My work experience with Tata Zambia Limited (2010 - 2013)

Tata has existed in Zambia for over 50 years. Today, Tata is the market leader in Zambia in the medium commercial vehicles (MCV) segment, and its LPT 1518 model has had a significant presence in the Zambian market. Tata Zambia has contributed significantly to expanding the Tata group's business activities in other African countries, such as Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Namibia, Uganda, Mozambique, Malawi, Ghana and South Africa. Zambia was the first country in Africa to start the Tata operations; it has vehicles ranging from small commercial vehicles (SCV) to heavy commercial vehicles (HCV).  

Tata Zambia Limited (2013)

 I was privileged to work for Tata Zambia Limited for 3 years from 7^th January 2010 – 30 September 2013. Our then General Manager was Mr. Joseph H. Mutale and he was a good and reasonable man to work with, he oriented and introduced me to a lot of customers that Tata had done business with in the past and he did a one-on-one product training with me. I was the only one in the vehicle sales department and I had the responsibility of initiating sales up to the time of delivery. My three years at Tata was indeed a good experience in my personal life and it was good working with the Indians.

I was employed as a Vehicle Sales Executive and I worked with Patricia Zulu who was in charge of the registration process of the vehicles once they are sold up to the point of delivering them. She was assisted by Sungwe Siame who was in charge of the clearing of vehicles once they were about to expire from bond and also clearing vehicles once customers paid for the same. These two workmates were reporting to me and I was also reporting to them. Communication is a very important tool in any organization and so I had to communicate to them whenever I collected a pay cheque from a customer on a particular vehicle. Patricia had to allocate a vehicle from the bonded warehouse and Sungwe would proceed with the clearing of the vehicle. It would take us about 10 working days to finally have all documentations done and a white book ready before the customer could come and collect it. The sales team comprised of 4 people, Mr Joseph Mutale, myself, Patricia and Sungwe.

Vehicles displayed at the 2013 Agriculture & Commercial Show in Lusaka

The Executive Director Mr Sudhir Arora was a strict man and I really liked his way of doing business and sorting out issues. He interacted frequently with his fellow directors at his level intelligently and kept business booming in terms of motor vehicle sales, he was also the Director of TAJ Pamodzi Hotel which is one of the best Hotels in the capital city of Lusaka. His office was open to everyone that needed to air his/her view in line with work or other issues that were relating to personal and moral living… the ‘open door policy’ was practiced at Tata.

My probation period was for 3 months and by the grace of God I managed to sell 9 vehicles in my first month and 7 trucks in my second month when the Target was to sell at least 5 vehicles per month. I was reporting directly to the General Manager as we did not have a Sales manager at the time. I was later on confirmed after three months.

Patrick and Ivy my workmates

I learned so many things while working for Tata and time came when I was being stretched a lot and thus another Sales Executive was employed to help out… Tito Ngoma came at the right when I was trying to push in a leave form for my wedding on the Copperbelt. He had a background of Information Technology and very well acquainted at innovating and learning new things. I had the challenge of orienting him of which I think I did a good job. We worked together as very close pals for over a year until management saw his skills and decided to take him to another department Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

There I was again, back to square one and reporting to the General Manager again. After a few months Charles Katunga was employed as a sales Executive shortly after he finished his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration at the Copperbelt University. I oriented him and we were slowly getting along together. Our General Manager then made a few changes and divided us according to products. Charles was given the small commercial vehicles (SCV) and low commercial vehicles (LCV) and on the other hand I was given the medium commercial vehicles (MCV) and the heavy commercial vehicles (HCV).

Vehicle Display at Makeni Mall - me and Obino Salasini

Patricia got a better offer from another company and she pushed in a resignation letter. Management tried to plead with her not to go but she insisted on leaving. This came as a blow as her job was a bit tricky and needed someone who was sharp. Mr Arora our Executive Director also retired and for some reason I began to think that it was a down fall of Tata. Thank God that when people leave, God raises others to continue where things were left.

