Macha, Choma District, Southern Province, Zambia

Although Macha bursts with computers on its Wide Area Network, Macha is a resource limited environment. Also the amount of computers is still way too small for the amount of computer work that is being done. Lastly, available computers are often years old, working fine, but not up to 'modern standards', while the 'high performance computers' are being used at almost all times.

For any work beyond browsing in Vision Internet Cafe, it is highly advisable to bring ones own portable computer along to Macha.

Macha gets water from the dam and from boreholes. Except for the houses at MIAM compound water is NOT safe to drink. Best is to filter water, and/or cook it, to make sure it is safe to drink.

At MIAM's campus water is derived from a deep borehole only, and also special attention is given to clean water storage (closed tank) and clean piping. Thus the water is safe to drink.

At the campus and area of Macha Mission Hospital (including Vision Community Center and the Ark) water is gotten from both boreholes and the open surface dam.

Because the Macha community is a culturally conservative area, women are expected to wear dresses/skirts when working in the hospital  (knee covering) and are generally not seen in public with short skirts or shorts. Women do wear slacks in the evenings and in their houses, and sometimes around the hospital and research institute campus, but generally not in local villages. Men wear shorts usually only for sports, outdoor work and sightseeing at tourist locations

    * Lusaka Museum (2 KM  /  1.24 MI )
    * Kabwata Cultural Centre (3 KM  /  1.86 MI )
    * Lusaka Golf Club (3 KM  /  1.86 MI )
    * Lubarma Market (4 KM  /  2.49 MI )
    * Soweto Market (6 KM  /  3.73 MI )
    * Kalimba Crocodile Farm (20 KM  /  12.43 MI )
    * Kenneth Kaunda museum (8 KM  /  4.97 MI )
 … Botanical gardens
 … Kalimba Reptile Park

There are a number of options on how to get to Zambia.

The only intercontinental flight coming into Lusaka is from Britisch Airways, flighing London - Lusaka through the night, leaving on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Back from Lusaka to London is during the day, consecutively on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

There are several other routes, among which are KLM/Kenya Airways via Nairobi, or Ethiopian airlines via Addis Abbeba.

Other option is to fly with a low cost return ticket to Johannesburg South Africa, and connect with the 'price fighter' Kulula from Johannesburg to Lusaka. The website is http://www.kulula.co.za/

Getting to Macha by 'public transport' is possible. The trick is to connect with the small bus going from Choma to Macha. That bus leaves during weekdays only (Monday - Friday) from Choma's 'book room' at 14.00 hours, sort of 'sharp'. Just ask around where the Book Room is. It is at the east side of town, along the main road, not far from Choma Museum.

If you miss this bus, or it is completely full so you cannot fit anymore (which hardly ever is the case, as it is always possible to 'pile in more'!), or it might have broken down, you can take any truck leaving near that place bound for Chikanta. There should be several leaving during the afternoon. Normally they also stop in Macha. Your last option is to hire a taxi. This is also possible, at any time of day, but it is costly, about USD 80 to get to Macha then, and you have to negotiate hard.

The realities at Macha, and the way the people relate, can be very different than how people relate in 'the West'. Culture shock or culture stress is a reality for those coming in from 'the cold'. Dealing with the unfamiliar means making new decisions constantly, which takes energy. For some guidance on where the differences might lay, some of the stereo types a westerner might find in Macha:

Relationship oriented (versus Task Orientation)