Malaria free

Missjenn-malawi

Had a very adventurous few weeks, last weekend we went to Cape Maclear on the Lake. it was AMAZING. yes, i most likely now have Bilharzia, but hey, it was too nice not to swim in. hehe spent most of the weekend either sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, boozing or waiting for food. One night it took 2 hours for 8 meals, and in the end i didn't get mine cos it was too late. Malawi time is terrible.

so the best story that i can tell you...

Nsima (the most disgusting and pointless food in the history of the world) is the food that ALL malawians eat. Think semolina, with no taste, and added sand.. then to the extent that you almost vomit at the sight of it, thats how much i hate it.

well last week we went to visit a girl in the village near us. she offered to cook us some Nsima, and we didn't want to offend her by saying no. so i said yes, but only a little. she put it down in front of us and i was nearly sick. she left us sitting in her house, and me and kate just couldn't face it. we had no bag with us, no pockets or anywhere to stash it. so we had no option but to walk home with it in out Bra's. what makes it worse is that when we left to go home we had to give her a hug without her feeling that our bras were full of the food that she had just made for us.

we couldn;t help laughing all the way home, and everyone thought we were mad. i have a picture of the incident but i think i'll leave that one till i'm home!

we nearly bought chicks today at the market. we were so close, but we didn't know what they ate so we didn't in the end. it would have been devestating if one had died. so we are going to wait till after easter and maybe get a few then. so if anyone has any ideas for names let me know!

anyways thats all folks.

xxxx


......after we went to Mr Paulosi's for lunch, bless the man, he is soo nice, but by goodness was i nearly sick about 10 times trying to shuv the food down my neck. it was Nsima -GADDDDDZZZZ, with pumpkinleaves, groundnuts and LOADS of salt, with a side of goat, yes goat. I.ATE.GOAT. the whole time i was like, there is goat in my mouth, there is goat in y mouth. it was rancid, but he had bought it just for us, along with a fanta each. i felt terrible.

Zimbabwe and Malawi: the eternal bond that binds us

By Daniel Fortune Molokele
Last updated: 04/19/2007 23:49:59

THIS past week, I took some time to reflect on the common heritage that Zimbabwe shares with the people of Malawi.

This rather rare special focus on the Malawi was occasioned by the mere fact that I visited the Thyolo district of southern Malawi recently as part of a field team sponsored by an international NGO I now work for that has medical relief support projects in Malawi.

This was my second ever visit to Malawi. My first visit was in September 2003 as part of the MISA Zimbabwe team that was dispatched to Blantyre and Dar es Salaam, in the aftermath of the unjust closure of the Daily News.

Historically speaking, Malawi and Zimbabwe converge at the level of
colonialism. Both countries were colonised by the same European imperial power, Britain.

Specifically, it was during the controversial years of the central African federation of between 1953 and 1963 that our colonial history was at its closest. This was during the days of the ill-fated triple partnership between Nyasaland, Northern Rhodesia and Southern Rhodesia. It was thus after the collapse of the federation that the two countries' destinies somehow diverged in terms of political direction.

It then happened that Nyasaland became the independent Malawi under Kamuzu Banda and Northern Rhodesia became Zambia under Kenneth Kaunda. Sadly for Southern Rhodesia, things had to go the longer route. Unlike the other two countries, it had its own unique experience of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence in November 1965.

Thereafter it became known simply as Rhodesia under the leadership of Ian Smith. It was not until after the bloody liberation struggle that the country also got its full independence in April 1980.

Thereafter it became known as Zimbabwe under the leadership of Robert Mugabe. Sadly for most of us, he remains the only post-independence leader the country has ever known.

But it is also trite to mention that both Kaunda and Banda ruled their respective countries for almost three decades each until they were swept out from power. Mugabe somehow appears to have learnt two clear lessons from those two founding presidents.

Firstly, one can stay in power as long as they can, as long as it is at least thirty continual years. Secondly, be prepared to sacrifice your country at the altar of self aggrandisement, a feat he appears to have really learnt from Banda who allowed a lot of talented Malawians to leave the country leaving it to continue to suffer as one of the world’s poorest countries.

Mugabe, like Banda, appears to believe that it is okay to allow the country to continue to sink deeper into the abyss, as he remains the captain of the ship. It is no wonder that Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has recently likened Zimbabwe to a sinking Titanic!

Public get in step for virtual walk to Malawi

FUNDRAISERS are being given the opportunity to walk to Malawi without leaving Ayrshire.

NHS Ayrshire & Arran has teamed up with Cumnock GP Dr Gareth Powell, and Ayr Presbytery to raise cash for a healthcare facility in the district of Bandawe.

Instead of making the real journey, supporters can cover part of the distance by walking, running, cycling or swimming in their local area.
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The sponsored walk takes place on Saturday, 19 May along the River Ayr.

Dr Powell said: "We hope to employ a nurse and three health surveillance officers, who will be able to deliver basic but often life-saving healthcare to local people."

If you would like to take part, call Dorothy Gibson on 01292 885808.

Madonna in Malawi with son for visit

LILONGWE, Malawi (AP) -- Madonna flew to Malawi on a silver jet Monday to continue her charity work in the impoverished southern African country, bringing along the Malawian boy she is in the process of adopting.

The pop star, wearing a baseball cap, carried a small boy down the steps of the jet, and a child's seat was fixed into a waiting sports utility vehicle. Her three-vehicle motorcade then drove off at top speed to a luxury ranch, followed by journalists.

Madonna visited Malawi last fall to pick up 1-year-old David Banda, who was in an orphanage after the death of his mother. That visit set off a controversy over concerns that regulations were being swept aside to benefit a pop star who has been generous to the country.

Madonna, 48, and her filmmaker husband Guy Ritchie were granted an interim court order on Oct. 12 allowing them to take initial custody of David. Under Malawi regulations, prospective parents must undergo an 18-to-24 month assessment period, but Madonna was allowed to take the boy to her London home soon after the court order.

Malawian child welfare officials are expected to file a report on the suitability of Madonna and Ritchie as adoptive parents after two trips to their London residence in May and December. The singer says has followed the law.

Ahead of her latest visit, the grass was cut and hedges trimmed at the airport, the orphanages and care centers she has been involved with were painted, and security was tightened around the exclusive lodge where the star stayed last year.

Madonna's New York-based publicist Liz Rosenberg said the star was visiting to continue her work with her Raising Malawi organization and denied speculation of another adoption.

"She is overseeing the building of a children's health care center. She is absolutely not adopting another baby," Rosenberg said in a statement.

Yacinta Chapomba, a director of local aid group Consol Homes, said a childcare center built with the help of Madonna's organization would have an opening ceremony Monday. She could not confirm whether Madonna would attend.

The center in the impoverished village of Mphandula, 30 miles outside the capital, Lilongwe, will initially house 400 children who lost their parents to AIDS.

There has also been much activity at the Home of Hope orphanage where David was cared for. The road to the village of Mchinji have been graded, new flowers planted and the children have received new uniforms. Three local police officers have been posted at the orphanage.

David's father, Yohane Banda, surrendered his son to the orphanage after his wife died of childbirth complications. The couple's two other sons died in infancy from malaria.

After initial confusion, Banda has said he wants David to stay with Madonna and Ritchie, saying he was too poor to raise him.

The road to Banda's village on the Zambian border has also been cleared, but it was unclear whether Madonna would visit him.

Madonna's organization aims to provide food, education and shelter for up to 4,000 children.

Malawi is among the poorest countries in the world, with rampant disease and hunger, aggravated by periodic droughts and crop failure. Just over 14 percent of its 12 million people have HIV.