From left to right: Edward, Conrad & Chimuka

Another young lady by the name Thokozile Jere joined to fill up Patricia’s position, she once worked for Tata in Ndola but left because she got married to a man who was working Lusaka so she had to resign and relocate to Lusaka. She was doing the same things that Patricia was doing in Lusaka, so she quickly fit in Patricia’s shoes and work continued to move on. Mr. Pankaj Khana who was the General Manager in Ndola moved to Lusaka to be the country head of Tata Zambia. A big party was thrown for Mr Arora and a few speeches were said to wish him well. He also said a number of somethings and encouraged us to continue working hard. The coming of Mr Khana as the new Executive Director effected a lot of changes. He employed more sales guys in the vehicle sales department and increased the sales Target. Our sales team grew with Chimuka Chibawe and Edward Musukwa joining the team. After some time two more Sales Executives were employed; Conrad Kafwanka and Obino Salasini. We used to hold a lot of promotion activities namely; motor vehicle displays, road shows, Show exhibitions and many other activities. Mr. Khana also implemented the ‘Open door policy’ and we started having sales meetings with him every Thursday

At the Lusaka Agriculture & commercial show with my bosses (2013)

 in the evening to discuss sales and review our daily performance. Conrad resigned as he found a better job somewhere else and so did Obino.

Jaguar Land Rover PLC is a British premium automaker headquartered in Whitley, Coventry, United kingdom and has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Motors since June 2008, when it was acquired from Fold Motor Company. Its principal activity is the development, manufacture and sales of Jaguar luxury and sports cars and Land Rover premium four wheel drive vehicles. It also owns the currently dormant Daimler, Lanchester and Rover Brands. 

Me with Ian at Yeti Motors launch of a latest model

Ian from Britain came as a consultant into Zambia and played a vital role in establishing the offices and improving the infrastructure in Lusaka.This  came with a new company under Tata Zambia called Alliance Motors and it deals in the Jaguar/ Land Rover and a number of people where employed in all departments from workshop, vehicle sales, cashier and General Manager. Alliance motors Limited is under the care of Tata Motors and their offices are now established in Lusaka.

Tata Show Room with the luxurious Jaguar & Land Rover

Chimuka and me in the Show Room in Lusaka

In my final year at Tata, I was sent to Jamshedpur India to visit an assembly plant as there was a new product to be launched in the Zambian market; Tata Prima Horses and Tippers. I was the only one selected from Zambia to go and visit the assembly plant in Jamshedpur and be trained on the Prima and how it is operated, it was yet to be launched in Zambia at the time.

Jamshedpur Assembly Plant in India (January 2013)

While in India, I met a lot of people from different parts of the world with different cultures. Some of which I used to just communicate by way of e-mail and so seeing them face-to-face was such a great privilege. I had a good time learning from others and it was a fruitful trip for me as I learnt a lot of new sales techniques and increased knowledge in the products and many other branches that Tata has. It was really a challenge to hear how our friends in Iraq were able to sale a lot of vehicles in one month despite the war that has been going on there. In Africa we had representatives from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Nigeria.

My visit to one of Indian Mines where the Tata Prima was working

When I came back from India, I began to market the heavy commercial vehicle (HCV) which includes the Prima and Novus; I hardly sold any of these models despite my vigorous customer visits and display promotions. My boss Mr Mutale kept encouraging me and said with time I will sell. Most customers were looking at the price and preferred going for used heavy duty vehicles on the Zambian market as they were far much cheaper than the brand new trucks 

Well, I think time for me to leave Tata drew near as I began to sense a call back to the company I worked for in Kitwe for Four (4) years. I was interviewed by my previous employer C&B Engineering limited and my last day at Tata Zambia was on 30^th September 2013. I then started work at C&B Engineering on 7^th October 2013 as a Product Manager.  

Receiving a participation certificate at the Lusaka Motor Show from Bobby Singh

My surviving grand mothers

In this my blog post, I want to spend some time just to talk about my grand mothers who are still alive today by God’s grace. Both my grandpas are late; I never met my grandpa on my mother’s side as he passed on way before I was born. On the other hand, I thank God for allowing me to meet my grandpa on my father’s side; he passed on in the recent past after a long illness in Lusaka.

