Last week, I had the great privilege to be in Zambia with our DML partner, Go Make, led by Rev. Billiance Chondwe (pictured in the blue and white shirt, alongside his CFO Timothy). Go Make launched its first Business Symposium for Young Adults on the 13th and made a commitment with the local government to keep Kitwe and Zambia "clean, green, and healthy." The local government stated that it was the first time the church had sought to collaborate with the government. They were very excited! We also had other very good meetings with new and potential Zambian partners.
We spent most of our time in Kitwe, a city of two million, and also drove to and from Lusaka, which is about a six-hour drive each way. While I had often heard Pastor Billy talk about this being the "copper belt," it was quite something to see it in action. Semi after semi after semi of what seemed like small loads of copper showed the very, very heavy weight of this mineral. Zambia exports approximately 3 million metric tons of copper annually. What an amazingly generous God!
We also drove past zinc mines, lead mines, and coal mines, and there have been new findings of gold and emeralds as well. Industrial parks are everywhere, and the number of semis on the roads (yes, a two-lane road) was astounding. Zambia is very rich in natural resources! Zambia is blessed!
Of course, Zambians are not the only ones who are aware of this abundance and suffer from the opportunistic actions of outsiders and the evils of greed and corruption. I observed numerous foreign mining companies, as well as a large number of individuals from other countries, actively engaged in the mining business.
However, this particular government in Zambia is working diligently to help the people develop their capacity to mine independently and reclaim some of that land for Zambians. They have made it very easy for nationals to register a mining company, have set up systems for renting earth-moving machines, and have technocrats who can teach and mentor Zambians in the mining industry. They are also encouraging farmers by setting up feed mills every 2-3 km so that the farmers don't need to carry their harvest very far to process it. Lastly, they have given community development power back to communities and allocated 32 million kwacha (approximately $ 1.2 million) annually to designated communities for the people to decide how to bring development into their own community. They can build bridges, roads, clinics, or other infrastructure. Very smart for promoting ownership and self-determination!
I wish the news were similar to that of the other two countries I visited on this trip. Democracy appears to be in decline in many places. Dictatorship seems to be making a comeback, eliminating the ability for free speech, reports of people disappearing, torture, and killing. The leader of one denomination is in jail, and all 2,000 churches from that denomination have been shut down due to the belief that this leader spoke against the existing government. People are afraid, and flourishing is under attack.
We pray for the church to live out its call for justice, righteousness, and loving kindness through leaders who possess courage, compassion, capacity, and competence.
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| (L-R) Regional Overseer of the Pentecostal Holiness Church, myself, the Deputy Mayor of Kitwe, and Pastor Billy. |
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| Not only is God generous with minerals in Zambia, but beautiful purple flowering jacaranda trees also line many streets in Zambia! |
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