Good on him! It is surprising to the point of horrifying how much can be done for very modest sums of money in Africa. People talk blithely about "human investment," yet overlook perhaps the most fertile environment in the world. Africa is seen mostly as a source of natural resources, ready to be plucked at almost a swindler's rate. Good Works are left up to immense bureaucratic organizations. The idea of giving the people a hand up and nurturing their education and businesses is largely unknown. Supposedly, that is the business of the established governments, who pursue "donors" and "investment" to accomplish this---usually by establishing fancy ministries and functionaries who wear 3-piece suits and drive around in Mercedes-Benzes.
They are lucky to have groundwater in Kenya that is close to the surface. But the nasty price to pay downstream (so to speak) is the exhaustion of the aquifer. This is now happening in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. Most boreholes are about 50 meters in depth, and a recent heat wave and drought has dried them up. The government needs to face up to the need for aqueducts to supply more water from rivers, drainage canals to disperse the seasonal floodwaters, storage cisterns to save water against a non-rainy day, and extension of the municipal water treatment and sewage system. As usual, the local officials are paralyzed with lack of vision and planning, and no budget. Either Westerners approach them to help, or they wait to be importuned by the Chinese (not a good option, based on past disappointments). They need dreadfully to have their national internet service (Zamtel) upgraded to modern standards (and equipped with backup generators). Adequate electrical power is also a chronic problem.
The exchange rate is now at 21 kwacha to the dollar. Zambia is a delightful place to visit, warm climate, friendly people, English-speaking, good food and accommodations, and gorgeous natural sights (e.g., Victoria Falls). It is starting to be "discovered" by Westerners with money. Mineral wealth galore. (The Kagem Mine in the Copperbelt is perhaps the world's largest emerald mine.) And "with money" can mean as little as a thousand dollars. They drive on the wrong side of the street, but you can't have everything.
Good on him! It is surprising to the point of horrifying how much can be done for very modest sums of money in Africa. People talk blithely about "human investment," yet overlook perhaps the most fertile environment in the world. Africa is seen mostly as a source of natural resources, ready to be plucked at almost a swindler's rate. Good Works are left up to immense bureaucratic organizations. The idea of giving the people a hand up and nurturing their education and businesses is largely unknown. Supposedly, that is the business of the established governments, who pursue "donors" and "investment" to accomplish this---usually by establishing fancy ministries and functionaries who wear 3-piece suits and drive around in Mercedes-Benzes.
They are lucky to have groundwater in Kenya that is close to the surface. But the nasty price to pay downstream (so to speak) is the exhaustion of the aquifer. This is now happening in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. Most boreholes are about 50 meters in depth, and a recent heat wave and drought has dried them up. The government needs to face up to the need for aqueducts to supply more water from rivers, drainage canals to disperse the seasonal floodwaters, storage cisterns to save water against a non-rainy day, and extension of the municipal water treatment and sewage system. As usual, the local officials are paralyzed with lack of vision and planning, and no budget. Either Westerners approach them to help, or they wait to be importuned by the Chinese (not a good option, based on past disappointments). They need dreadfully to have their national internet service (Zamtel) upgraded to modern standards (and equipped with backup generators). Adequate electrical power is also a chronic problem.
The exchange rate is now at 21 kwacha to the dollar. Zambia is a delightful place to visit, warm climate, friendly people, English-speaking, good food and accommodations, and gorgeous natural sights (e.g., Victoria Falls). It is starting to be "discovered" by Westerners with money. Mineral wealth galore. (The Kagem Mine in the Copperbelt is perhaps the world's largest emerald mine.) And "with money" can mean as little as a thousand dollars. They drive on the wrong side of the street, but you can't have everything.