DATF Executive Team on tour

The Mazabuka DATF where I work is often quoted as being one of the best of its kind in Zambia but we can still learn from others. A while ago a team from Chongwe (about 45mins to the east of Lusaka) visited Mazabuka as part of a learning tour so this was the return leg. In passing through Lusaka we visited the National AIDS Council (NAC) – basically our HQ – and met with and questioned the Director General of NAC. For me, little was answered in terms of when our funding would start again (almost five months and counting), and also what further support would be devolved to the district level (decentralisation is the buzz word). Then it was onwards to Chongwe and a meeting with their DATF team. It was interesting hear about: the high level of political support that they enjoy (for example, the District Commissioner would just get up and lead all the other senior officials at an event off for testing); the mapping work that they have done of their HIV and AIDS stakeholders (we will shortly copy this); and also how they have managed to get land which will eventually lead on to their own DATF office (Bishop, Judy and I are cramped into one room). A few things we want to bring to Maz.