Matildah Munthali Sambo

Micah with grandma

My mum’s mother lives in Mazabuka and her name is Matildah Munthali Sambo, she used to visit us from time to time when I was living in Lusaka. She fell in love with our first born son and I could see it in her eyes when he held Micah in her hands, this took me back to my childhood times at a small little house in Kitwe at Scripture Union house, my grandmother used to visit us a lot and times spent with her were worthwhile as she treated us like little angels even when we did silly things. My wife Racheal fell in love with her when she first saw her (love at first sight). It’s a pity she did not attend our wedding in 2011 as she had problems with her legs and was failing to walk at the time. I remember asking my grandma what she wanted me to buy her and all she said was ‘the battery of the phone you bought for me is dead, if you can replace it,  a chitenge material and a pair of canvas will be enough’.

Lucy Kamanga

Dad with grandma in Petauke

My dad’s mother is one kind of person who is strict and to the point, her name is Lucy Kamanga she raised my dad and his siblings in Eastern Province, hearing stories of how she used to discipline (beat) her children, when I see her – I fail to believe it, she does not look like one who would beat a child. She used to beat especially my dad as he is the first born. I thank God for her because if it was not for her, my dad would not have been where he is at the moment. She stays in the village in Petauke and it’s been a while since I visited my village, she visited us in Lusaka last year and she is just too tradition and takes everything very seriously. When I asked her the same question I asked my other grandma on the things she wanted me to buy her, she said ‘a dark material of 6m chitenge and black canvas size 4’, you can see her really specifying so that you don’t buy what she doesn’t want. My youngest sister, Phoebe took this picture below when they both visited our home in Lusaka last year.

My two grandparents in their 80s

These grannies have lived for over 80 years and they call me ‘muzukulu wasu’ meaning our grandchild. I don’t know their exact years as they say that they have forgotten when they were born but it must have been around 1930s or so. Most of us children, you will agree with me that we get spoiled by our grandparents as they don’t want to see us cry even when we get a good spanking from mischievous behaviors. I remember when I was a young boy; grandma, whenever she visited our home; she would protect me and my sisters from being beaten by mum after we did something that upset mum and dad… We always ended up being in trouble when our grandma would leave and go back to the village.

Mum & dad with the two grannies - 2 May 1981

I wish there was a day like we have today – mother’s day and father’s day in which we are to remember our grandparents. We ought uphold and remember our grandparents if they are still alive. Let me just call this day “Grandparent’s day”.

Childhood memories with grandma - 1986

What a living testimony - Charles Bota

Elder Charles Bota

08:30hrs yesterday (Saturday), the driver of the traffic car in the picture parked right in the road to get the car washed. When I asked him why he was breaking the Law he told me to drive around and vamoose. When I took out my iPad to take this pic he quickly jumped in and arrogantly said, "Kulibe kwamene mungani peleke. Palibe chamene munga chite" and he drove off! Who do I report to and who can track this driver by the log book, date and time? I want to testify against him.

I called RTSA and the told me it was a Police and not a RTSA vehicle and I should report to Police. Fortunately, I called the Director of Operations and he called me back and told me he would be in his office just after 14:00hrs. I took my letter of complaint detailing the date, time, car number, nature of complaint with the picture to boot, asking that I be called when the driver was summoned, and trusting they would track him via the log book. The Director was in a meeting so I left the letter. Dropping off copy to Lusaka traffic chief and Police PR person. As I left the building I saw a similar car, but it's number plate was ZP 911B. My offender's car was 919. Obviously "the game is afoot" as Sherlock Holmes would say!

The Police Director of Operations traced the car as belonging to Muchinga province. The driver was called and informed of my picture and admitted my report was true. He will now be asked to call me to admit to me and apologize. What they do to him after is their internal disciplinary process.

