Sisters' bookshop evangelize Zambia's Catholics

 

By Derrick Silimina

It's past 7 a.m. and Sr. Mary Kioko, a Daughter of St. Paul, is leaving her convent to start the day at Paulines Catholic Bookshop in Lusaka, Zambia.

In this southern African country, the Pauline Catholic Bookshop, which is run by the Pious Society of the Daughters of St. Paul in the country's capital, helps enlighten local Catholics with its diverse Catholic literature aimed at shaping readers' social, moral and spiritual lives.

"We have principles whenever we accept manuscripts, and for as long as it's something that can help people morally, spiritually and physically, it is welcome," said Kioko, who runs the shop.

In their quest to evangelize the word of God, the sisters also produce radio and television programs through the Pauline Catholic Bookshop, as well as provide book exhibitions to reach readers who can't easily find a bookstore. (Pauline book shops operate in 52 countries and on all seven continents.)

In addition to the bookshop, the congregation prints books through Paulines Publications Africa, Kioko said, noting that the genres go beyond religion and include psychology, self-help and children's books, as well as theology, philosophy and Bibles.

To evangelize through broadcast, the Pauline sisters create a range of radio programs, audiovisuals and music. For example, in September — which they designated the month of the Bible — "we yearn to come up with a radio program to help people enter deeply into the understanding of the word of God, explain our mission, and address pressing issues affecting the youth so that people are drawn to Christ," Kioko said.

Kioko said the feedback to book exhibits is overwhelming and encouraging, suggesting that the Gospel is indeed reaching far and wide.

"The biblical, the catechetical, philosophical and theological books that we have are meant for our people," she said. "It is helping them to grow in their faith because as Christians, what our people need is that knowledge of Christ and how well they can become true friends of Jesus. And that can be found in the word of God, in the doctrine of the church and in all other material they find at the bookshop."

Still, the bookshop also attracts non-Catholics.

"Every now and then we see new people that come to the bookshop to buy not only religious books but also that which affects their daily lives, which is a good sign that people are really growing into this reading culture," she said. (According to recent research by the University of Zambia, historical background, inadequate resources/poverty and disinterest contribute to the country's poor reading culture.)

A Mission To Make Water Safe

 

By Derrick Silimina

Isabel Ngugi is among many children and women in Kenya who must walk every day to fetch water not only for drinking, but also for cooking, cleaning and bathing. 

Ngugi, 20, wakes up early each morning to help her mother to carry water by pushing a wheelbarrow with a jerry can of untreated water from a tap on the outskirts of the township. 

But access to water is not the only problem.

Ngugi lives in Kibera, the biggest urban slum nestled in the heart of Kenya’s capital Nairobi where water pipes run through sewer tunnels, which contaminates the water. For a long time, residents have been suffering from the unhygienic water supply.

“Growing up in this community has really been difficult due to unsafe water that we consume from contaminated sources, as a result of which, many people here suffer from cholera, dysentery, typhoid and other water-borne diseases,” Ngugi told ChinAfrica.

Amref Health Africa recently observed that Kibera, like other slums, lacks basic infrastructure including water, sanitation, and access to food and nutrition.

Martin Muchangi, programme director for water, sanitation and hygiene at Amref Health Africa, said, “The reality is that diseases such as diarrhea, dysentery and typhoid are more common in this area as opposed to other suburbs which are more developed and have social infrastructure.”

As Africa’s population continues to grow and climate change continues to rob the continent of the limited resources, the UN predicts that by 2025, close to 230 million Africans will be facing water scarcity, and up to 460 million will be living in water-stressed areas.

Water purification  

A Chinese startup with innovative technology is trying to ameliorate the dreadful water situation with a mission to revolutionize water treatment by using reverse osmosis (RO) for households and offices in the East African nation. 

RO membrane filtration uses pressure to push water through filters with extremely small pores to trap a large quantity of water contaminants, including microbes, naturally occurring trace contaminants, industrial contaminants and agriculture contaminants. These contaminants are discarded in “reject water,” the water that is released as waste in the filtration process.

Community health experts say RO can remove 90 percent of the minerals and 99.99 percent of bacteria, purifying the salty and hard water into refreshingly pure drinking water.

