies to Mark Shuttleworth and his Granny
who probably has no idea where on earth Mazabuka is, although there
were some local residents who thought they remembered her.
MAZABUKA'S
GREATEST GOLFING GRANNY - It was wonderful to celebrate Mara
Coventry's 80 the birthday a few weeks back. Beef Farmer, Globe
Trotter, Great Granny and Matriarch of the Coventry family in
Mazabuka, Mara is also still a keen golfer. So keen, in fact, that
even the hottest Mazabuka weather doesn't put her off her
Thursday-afternoon-eighteen-holes on the wonderfully improved
(after its bleak, waterless ant eaten days) Mazabuka Golf Course.
Big burly farmers have been seen leaving the course in a
dishevelled, wilted and miserable state after only nine holes, but
Mara, who only took up golf after the age of fifty, doesn't consider
nine holes a "proper game" and continues to confound us all with
her determination, stamina and spirit. To all the ageists out there
- here is a perfect example of someone who hasn't considered numbers
at all. Eighty? so what! She can still out drive some of us, and
thrives on the exercise. I'm pretty sure that what keeps her
smiling is the thought that one day she could just crack a
hole-in-one on the 16th. Will she still playing at 90? No problem!
MAZABUKA'S
UPLIFTMENT UP-DATE! - We spoke to Town Clerk, Ignatius Chingangu and
local MP (and Councillor) Griffis Nang'oma recently to get the
lowdown on what is happening on the Town and District front. Lights
are up on most of the main roads now and shops throughout the town
centre are being encouraged to repaint their premises as part of the
upliftment programme. Incidentally, the plants that were donated by
Zambia Sugar at the end of last year appear to be thriving (the ones
that didn't suddenly develop a set of feet and walk, that is!)
Mazabuka hospital has been given a massive and much needed boost.
They now have brand new dental and x-ray equipment and facilities
(agencies through the Government provided funding for this) and some
of the wards have been given an overhaul and a brand new paint job
(part of Zambia Sugar's community social upliftment programme). The
vision, we were told is to make Mazabuka Hospital one of the best
in the Southern Province! The hospital is looking for blood donors
in the community. Still on the subject of blood, they are also
looking for funding for a Blood Count machine. Before giving out
Anti Retroviral drugs a "viral load" must be done and this facility
is not available in Mazabuka, so Maz. hospital is looking for
funding for this vital piece of equipment. Griffis, who has managed
to find funding for poultry projects for ten women's clubs in the
district is trying to source windmills or some form of irrigation
to give to the vulnerable people in the district for the growing
of vegetables. |
May 2005