WHAT I CAN SAY ABOUT CHIPATA (EASTERN PROVINCE) Over the few months of my staying in Chipata I would have to say that it has been a wonderful experience being here. Chipata Township is located in the eastern part of Zambia about 20 kilometers from Malawi border. It is a lovely place to be as most of the people are so friendly and quiet welcoming. They welcome visitors and strangers in their lovely language at their home places saying “Takulandilani or Ndimwe olandilidwa” {Ngoni}(meaning you are welcome) and that’s what makes me feel at home knowing that I have people around who cares. I would like to say that one of the best things about this town, aside from the friendly people is the mountain air. It is a very mountainous place here and Sometimes it rains intermittently and on some days like around 13:00hrs or 14:00 in the early afternoon and continues about 30minutes to sometime an hour stopping briefly resuming. The hill, on which the centre of the city sits, is sheathed by mountains .This means that whichever direction you go from the centre of the town you see mountains around you. I think Chipata is one of the fastest growing towns in Zambia; this may be due to the high densities of small and large businesses and federal agencies in the area. The banking industry is one of the large sectors, with big banks such as Barclays, ZANACO, Stanbic and the newly one in Chipata FNB Bank. These institutions have prompted many others business men and women doing business and other stake holders to come here and inviting many other applying for jobs. Bicycles here in Chipata are the dominant mode of transport and the people mostly involved in this business are commonly known as Deliveriers or in their language Akuti bama delivery, meaning the people with a heart of helping others to reach their destinations. Cars are also becoming rampant in Chipata, this may be due to the coming in of a Japaneese company which is currently involved in the selling of cars. And in most of the cases cars are used as taxis. The public transportation system leaves much to be desired. For now I think there is a need by the government of extending and increasing the number of bus station and proper maintance of some roads. We have a favorable climate here as it is not so hot, unlike some other parts of Zambia, such as the copperbelt, southern province and Lusaka with some dry heat. People are so liberal here in terms of doing business, as you will find some small scale traders, who sit along the Umodzi Highway selling bread and other small products. For your own information, you may think Chipata is a village and that people are living a primitive way. But I would like to inform you that here we do also have SPAR,Debonairs,Pep,Shoprite,Budget stores and many other shopping malls, and life is very much normal ,so don’t hesitate to come and be part of the Ngoni land as it is for every Zambian. When it comes to language I would say I have learnt how to speak Chewa, Nsenga and Ngoni but not fluently.I like words like Dobe(fresh maize)Mbalame(birds) and common way of encouranging someone who is anxtious(Osadankawa)meaning donot worry. In a nutshell I would say,just as the name Chipata which comes from a Ngoni word “Chimpata”meaning Large space.You are all invited to be part of this land for a visit or peharps staying as there is still enough land for more people as at now. JOHN NGOMBO KASANGA I love you all
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 13:24:53 +0000
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