“Since clean drinking water is a common problem for most families in Africa, I thought what I could do to help people to solve the problem and ensure everyone has access to clean drinking water,” Zhong Yanxiong, CEO of iClear Wellife Service Ltd., said recently.

Zhong said that providing clean water for Kibera slum and other communities in Kenya has always been his dream. After his interactions with both rural and urban families, he realized that access to safe drinking water was a mirage. 

To realize his goal, Zhong concluded that only a novel approach could offer a lasting solution, and focused his efforts on exploring cost-effective and locally appropriate technology for treating water, thus minimizing the incidence of water-borne ailments.

Unique business model 

Zhong’s iClear adopted a unique business model under which it leases water purifiers equipped with RO technology to clients including households, instead of selling the entire equipment, which has a high cost.

It is estimated that 15 percent of the Kenyan population of 53 million rely on untreated water from natural sources such as ponds, shallow wells and rivers, while 41 percent of Kenyans lack access to basic sanitation facilities, according to water.org, a global non-profit organization working to bring water and sanitation to the world.  

With a cost of up to 50,000 Kenyan shillings (about $411) per piece, Zhong noted that leasing out RO purifiers could make water purification more affordable to poorer households, instead of buying filters every half year.

Zhong said that through leasing, clients only pay an annual fee of at least 10,000 shillings ($82.27), and an installation fee of 2,000 shillings ($16.45), which covers door-to-door after-sales service twice a year, including filter replacement, water system pipe disinfection and equipment maintenance.

The Chinese firm also offers flexible payment terms to allow households with humble budgets to pay annually for leasing purifiers, as a means to boost water treatment and reduce the burden of diseases.

iClear has fast-tracked localisation of its workforce and has recruited diverse professionals including plumbers, after-sales specialists, marketing staff and human resource specialists. It also partners with local e-commerce platforms to expand its reach to retail and corporate clients.

“I am finally able to use RO water purification at my home thanks to this initiative to lease purifiers to even domestic consumers like me. The purifiers are easy to operate and my family is now protected from water-borne diseases,” said Raphael Odiambo, a local resident.

Zhong’s RO purifiers are manufactured in China, and have a lifespan of up to five to 10 years when properly maintained. His company aims to link directly with local clients and educate them on the proper use of the equipment. 

At present, iClear has chosen Kenya for piloting the water purifier leasing programme before venturing into other African countries.

With the Kenyan water treatment and vending industry just beginning to emerge, there is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to enter the market and make easy cash. Entrepreneurs who act quickly are likely to be rewarded and be able to open a network of successful shops.  

The leasing of RO purifiers has come in handy for most small and medium-sized enterprises that are cashing in by supplying fresh water to their clients with ease.  

Bruce Kamotho in Naivasha Town in Nakuru County is such a small-scale water treatment and vending business owner. 

He noted that his water vending store has been attracting clients due to the quality of water. “Thanks to the leasing model, we small business owners can get affordable equipment,” Kamotho said.

LGBTQI rights remain sensitive issue

 

By Derrick Silimina

The topic of sexual rights of minority groups remains controversial in many parts of the world. 

In Zambia, a fashion event has caused uproar as religious purists and moralists accuse organizers of promoting homosexuality in the country.

Zambia is still stuck with an archaic law that criminalizes homosexuality and what is broadly termed as “related unnatural acts.” The law has been in existence since 1911 when the country was still under colonial rule and persons accused of homosexuality can serve a life sentence in prison.

In the past, the topic of homosexuality has been discussed in the country, often sparked by events or remarks made in support of rights of sexual minorities (LGBTQI – lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex). 

The country’s leadership maintains a tough stance against those it considers promoters of minority rights. In 2019, US diplomat Daniel Foote was expelled from the country after making critical comments about a judgement that sentenced two men to 15 years in prison after they were caught having sex in 2017.

The 2022 “Lusaka July” fashion event has stirred uproar on social media in Zambia as many people accuse its organizers of violating national values. 

Critics say that the fashion exhibition event was organized as a platform to cleverly bring attention to the plight of sexual minorities. People are mainly bothered by the fact that men appeared in women’s dresses and fanciful gowns.

