The Zambia Project

November 8, 2000

LifeNets has initiated a self-help help assistance projects in Zambia. From June 30 to July 3, 2000 I visited Zambia with Andre van Belkum to help assess the needs and our ability to help. Some of you have heard about our needs and have generously helped us in being able people in these needy areas.


When we visited the Mumbwa area one family was able 
to rent a team of oxen that they were using for plowing. 
This is the type of cattle we want to provide for this area.

The communities of Mumbwa area about 100 miles west of the capital city of Lusaka. Most of the people are farmers living in the settlements of Nangoma and Nalubanda near the Kafue National Park.

This is a farming area. The majority have grown up there, and have inherited the land from their parents. Their crops consist of maize, cotton and small amounts of vegetables and groundnuts. They do not use fertilizer, and plow their lands using the ancient method of hand-held ploughs attached to oxen. The crops are picked by hand as their are few implements such as tractors. They rely totally on the rain even thought the Kafue river is quite close to where most stay. Crops are taken by ox-cart to middlemen, who in turn take the produce to Lusaka where it is sold, often for double the price they purchased it from the farmers.

There is plenty of open space for cattle farming. Apart from a few leopards, there are no predators left. Unfortunately a few years back corridor disease (the disease is carried by the wild African buffalo who transmit it to the domestic herds). It can be stopped, but there is very little veterinary support from the government. At the moment the area is clear, and the herds are slowly building up again. As you know the African is very proud of his cattle, and knows each one by name.

The people from settlements of Nalubanda and Nangoma have lost ALL their cattle. This is a major loss since they use their cattle for draft power. dairy products and transportation. Twelve families have fallen to complete subsistence farming where the family plow is pulled by the wife and children.  We want to turn this situation around.  

We want to help restore cattle to these people. We are working with Heifer Project International which has an office in Lusaka to help us. Part of the restoration project includes an education and veterinary education process to help this tragedy from repeating itself. 

We would like to help twelve families improve their transportation by providing bicycles. Sturdy bicycles cost $100 apiece. As of today (November 8, 2000) four bicycles and one ox-cart have been purchased.  Over $1200 for cattle has been collected.  Also, we are starting a micro-loan program that will enable people to borrow money for seed and expenses to be repaid at harvest time.

We have also helped one family whose home burned down two days before we arrived in Nalubanda. 

You can see more information about our African Trip by clicking on these links

Other links of interest 

YOU CAN HELP our helping these people in this new ongoing ZAMBIAN PROJECT.  Tax-deductible contributions cam be made to 

        LifeNets
        3707 Turfway Ct.
        Indianapolis, Indiana 46228

THANK YOU! 

LifeNets staff

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