Mabvuto

Finally! A day off! After 3.5 days straight of working, we get time off!

After doing rounds this am Cameron and I set off to explore the area. Unfortunately my gps which I had packed for just such a occasion was in the suitcase still in transit. We got directions from our neighbour (unfortunately I have developed a significant defect in my ability to hear and retain directions since Marguerite is usually with me and tells me where to go - literally) and set out on our adventure. Our mission was to conquer a local hill from which we would have a good view of Mukinge hospital and surroundings below. After several false starts that ended up in someone's back yard, and after asking directions on a number of occasions, we came upon the "village just 300-400 meters down the road after you reach the junction of the foot path to the Boma (Kasempa "business district") and the road to the Boma which is just up the steep path after you cross the concrete bridge over the river....".

The "village" turned out to be comprised of a couple of thatched roof houses, an outdoor kitchen, a goat pen and a latrine. We were intending to pass through and make our way up the hill but one of the 7 inhabitants of the village, a 21 year old guy named Mabvuto Simfukwe, after greeting us warmly, offered to escort us up the hill. He took off up the hill at quite a pace (in bare feet) and after 10-15 minutes of traveling straight up we had a wonderful view of the valley and Mukinge. The area around here really is lush and beautiful.

Our new friend Mabvuto told us a bit about himself - he is the oldest of 6 siblings, and they and their mother (his father died when he was young) comprise the full population of his village. He finished grade 12 in 2006 but still has to rewrite some exams since "I didn't do too well in them". His goal is to finish and get to college. He wants to go to the nursing school at Mukinge hospital "but I can't because I have no money and I don't have a sponsor". He told us a bit about his life working the maize fields and showed us his crop from this year. They sell their maize at the Boma. They also have goats and chickens which they raise for meat. He gets his water from a stream and walks 20-30 minutes to the Boma when they need oil and soap and other necessities. Despite being obviously very poor, he has a boom box and a cell phone (standard issue in Zambia). He was very gracious and friendly and initially declined my offer of a few dollars for the tour. We exchanged addresses and he promised to write (I'm sure at least in part because he is interested in seeking "sponsorship" for his studies - and who can blame him - his existence seems very bleak by our standards)

We returned to Mukinge and had some nshima (maize meal doughy dumpling which is the staple food in Zambia) with cabbage relish and a indian spice like dipping sauce from the local corner take out restaurant by the hospital. No utensils - eat with your hand. The ash on my fingers from a fall on the hill (the grass and leaves were burned recently where we were climbing) made for an splendid earthy finish. Cameron had a cup of banana ice cream. The total bill for our feast...... $9500 Kwacha (about $2)

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