Religious leaders also expressed their disapproval. Father Emmanuel Chikoya, the general secretary of the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), said: “We wish to condemn in the strongest terms activities that violate our values as a nation. This comes in view of the recent events in the country, in particular the Lusaka July festival that has attracted social-media attention and cross examinations from different stakeholders in the country because of the un-Zambian acts that were portrayed at the event.”

The comments from the Pentecostal Assemblies of God-Zambia (PAOGZ)’s council of bishops were furious about the festival. They said that “as a church community, we are alive to the fact that attempts are being made to establish and support LGBTQI activities and events to promote their detestable lifestyles. We wish to put it on record that such behavior, even under the guise of fashion, will not be tolerated in the Zambian community.”

However, organizers of the Lusaka July festival, who are rightly afraid of being on the wrong side of the law, have defended their event saying that their records indicate no photo of a homosexual nature as purported by critics following exaggerated pictures circulating on social media. 

The show has been taking place since 2016 as a fashion event aiming to bring together lifestyle enthusiasts and business leaders.

On the Right Track

A freight train runs on an extension of the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway on July 5 (XINHUA)

By Derrick Silimina

It’s 4 a.m. and Julius Kamau is leaving his house to start his day as a taxi driver operating out of Kenya’s port city of Mombasa. 

Kamau picks passengers arriving at the Mombasa Terminus of the largest seaport in Kenya by the new China-built Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line. Mombasa is a favorite holiday destination for tourists, especially during weekends, holidays and the festive season.  

“This railway infrastructure is of great importance to us. In the past, most of us local taxi operators used to get fewer bookings; but now the SGR brings more commuters. It has also shortened the travel time from Nairobi to Mombasa,” Kamau told ChinAfrica.   

A game changer 

A landmark project of the Belt and Road cooperation between China and Kenya, the SGR has revolutionized mobility, connectivity and commerce in East Africa’s largest economy.  

Gertrude Kitonga’s boutique store, which is located in Nairobi’s central business district, has recently become popular due to the classic clothing that comes from China and is delivered on time thanks to the SGR’s speedy transportation and clearance process. 

The 35-year-old mother of two is delighted because her consignment of cargo that arrives at the Mombasa seaport each month-end gets delivered to her shop within two days, making her business thrive. 

“My business is now booming due to SGR’s efficient cargo clearance system, as my goods are delivered within a week, while in the past it took 30 days using heavy commercial vehicles like trucks, due to delays in cargo clearance at the port city of Mombasa,” Kitonga said. 

Arguably, the SGR’s operational efficiency for small-scale traders in the East African country ensures that cargo importation is a viable and profitable venture, hence revolutionizing transportation of goods between Mombasa and Nairobi as it offers faster, safe, reliable and convenient service. 

According to the SGR operator, Africa Star Railway Operation Co. Ltd. (AfriStar), the 480-km rail line linking Mombasa and Nairobi was built by China Road and Bridge Corp. and officially opened to traffic in 2017. The state-of-the-art rail system has ferried over 6 million passengers between the two cities since its launch in 2017 till October 31, 2021.  

With six passenger trains on average and 17 freight trains operating along the Mombasa-Nairobi corridor on a daily basis, AfriStar is pleased that the railway has reduced journey time while guaranteeing safety of commuters and bulk cargo. 

“Our construction quality has been fully proven over the past five years since the modern railway facility was launched,” AfriStar General Manager Li Jiuping said recently. 

The SGR is indeed transforming lives for the better even more than what was expected in Kenya. The Kenya Railways has since affirmed that the investment in SGR is bearing fruit, citing an increase in revenues of local small and medium enterprises. 

“We believe that the SGR is poised to recover the investment Kenya has put in it in the long run,” said Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Mainga. 

In terms of bulk cargo transportation, it is estimated that in 2021 alone, the freight train has transported 382,000 20-foot equivalent units as of October 31, hence enhancing the safety of cargo and protecting pristine habitats along the corridor.  

“We have a team that identifies cargo at the port of Mombasa that has been imported by small traders destined for Nairobi, and it is given priority on the SGR,” Mainga said, adding that his company has since partnered with the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Alliance of Kenya in order to ease the transportation of cargo along the SGR. 

