New Beginnings: New President
on Camille Tuason Mata (Zambia), 01/Oct/2011 17:35, 34 days ago
Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEX-NONE/* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}The votes have all been tallied and last Friday(23 September), the Electoral Commission of Zambia officially announced thevictor, Michael Sata, the lead presidential candidate against incumbent, RupiahBanda. The inauguration was televised Friday during the day, and Michael Sata,representing the PF (Patriotic Front) party was expected to immediately assumeoffice the following week. Sata’s ascendency also signifies the end of morethan ten years of the reign of the MMD party. While Rupiah Banda’s political platform focused onhis development accomplishments during his presidency, he refused toacknowledge the patron-client relations that have tethered Zambian politics toinstitutionalized corruption. In comparison, Sata was highly critical of high-poweredMMD corruption, which he alleged had gripped Zambia’s political and economic systemfor over ten years. If elected, he told the voters to expect him to combatpolitical alliances unhealthy to the prosperity of Zambia. He also endeavoredto bring justice and equity to Zambia’s poor. Sata’s campaign evidently strucka chord with thevoters, especially those who live in the southern provincesbecause he won many of the southern constituencies by a landslide. I alsosuspect that the reason many of the rural residents favored him was becausethey were deficient in basic services, specifically water, and the MMD failedto bring this basic need to their communities timely, despite promises to do so. Apart from some news of bursts of anger primarilyin the southern provinces, the elections were relatively calm. The celebrationswere plentiful in Chipata, with Sata supporters hooting and beeping their hornson the streets, expressing their ecstasy over his victory. What Sata’sascendency means for urban planning in Zambia and here in Chipata remains to beseen. I am hopeful, anyway, that Sata will maintain the progress made in urbanplanning over the last four years and will continue to make progress towards anintegrated way of doing planning.During the week of the elections, I stayed mainlyin my motel room, trying to finish up the schedule for the comprehensiveplanning training. Admittedly, it was hard to concentrate on what I was writingbecause I was eager to see how both lead presidential candidates were makingout in the polls. I have developed most of the training schedule and anticipatefinishing it this week. The training will take place over three days in themornings; I have strong expectations about the outcome. I think comprehensiveplanning will become clearer to the planning staff and its value more urgent asthey proceed with the training.Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEX-NONE/* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}Now that the elections have finished, life - andthe pace of life - are back to normal. I am under less stress now, as well,which is good considering last week I was feeling antsy about all thecoordination and other work that I had to complete. I was able to pinpoint aschedule for the cost-benefit presentation for waste management and secure theprojector. The permissions were formally requested and I don’t anticipate anyproblems with doing the presentation next week. I’ve also noticed changes in the climate. ChipataValley got hit with a heat wave last week, which lasted into Sunday. The heatseemed to have crept into my duvet, as I had trouble sleeping and took coolbaths for a change. But then, this morning, it seemed a big gust of cool,savannah wind, had sweptinto the mountains to make me want to bring my black,winter sweater to work. It’s a good thing I didn’t because the heat wave cameback this afternoon around lunch time (that’s 1:00pm here in Zambia). I wentfor my daily post-lunch walk on the roads of the neighborhoods encircling the centerof town and could feel the heat scratching the inside of my blue, cotton blouse,causing me some discomfort.During my walk, I noticed that many of the buds ofthe mango trees have started to sprout into fruits. I’ve noted several trees onthe streets where I take my daily walks that will be within reach of my short stature,which means I will be able to bring home arm loads of the fruit when they areripe enough to pick.I have also taken photographs of the many artisanslining the road leading into Kapata Ward to illustrate to blog readers thetalent of Zambians. The furniture makers and basket weavers like to displaytheir wares on the road in easy view of passers-by, who might be interested inbuying something. The three piece Morris chairs are my favorite. Thecraftsmanship is similar to that in Malawi and the quality is the same. Thecushions are made out of soft, velvet-like fabric and the frame of the chairsfrom timber collected or bought from someplace unknown to me. For all of mypartiality towards protecting rainforests and jungles, I admittedly findhandcrafted furniture made out of quality wood difficult to pass up. I guessliving at the Chipata Motel has its advantages: I am not tempted to buy thisexquisite furniture, as my room is fully furnished.  Furniture maker  Morris ChairsMore furniture makingAs I move out of my seventh month and into myeighth (October), I wish to remind my blog readers to please contribute to thisplacement with $10 or more. Your contribution helps CUSO-VSO continue doingtheir work of sending volunteers overseas to do the needed work that bringsskills and resources aid to communities, such as urban planning to Chipata. Youcan donate easily through the“My Fundraising Page” button to the right of thisblog. Or, you can send in your contribution with a check. The address ofCUSO-VSO can be found on the website, which can also be accessed through the“CUSO-VSO” button visible to the right of this blog. Checks should be made outto CUSO-VSO and the addressee should read: c/o Tara Henderson.