Received a call today from the Commanding Officer Traffic for Zambia. He had my letter of complaint on his desk. Told me they have internally charged the man. He is a lowly constable from Muchinga traffic who was taking a boss to Mazabuka and spent a night in PHI hence the early morning car wash in PHI. He thought he would not get caught being from the bundus of Muchinga. He is badly shaken. The matter is to go to Court as it is a traffic offense and I would be required to be a witness which I don't mind. However, because the man is now clearly badly shaken if not remorseful, and has admitted the traffic offense as well as being arrogant about it, they are mulling over charging him what the Court fine is likely to be and letting him pay that with the record on his file and end there. He will write me a response letter about all this.

Finally, here is closure on this matter: The High Command came to see me with the erring officer today. I was shown the charge and an official receipt for the penalty paid of K300 for admission of guilt for the offence. The erring officer apologized profusely for his arrogance as did the Senior officer and both said that they had learned something from this. I was thanked for being upstanding. I said I was more than impressed by all this and especially the way the Command had consistently followed up justice. We shook hands. I did not ask about the accident.

Meet our former Teacher and Deputy Headmistress of Choma Secondary School

Ms. Ruth Hamunyanga

Mr. Raphael Kumwenda

Ms. Ruth Hamunyanga (1968 – 1979; 1981-1996)
Interview report compiled by Hachizibe Raphael Mudenda (former pupil of 1988 – 1992)
 
BACKGROUND OF  MS HAMUNYANGA 

Ms Hamunyanga did her form 1 and 2 at Chipembi Girls Secondary School in 1958-1959. She later trained as a Primary School teacher and she taught at Jembo and Siachitema Wesleyan Mission Schools. Having been an intelligent and dependable lady, the Wesleyan Church sponsored her to do a Bachelors’ Degree in the USA in 1964 just before Zambia’s independence. She majored in Geography with a minor in Psychology. The church wanted her to teach at Choma Secondary School upon completing her training. She started teaching at Choma Secondary in 1968.
 
A number of times, government wanted to move her from Choma Secondary to Curriculum Development Centre in Lusaka but she rejected the offer because of her compassionate for young people. Helping young people through teaching and ensuring that they grow as responsible and well behaved citizens of Zambia was her desire. She felt she was needed most at Choma Secondary than at Curriculum Development Centre. She was also in the group of the first Zambians involved in the examinations marking.
 
In 1979 she went to do her Masters in Geography in the USA. She also studied administration while in the USA. She taught for one year in the USA but she says she never enjoyed teaching there because young people didn’t seem to appreciate the help offered to them of administering discipline for reformation and good behaviour. She came back to Choma Secondary in 1982.
 
MS HAMUNYANGA AS A TEACHER AND DEPUTY HEADMISTRESS 

She liked the unity that existed between the two churches running the school (Brethren in Christ Church & Pilgrim Wesleyan Church). She also liked the cooperation and the working together among teachers and the administrators. This cooperation among teachers resulted in good class performance and good behavior of pupils. Ms Hamunyanga thinks one of the reasons why, many government ministers, senior government officials, prominent business people in Choma and outside Choma including Asians and Whites brought their children to Choma Sec Sch was because of the excellent class results and well disciplined pupils due to good administration. During her time there was a mixture of teachers (Whites, Blacks and Asians). 
 
However, Ms Hamunyanga remembers some teachers who gave her a lot of problems whom I will not mention their names. She thinks some teachers didn’t have the skill to teach therefore they just spent time making jokes in class for time to pass. She also had pupils that gave her real hell such as Victor Mbindo and Raju Nayee (Choma Garage). Victor gave her a lot of problems in school, but she is happy that Victor is now a born again Christian and doing very well in life. Raju Nayee used to miss her geography class by hiding in the bush until when the geography class was over. Raju now is a prominent businessman in Choma and very responsible.
 
Ms Hamunyanga regrets that some parents never appreciated the disciplinary measures taken against their children because they thought their children were just being harshly treated, but could not understand the rational for disciplining their children, to help them reform and become better and responsible citizens. 
 
THE SHAMBOK IN A “KIRK” ENVELOP

Ms Hamunyanga says she moved with a shambok to ensure young people were well disciplined and adhered to regulations of the school at all times wherever they were in school. When beating a pupil she didn’t mean to “kill” but to help reform or remind a pupil of the school rules. She thinks the shambok in a “kirk” envelop helped many.
 