Trade experts say SGR’s special rate of 54,000 Kenyan shillings (about $450) for transporting 20-foot containers between the port of Mombasa and the Nairobi Terminus is favorable when compared to the road transport which costs at least $800 on the same route. 

 

Wider impact 

For taxi operators like Kamau whose transport business depends on time management, the SGR is a vital infrastructure that, if well managed, has the capacity to foster socio-economic development by growing not only the local transport industry, but also other sectors as well.  

“Ever since the SGR started operation in 2017, my business has grown so much that in the past four years, I managed to buy my own taxi and that’s why I am my own boss now, unlike before when I used to work for someone else. Thanks to the SGR for the inspiration!” Kamau added. 

The Mombasa-Nairobi SGR has become the first choice for most people who commute between the two cities for various needs.  

Monica Wakesho, a frequent traveler on the Mombasa-Nairobi route by the Madaraka Express train, said that the SGR train is faster and safer compared to road transport. 

“When you look at the bus fare between Nairobi and Mombasa, it has doubled in the last three years, but the ticket price of the SGR hasn’t gone up. For instance, the price of economy seats is 1,000 Kenyan shillings ($8.31),” Wakesho, a freight clearing agent at the port, affirmed. The price for a bus ticket for the route is $9-15.  

Besides bringing more business to taxi drivers, the SGR has also created other employment opportunities. There are jobs for working on the passenger trains and operating equipment of the cargo trains, among others. 

At a cost of over $3.8 billion, the SGR was among Kenya’s most expensive infrastructure projects at the time of its launch. The main contractor, China Road and Bridge Corp., hired 25,000 Kenyans to work on the railway. The entire project has created 46,000 jobs in total for local citizens. 

Underscoring the project’s importance to the Kenyan economy, Kenya’s then President Uhuru Kenyatta recently boarded the train to the coastal city of Mombasa and interacted with passengers. 

“Earlier today, I took the SGR train from Nairobi to Mombasa, during which I met and interacted with fellow commuters who shared their interesting experiences about the service. I am glad that the SGR train service has eased travel for people between the two cities,” Kenyatta wrote on his twitter after the trip.  

Earlier in 2019, Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni took a ride on the express train, accompanied by his Kenyan counterpart, to assess the construction and operation of the SGR.  

The two leaders were very much impressed by the reception accorded by the SGR staff. Both heads of state interacted with passengers and the staff of the SGR operating company in front of the Nairobi Terminus.  

The SGR team were pleased to receive a written thank-you note from a Ugandan business representative: “This is the beginning of great relations between Kenya, Uganda and the East African region. Thank you for a great ride. We are pleased to ride this train with our President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni!” 

Making Rides Cheaper

By Derrick Silimina

In Zambia, new mobile-phone based applications ease hailing of taxis and make rides cheaper. However, traditional taxi operators claim the development is running them out of business.

There are new, technology-based smartphone applications that use the customer’s phone to detect their specific location using the global positioning system (GPS). The apps are revolutionizing the transport sector globally, instantly connecting the users to the nearest available driver. 

Inspired by brands like Uber and Taxify, more ride hailing apps are entering the transport business in Africa. These first became popular in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria.

Now, commuters in Lusaka are excited after the entry of two taxi hailing apps, Ulendo and Yango taxi, into the transport sector. 

“I am a first-time user of Ulendo and I enjoyed the services I received in the past two days while in Lusaka. My movements were made easier and faster”, said Caroline Mwamba. 

The new service providers promise delivery of fast, reliable and affordable rides to consumers in Lusaka. With a regular taxi, a trip from Lusaka’s central business district to Kenneth Kaunda’s International airport costs approximately K500 (€33) but with Ulendo, the offer rate is from as low as K300 (€20).

Yango, a Russian ride-hailing, delivery and e-grocery service app operating in Europe, Africa and the Middle East has recently entered the Zambian market too. Yango is a part of Yandex, a large Russian IT company. 

Yango, currently a cash-only service, allows a user to order a car by inputting their destination address and the app algorithms automatically calculate the price of the trip beforehand. Rides in Lusaka ordered with Yango start at K40 ($2) with a distance of about 3 kilometers. 

However, the market entry of ride-hailing apps has been met with mixed feelings by traditional taxi operators. The lower price rates offered by Ulendo and Yango are very tempting for most clients. 

