This is the 14th of a series of blog postings from Clare Bottle, who will be telling us about her travels in Zambia - supported by transport charity Transaid - to see what the transport industry is like out there:
John Chipowa is a CILT Member and works as Assistant Secretary on Air Transport, at the Ministry of Transport and Communications. He regrets the lack of transport studies available to policy makers in Zambia. He mentioned that CILT’s offices in the Showgrounds aren’t accessible. The nearest bus stop is at Manda Hill Shopping Centre, about 15 minutes walk away. The location of the offices is secluded and not well-known. John also described Zambia’s experience of concessioning its railway as a bitter lesson for government.
My second interview today was with an employee at Railway Systems of Zambia. This individual was warmly hospitable, but very guarded and compelled me to ensure that our conversation remained confidential.
Erasmus Chilundika at the Road Development Agency (RDA) is prudent. He has to be. The agency’s budget is currently in deficit and the demand for road maintenance and repair is spiralling. The Road Sector Investment Programme aims to render 40,000km of roads into a maintainable condition by 2013 and this is a challenge, because of the availability of funds. Even if unlimited money was offered, experienced contractors and road-building equipment are in short supply too. At least one tender for road-works failed to elicit any suitable responses, because of these capacity constraints. Mr Chilundika confirmed that rail investment would indirectly benefit the RDA although there is no RDA equivalent for rail.
Major Imbula had just returned from a study trip to Namibia. During the 1980s, when he was in the army, the Major was one of the first students in Zambia to undertake CILT’s qualifications. He is now one of Zambia’s top academics in the field and also a Director of the ZAMIM, a management training establishment in Lusaka which offers internationally recognised CILT qualifications.
Our meeting with Major Imbula took place at the CILT office and Milton, our Honourable Secretary, was also in attendance. Along with Victor, Gary and myself, the five of us debated the pros and cons of seeking an Act of Parliament mandating transport and logistics firms to employ CILT members. Many other professions have achieved recognition in this way. In the UK, I believe similar legislation applies to accountancy and law. Here in Zambia Acts of Parliament also govern recruitment and employment in professions such as engineering, marketing and human-resources.
From a Major to a Colonel: our next meeting was with Colonel Fred Mwale, Director of Transport for the Zambia Army. We had to meet at the Intercontinental Hotel because we hadn’t allowed sufficient time to organise security clearance for a visit to the barracks. The Colonel was resplendent in his uniform and still retains his childhood interest in vehicles, even after 22 years in military transport. I asked if he’s fulfilled his ambitions and he replied by explaining that he’s about to embark on a Master’s degree course in Logistics and Physical Distribution with Cranfield University in the UK. The course is predominantly conducted by correspondence and Colonel Mwale would really like to get access to online resources which will support his studies. Books and journals on transport and logistics aren’t readily available to him here. I agreed to find out what CILT can offer.
Wednesday concluded with an absolutely superb local meal. Whilst volunteers like me get to stay in the Fairview Hotel, Gary lodges with a family on the outskirts of Lusaka. I’d already met Lloyd, Shelly and their children a couple of times and they’d generously invited me to dinner. Knives and forks are for losers and I’m proud to say I managed the whole meal with my hands. The staple is mealie-meal, its taste, colour and grainy consistency are similar to thick mashed potato. It was served with a variety of dishes including delicious meatballs, succulent fish and “village” chicken (tough and very tasty). On the whole, the food has been good throughout this trip, but I can honestly say tonight’s was the best meal I’ve eaten in Zambia.
If you’d like to know more and would consider sponsoring me, please visit my charity giving page: http://www.justgiving.com/clarebottle.
Clare Bottle is a freelance logistics specialist, with experience and market knowledge in storage, packaging and transport; she is also a Board Director and Trustee of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK.