the true story of vintage

90% of the “vintage” clothes come from The Netherlands, explained the South African female shop manager to me, at my favourite shop DAPP in Choma. No wonder that I see a bizarre number of orange clothing and Dutch company promotions walking around here. Last week I saw them unloading the new arrivals, between them at least 30 orange T-shirts, I grab hold of #10 for 15.000 Kwacha. Who plays with #10?

how to explain

this place were skies are low and birds are big...

fly away

That Zambian art not only exist of basketry and wooden salad dressers was shown by the private collection of prints collected my neighbor, where we are often invited for weekend drinks and delicious food. This butterfly made by Lutanda Mwamba was my favorite and the different lino prints were also very fine.

be prepared

At last, a vehicle and fuel were all set for a site visit to Choma’s new development area of Njase and settlements as Chandamali and New Kabanana. That this visit was unusual from what I used to, was likely, although that we would investigate crime and take immediate action was uncalculated.

“The Right to the City: bridging the urban divide”.

The 5th World Urban Forum is the world’s leading conference on cities. The Forum was established by the United Nations to examine some of the most pressing problems facing the world today: rapid urbanization, the urban poverty and housing crisis, the urban impact on climate change, its impact on cities and how we tackle these and numerous of other issues at the dawn of this new urban age.

The Forum takes place in Rio de Janeiro this week (22-25 March 2010) under the theme “The Right to the City: bridging the urban divide”. Dialogue 3: Equal access to shelter is especially related to my work in Zambia. The “price winning” picture is made by me in 2006 in the Wadi rum area in Jordan.

the morning report

This is the morning report - marching from Choma museum to the Boma for Waterday

Gives you the long and the short – national anthem and prayer at full council meeting

Every grunt, roar and snort – everlasting correcting minutes

Not a tale I distort – Extend my visa for another 30 days

On the morning report – no more matters arising

2010 wedding trends

As a honoured guests I attended the wedding of the Townclerks daughter. I'm sure, that some of you remember that youtube movie of the dancing guests entering the church for a wedding. Nothing original about that: Africa is a the real trendsetter! Other trends: no more bachelor party’s in 2010 we will also have kitchen party’s in the future, and these dresses will definitely become fashionable soon,...are you with me?

Kedeng Kedeng

The railway from Lusaka to Livingston has a stop in Choma, usually the tracks are used as pedestrian path although today the train had a daylong stop here. All the travelguides really discouraged travellers to use this train. Lonely Planet: “range from slightly dilapidated to ready for scrap”. Bradt: “worse than ever” Take the bus!

Still it fascinates me, what is waiting for me at the next station?

days like these

To the gods in the sky

There's one thing you can do

You can send us some sun

And we'll play you this tune

eight 2 five

Choma has developed over a period of nearly 100 years and comprises a number of different housing areas. There are formal housing areas which are divided into high, medium and low cost and informal areas which are unplanned compounds. The definition of high, medium and low cost housing relates to plot size and density of development.

- High cost – plot size 30 X 45 metres = 6.5 dwellings/ha

- Medium cost – plot size 20 X 35 metres = 10 dwellings/ha

- Low cost – plot size 18 X 30 metres = 14 dwellings/ha

green greener greenst .

Every house has at least tomatoes, maize (for nshima – mealie meal), guaves, pumkins and ground nuts in the backyard, if there is no of not enough space than just use the strip between your house and the road or railway. If you walk around in the neighbourhood it is amazing how much urban agriculture is just on each corner.

I want to ride my bicycle

Why the Dutch are always so interested in bicycles and amazed by their use in foreign countries?

lost in translation

Oryt, We hav nw neighbs, da 2 boys who kam from Lusaka working 4 Zanaco. Every day they teach mi Tonga n moreover they jus learn mi sum truly African txt style here. Wanna sent me a txt? From outside Zambia + 260969802234 Twalumba – tnx

smoke without fire

The Zambian government exists of national, provincial and local offices, Choma is a local district council with planning authority. For maps the southern province GIS centre is well eguipped through german aid what saves my life here. After work it is time for a shower at Victoria Falls, due to the heavy rain last days, the falls thunders.

wash your hands

Today we visited chief Singanis traditional land (about 80% of the districts land is traditional land). The water and sanitation projects around the Siankope School and some villages are impressive. Choma is very well know for its water and sanitation projects.

Do(n’t) like Mondays

The first 2 meetings each 3 hours long, my weekly lariam shot, no internet uhh no computers, pouring rainand no gutters, no filing, encroachements, no maps, beacons are stolen to make burglar bars AND upgrading of Chandamali, new developments, public spaces, airstrip (see above) and some nice collegues.