“As you can see, we are just languishing here. The new taxi app is affecting our business. We urge the government to regulate this industry to enable a conducive business environment for all operators,” says Timothy Tembo, a local traditional taxi driver who operates at Kulima tower bus station.

These traditional taxi drivers attribute their higher fares to operational fees such as tax levies and registration fees they must pay unlike the mobile application operators. 

They also accuse the apps of using aggressive below-cost pricing and using drivers who operate without taxi permits from the local authorities.

Despite these challenges, experts are feeling that tech-based apps are positively disrupting transportation and will lead to better services. 

Jimmy Njobvu, an IT expert, is optimistic and says: “I see growth of the IT sector on the local market. Zambia joins other African countries like Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon and Senegal where apps like Yango have launched their service.”

Covid-19 Impacts Worldwide

 

By Derrick Silimina, Bimbola Oyesola, Rukamanee Maharjan

The pandemic has affected the daily lives of people all over the world. Many lost a loved one and became ill or unemployed. Things that were taken for granted before, such as traveling, shaking hands or one‘s familiar workplace were suddenly in question. We asked some of our authors to share their personal experiences with us. We will present their contributions on our website in three parts. 

This is part one.

Zambia: Running out of medicine

Zambia’s first cases of Covid-19 occurred in March 2020. Since then, life in the country has been disrupted. 

The health sector was affected in particular. Medical facilities ran out of essential drugs such as cough syrups, painkillers and vitamin C supplement drugs. 

The demand was unusually high and beyond health providers’ expectations. This shortage has negatively affected many peoples’ daily lives. For instance, my five-year-old child had been due to undergo a routine surgery at our local hospital at the time Covid-19 broke out. 

However, he could not proceed, because the hospital lacked necessary drugs and surgical tools. Luckily, the surgery has been performed in the meantime. 

The government’s failure to plan ahead and procure enough drugs and health equipment is certainly one of the key lessons of Covid-19 in Zambia. The country needs to better prepare for future health emergencies.

Derrick Silimina is a freelance journalist based in Lusaka, Zambia.

derricksilimina@gmail.com

Nigeria: Travel restrictions and job loss

As a journalist, I used to travel a lot before the pandemic. Once per year, for example, I used to attend the International Labor Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. 

When Covid-19 hit, however, journalists in Nigeria couldn’t even attend assignments on the local level as traveling within the country was restricted. 

Consequently, it has become difficult to generate stories. Some of my colleagues lost their jobs and now work as freelancers without earning much income. I also know of a former leader in the tourism union who became unemployed. 

He used to work in a hotel and now has to move back to his farm. Many workers in Nigeria were eased out with a promise that they would be recalled once the situation would improve. 

Yet, they never got a second chance as the country is still in an economic crisis. One positive aspect of the Covid-19 pandemic is that Nigerians are now more conscious of their health.

Bimbola Oyesola is a Lagos-based journalist.

oritokeoyee@gmail.com

Nepal: Mourning society

Nepal is a grieving nation. All of us have lost someone near and dear to us during the first, second or third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, including family members, friends and coworkers. 

My maternal aunt caught the virus and did not receive intensive care on time. She died. I survived two infections and feared for my small kid while staying at home in isolation. 

At present, there is a lot of talk about the “new normal” or about digitisation. However, we did not talk much about what we have been through. 

Moreover, it hurts to know that much suffering could have been avoided if Nepal had a better health-care system. During the second wave, too many people died because they lacked oxygen. 

Some of them might still be alive if more hospital beds had been available, especially in intensive-care units. However, the government failed to respond promptly and take necessary measures.

Rukamanee Maharjan is an assistant professor of law at Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu.

rukumaharjan@gmail.com

Wonders of A Versatile Plant

By Derrick Silimina

Bamboo, the giant grass, is a plant with the fastest growth, and due to its high productivity rate, is a valuable source for a large number of durable products and sustainable year-long income. 

The International Bamboo and Rattan Organization, an intergovernmental organization registered with the United Nations that promotes the growing of bamboo, says the global bamboo economy is now valued at $60 billion, and is a potential income generator for rural communities. 

