Siavonga chilling

Simple ingredients for a relaxing weekend – good friends, gin and tonics, tasty food, warm weather, silly games, smiles, laughter, and a bit more to drink. Happy days!

Itezhi Tezhi

A great sounding name for a town but initially the discussion went something like this . . . So what’s there to do in Itezhi Tezhi? Well, not entirely sure, it has a dam and a lake, and . . . . How do we get there? Good question, better find out . . . And what do we do when we get there? Relax . . . ok I am convinced, let’s it the road. 

Along came another long weekend in Zambia and not being sure what to we chose to explore somewhere different and headed to Itezhi Tezhi, which has an almost mythical name in my book. The journey there was fun, the nice smooth tarmac disappeared far too soon and then we felt the bumps of basically a dirt track. Our 4x4 was fine though other vehicles were getting stuck even now in the dry season, so come October and the rains this route will surely become impassable. After using a pontoon to cross the Kafue river we then hit sand, which was much faster and more fun to drive on. 

And then came the relaxation as we pitched our tent in a simple but friendly and cosy campsite, got the braii started and enjoyed a beer watching the sunset over the lake. The rest of the weekend did not involve too much more effort – a lazy morning swim in the pool followed by a trip in a speedboat to explore the lake. We spotted a few animals along the way (hippos, crocs and antelopes) though the fun came from the fresh air by being on the water and the boat bouncing along (occasionally hitting the odd hidden tree stump which was slightly worrying). After all the training, the hotels and the dull food it was very good to get away.

  

 

Testimonies

In case you are interested here are a few quotes from replies that I received from the DACAs. It is nice when people say nice things, particularly when you least expect it. 

"Thanks for the documents and most importantly for your much needed support that could not have come at a better time than now! The workshop was so enriching to me and will ever appreciate you people"

"Thanks a million for the documents and support"

"Thanks we have started to collect the stakeholder information.  It is very interesting and stakeholders have appreciated the SARF" 

"Thank you for the information, we had a stakeholders meeting yesterday and the response was good. Stakeholders were very happy with this new development. 27 stakeholders attended and we had a fruitful discussion. Each stakeholder was interviewed and was happy. We wish to thank you and your team. If anything, we shall keep in touch"

Looking back at the training – highlights and low points

The positives . . .

• The enthusiasm and interest of the DACAs for taking on, testing and using the E-Mapping tool – generally showing appreciation of what we are trying to do 
• Our preparation was good, the IT stuff worked well and we had left little out 
• As a training team Mike and I rock! Ok we did quite well 
• The DACAs listened, very few mobiles went off and newspapers were put away – basically people paid attention 

The negatives . . .

• Zambian food and having to eat the same meals (bland and overcooked) again and again. Given the abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables available along the roadside and at markets the lack of both at all the workshop venues was disappointing
• And don’t get me started on the quality of the service. The starting principles seem to be the customer is generally wrong and just smile nicely if the customer complains but don’t do anything 
• The attention and involvement of some of the staff from NAC (best say no more).