Journey To Solwezi
This entry is about: Zambia
In June 2006, I went to Solwezi on a mission to see the business opportunities there. I was actually doing a favour to my friend.
All was well for the journey. Got permission to be away from work for three days. I left work in good time so that I manage to get to Lusaka before dusk. I asked my friend to get me a ticket to Solwezi in advance.
Well, as you might know chikuni is in a rural area, transport to the nearest town is hard to come by, especially when you are in a hurry. I was at the taxi station for almost three hours. Luckily there was a friend with me and finally we decided to walk the Great North Road in Chisekesi. This is an 11km walk. Within no time we were in Chisekesi. I got to know more about my friend's background and the struggles he has been through. He had a tough time as a refugee from Angola.
I was in Monze after 6pm. Got on a bus to Lusaka, or at least we were heading there. Unfortunately, as Zambia is crippled with fuel shortages more often, our bus was hoping to refuel in Mazabuka. Oh no, there was no fuel in Mazabuka. This meant that we could not proceed to Lusaka as it would be too risky to drive and then come to a complete stop somewhere in the bushes. We could not risk being attacked by chancers who want traffic accidents so that they get what they want.
My bus from Lusaka to Solwezi was scheduled for 5am, and it was now almost midnight and still in Mazabuka. I was the only one that was beating the deadline. The others in the bus didn't mind spending the night in the bus. I just couldn't get any sleep. I had to get to Lusaka, but how? I was just praying and hoping for an early bus from Livingstone. Around 5:07am, I managed to jump on another bus to Lusaka. As if the driver knew that I had a bus to catch, he drove fast - I didn't mind the speed. Luck was on my side when I reached Lusaka and found that the bus we were supposed to use for Solwezi had a problem and as such were getting another bus. The faulty bus was working at my advantage as it delayed departure giving me time to get to Lusaka. I was in time to get on the bus and to be moved to another better bus.
Eight hours later I was in Solwezi, very fatigued. My friend was waiting for me at the Solwezi Bus Station and WOW, everyone was busy making money. Just imagine a store in a car! Just opening up the doors and putting the commodities on sale on the seats. People are serious with business in Solwezi and the town is surely growing.
There seems to be no much orderliness and the local authority needs to bring sanity to the little town. Business is conducted and anywhere and everywhere.
My trip back was very fine and I enjoyed Solwezi. Hope to go back there soon, when I have enough time.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
BAN SMOKING or RECLASSIFY IT AS AN ILLEGAL DRUG
By Hope Chitambo
Smoking is a health hazard for smokers, non-smokers, children and unborn babies and should be banned or reclassified as an illegal drug. Surprisingly, smokers claim that it helps them to release stress and relax, despite knowing that they would be in worse stressed illnesses caused by tobacco. The solution would be to declare tobacco as illegal, starting from the grower.
Tobacco smoking is the major cause of respiratory diseases such as lung cancer, bronchitis as well as heart disease which are all expensive to treat. The amounts of money spent on the treatment of these diseases exceed by far, the amounts that government receives from taxing tobacco. Non-smoking tax payers, have been subjected to an unfair situation were they are forced to pay for the health of smokers.
The nicotine contained in cigarettes is a dangerous substance that is also used in liquid form as an insecticide. Furthermore, non-smokers have fallen victims of cancer, bronchitis and other smoke related diseases, as a result of passive smoking. It is difficult for anyone to avoid inhaling second hand smoke as it always finds its way in different directions. This is the case even in places where smoking areas are separated from non-smoking ones. The fact is, smoke passes through air and can therefore easily pass through the thinnest gap. For this reason, tobacco should be reclassified as an illegal substance because of the danger it causes to everyone.
Even though the government has taken noteworthy steps towards controlling tobacco, such as beefing up warnings on cigarette packets, banning advertising by tobacco companies and establishing network of smoking termination clinics, further actions need to be taken to create an environment where not smoking becomes a social standard.
Finally, a lot of money is being spent on treatment of tobacco related illness and as well as on campaigns to sensitise people on the dangers of tobacco. As a result of all these efforts falling on deaf ears, the innocent non-smokers who include children and unborn babies end up suffering too.
Therefore, lives of both smokers and non-smokers can only be protected if government could ban tobacco growing as is the case with marijuana, heroine and cocaine, because that is the starting point to smoking.
By Hope Chitambo
Smoking is a health hazard for smokers, non-smokers, children and unborn babies and should be banned or reclassified as an illegal drug. Surprisingly, smokers claim that it helps them to release stress and relax, despite knowing that they would be in worse stressed illnesses caused by tobacco. The solution would be to declare tobacco as illegal, starting from the grower.
Tobacco smoking is the major cause of respiratory diseases such as lung cancer, bronchitis as well as heart disease which are all expensive to treat. The amounts of money spent on the treatment of these diseases exceed by far, the amounts that government receives from taxing tobacco. Non-smoking tax payers, have been subjected to an unfair situation were they are forced to pay for the health of smokers.
The nicotine contained in cigarettes is a dangerous substance that is also used in liquid form as an insecticide. Furthermore, non-smokers have fallen victims of cancer, bronchitis and other smoke related diseases, as a result of passive smoking. It is difficult for anyone to avoid inhaling second hand smoke as it always finds its way in different directions. This is the case even in places where smoking areas are separated from non-smoking ones. The fact is, smoke passes through air and can therefore easily pass through the thinnest gap. For this reason, tobacco should be reclassified as an illegal substance because of the danger it causes to everyone.
Even though the government has taken noteworthy steps towards controlling tobacco, such as beefing up warnings on cigarette packets, banning advertising by tobacco companies and establishing network of smoking termination clinics, further actions need to be taken to create an environment where not smoking becomes a social standard.
The nicotine which is found in tobacco is as highly addictive as substances such as heroin and cocaine, which are classified as illegal. Tobacco should also fall in the category of illegal drugs because it is a danger to people's health.
Finally, a lot of money is being spent on treatment of tobacco related illness and as well as on campaigns to sensitise people on the dangers of tobacco. As a result of all these efforts falling on deaf ears, the innocent non-smokers who include children and unborn babies end up suffering too.
Therefore, lives of both smokers and non-smokers can only be protected if government could ban tobacco growing as is the case with marijuana, heroine and cocaine, because that is the starting point to smoking.
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