But it was not until recently that widespread commercialization of bamboo began taking root in Uganda and the African continent as a whole, spurring hopes of generating income and creating jobs for the rural poor. 

When Uganda’s then Minister of Water and Environment Flavia Munaaba Nabugere visited China to attend a ministerial seminar on bamboo in 2011, she was inspired by China’s ingenious bamboo innovation. The event served as an eye-opener to the abundant potential of the plant. 

“It got me interested and as minister then, I was able to nominate people from the government and from the community to attend training seminars on bamboo in China. I started mobilizing people countrywide to plant bamboo while demonstrating products that are made out of bamboo,” Nabugere told ChinAfrica. 

To tap into this lucrative green resource, Nabugere, against all odds, made a bold decision to enter into the forestry business through bamboo nursery production in a bid to add value to the plants. 

Nabugere noted that since 2016 when her ministerial term of office came to an end, Chinese experts on bamboo production have conducted training on construction, furniture-making and wetland management. 

“I value the knowledge transfer from China as crucial to stimulate the interest in bamboo as it gives the chance to promote a green economy. I do seedling generation and supply seedlings to farmers. I also plant bamboo and encourage people to plant and join the Uganda Bamboo Association,” she said.

   

Green economy 

Some farmers have since begun to commercialize bamboo because the profit potential has become even greater as bamboo plays an important role in climate change mitigation, and bamboo growing offers the possibility of increased income through carbon credits. 

The Uganda Bamboo Association has 400 enterprises engaged in different facets of the bamboo economy. The former minister revealed that she has up to 6 hectares of mature bamboo and engages her members to do restoration planting on 500 hectares of degraded forest.  

Nabugere, who is also the secretary general of the association, incubates bamboo enterprises through training in value addition and by supplying bamboo raw materials including bamboo poles, bamboo seedlings and shoots. 

“Bamboo looks simple, but it is complicated to grow it. With time, I have learned through training and day-to-day experience which seedlings survive, how to manage bamboo and which bamboo is mature for use,” she said.  

According to the Uganda National Bamboo Strategy and Action Plan (2019-29), the government aims to use bamboo in rehabilitating 375,000 hectares of degraded land by 2029 at a cost of about $45.8 million to protect the environment and provide income to rural communities. 

Vital source of income 

The bamboo strategy is designed to improve the livelihoods of Ugandans, especially those living in rural areas, through raising the incomes of the poor people, increasing the number of jobs and enhancing the contribution of bamboo forests to Uganda’s economic development. It is aimed at propelling the green economy development, and achieving the domestic and international development targets and commitments of the Government of Uganda. 

As the world bamboo market grows, led by China and an increasing demand for sustainable products in Europe and the U.S., bamboo enterprises in Uganda have over the years introduced various products for the local market, including toothpicks, chairs, tables, ornaments, mortars and pestles, among others. 

“Apart from growing bamboo plants, our members make and sell bamboo products and crafts like furniture, jewelry, desk organizers, wine holders, saving boxes, sugar bowls, tins, and toys,” Uganda Bamboo Association Administrator Precious Kavubu said. 

Edwin Mwesigwa, one of the exhibitors at the just-concluded Harvest Money Expo 2022, Uganda’s largest agricultural exhibition held in Kampala, said many visitors passing through his exhibition stall were awed by the products made out of bamboo.  

“I like being creative, and out of the bamboo poles I purchase from local farmers, I can make various products for sale and this is what sustains my family. In future, I will consider planting bamboo,” Mwesigwa said. 

Ruth Biyinzika, one of the visitors, shared her excitement after she bought a souvenir made out of bamboo. 

“It’s interesting to see the by-products from bamboo that are made by our local producers here in Uganda. I thought products like toothpicks, ornaments and others I have known all my life can only be made in China; but it’s amazing to see them being produced here,” Biyinzika stated. 

Asked how the Chinese training in the bamboo value chain is contributing to growth of the association’s members, Nabugere said that her association’s experience has been both exciting and challenging.  

“First, we realized that with simple tools, we are able to make products out of bamboo, and saw the potential for youth employment. Now, the challenge is to obtain technology to make products such as charcoal, timber, and timber boards for export, as we are still doing manual value addition with simple tools,” she said.