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Macha Community
c/o Vision Community Center
P.O. Box 630 127
Choma, Zambia
info@macha.org.zm
Welcome to Macha!
Welcome to Macha, a rural settlement in Zambia's Southern Province. Although Macha is rural Africa, there is an mostly unexpectedly lots to do, things to see! So, be welcome in this vibrant community, and build relationships!
Macha Mission Hospital. The 208 bed rural hospital, the first line medical center for Macha and its surroundings.
The Medical Institute at Macha (MIAM). This institute operates many research programs in the rural community and its excellent laboratory and office facilities. Malaria research has been focus, but MIAM is now branching out in TB and HIV/AIDS research too.
Vision Community Centre. This hub of activity boasts many units that serve the community. These units are:
- Vision Community Radio Macha
- Vision Internet
- Vision Restaurant
- Vision Library and Craft Shop
- Vision Community Hall
- Vision Office
- Vision Sports
- Vision Care Corner
ABFA-MACHA Aerodrome. This hand build airport boast a full size runway of 1200 x 30 meters. Main operator is Flying Mission Zambia. A number of flights a week come and go. Flights can be arranged by request.
Macha Innovative Community School (MICS). Working in line with a new vision for rural community schooling, MICS incorporates 'the best of both worlds', good relationships environment with Internet based individual development tools.
LinkNet. Based upon Macha Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Center of Experience, LinkNet endeavours to build the ICT capacity of other rural communities in Zambia. For that ICT training is provided for local people of these communities, and ICT facilities prepared and installed by means of LinkNet Resouce Containers.
Taxis in Lusaka
Taxis can be gotten from Lusaka International and work with fairly standard rates. Attached is a rate sheet gotten from a reliable taxi operator.
Computers in Macha
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 little for the amount of computer work that is being done. Thus available computers are heavily used most of the times.
It is highly advisable to bring ones own portable computer along to Macha. There is extensive standard wireless coverage thus all PCs with wireless network facilities (WiFi) can work in Macha. Also, this would facilitate all the 'specialist work' one needs to be done, as downloading specific software is a time and money consuming business in Macha.
Info on Macha
Macha is located in the Southern province of Zambia, 80 km from the nearest town of Choma and 380 km by road from the capital city of Lusaka.
The topography of the area is somewhat undulating, primarily open savanna woodland averaging 1100 meters above sea level. The climate is tropical with a rainy season that runs approximately late October to early April.
The Macha area is populated by traditional villagers, primarily members of the Batonga tribe, living in small scattered homesteads which usually consist of one extended family. There are no commercial farmers or industries in this area. The primary livelihood is subsistence farming with maize being the main crop. The staple diet is cooked maizemeal supplemented with peanuts, sweet potatoes and leafy green vegetables. While much of the population is stable, younger adults tend to move to and from the urban areas of the country.
The Macha Story
Macha is one of the chiefdoms in Zambia's Southern province in Choma district. It is 72 kilometers away from the main town, which takes more then two hours driving on dirty, bumpy roads. Roads can become impassable, especially during the rainy season. The area around Macha is mainly occupied by the Tonga people. These people practice both arable and pastoral farming on small scale basis.
Up to 2004, basically Macha was regarded as an inferior place where nothing was expected to happen. Major activities only took place in the first part of the 20th century, at which time the Brethren In Christ Church established its mission station at Macha. In that period the church, the hospital, and a few schools were built. Also houses were build to house – mainly international – personnel at that time. After this initial period developments and consecutive progress scaled down to a mere trickle. Hope dwindled, and no further development was anticipated, although the community kept on longing for access to new facilities which could enhance their standard of living, fueled by information about developments in towns or world wide.
Water at Macha mostly not ready for human consumption
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.
What to Wear?
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 Activities
* 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
How to get to Zambia?
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/
Public Transport options to Macha
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.