BEST TIME AT SCHOOL

Her best times at school were when she helped a young person reform or change for the better. She decided to remain at Choma Sec Sch to just help young people receive the best education and help they needed. 
 
WASTE TIME AT SCHOOL

She hated standing in the sun waiting for the former President (Dr. Kenneth “Wamuyaya” Kaunda) to come and visit the school. She feels this was a great torture on teachers and pupils.
 
APPRECIATION

She is so grateful to God for the love He has been showing her and for how much he has been blessing her life. She also appreciates the cooperation given to her by all teachers at Choma Sec Sch when she was a teacher as well as Deputy Head. She also appreciates the love and care shown to her by all her former pupils.
 
NICK NAMES

1.     Iron Lady – for being tough on offender pupils
2.     Sunday Girl – for being clean and smart (always looking beautiful)
3.     Margret Thatcher – former British female president (for being sharp)
 
*If you know any other nickname for M Hamunyanga, please feel free to share with us*

Ray Munsaka's life at Choma Secondary School - 1984 to 1988

Ray Munsaka

It was afternoon. The day, a Monday. The date was 5 March, 1984 - 30 years ago! That was when I arrived at Choma Secondary School with my suitcase to begin my secondary school course. As the photo shows, I was a then a cool young dude. Wasn't I cute then? Twaali bantu asweyo. Don't be deceived by what time has done to me.

I had never been away from home before and even if Choma Secondary was very familiar territory for me, there was a sense of deep anxiety within. Among other pupils who arrived on this day was Luundu Mwaanga, who by this time I had known for over five years. This gave me some moral boost and we started chatting right away. A few days later I met Austin Bhebe. Luundu and Austin became my close friends in the last three years of my stay here. 

I paid ZMK105 (unrebased kwacha) which covered school fees, boarding fees, 2 pairs of uniform, a hymnbook and a bit of toiletry. Later on one of the prefects, Saboi Lufwendo (now a prominent lawyer) took me to his hostel and later on to supper (nsima with boiled kapenta!). This was in the Zambezi dining hall. The following day, supper was much more pleasant - nsima with kasune (beef). After supper that Monday, he took me to my assigned bed space - 3rd Hostel Junior Wing, Luangwa House. This was to be my "home" for two years before I moved to ZALUKA (ChomSecians know what this is) at senior level.

There are many ways in which Choma Secondary is special to me. At least three of my sisters and a brother went to this school long before I did. My father preached there from time to time before 1984. The Pilgrim Wesleyan Church would hold its national conferences here and I remember attending one or two and hearing various singing. We would come for CYC (Christian Youth Crusaders) every Sunday where I learnt a lot of spiritual truth in song and teaching. We would also come to see my sister, but more interestingly the motorcycle race by Brooks farm (Mambushi Motor Cross). 

My memories of this great school as a student are still fresh and warm. It was a place I learnt to look after myself. I knew how to do a lot of things for myself but now I HAD to. I even learnt some trade - selling sugar at 1n/teaspoon!. I was introduces to menus, some of which I had never imagined before. Cigolo (sugar-water solution), mixing that with roast peanuts, kago (crust at the bottom of the pot after cooking nsima), adding a bit of sugar to beans to make taste like baked beans,... Needless to say, I cannot stand these dishes anymore. I quit some of them even before I left the school (by grade 12, I could only take cigolo if made with hot water). 

I enjoyed the lessons from A to Z. Deciding, at the end of grade 8, on whether to take up commercial subjects or industrial arts was a tough choice but settled for the the latter. I loved TD! Then at senior level doing the pure sciences! Sometimes I think I learnt all the physics I know at Choma Secondary School. University was just repetition with depth and application. Of course other subjects as well but I mention physics because my career is built on it.

Of all that I got from this great school, none is as glorious as the the experience of the night of Friday the 13th in 1987. It was at this school on this day that I was converted. And you thought Friday the 13th was bad! If this experience of God's salvation is all I had got from this school, it would still have been worth an infinite amount of all the money that was spent on me there. 

Not only was I brought into the kingdom of God's Son at this institution, but also learnt to be active in the church here. I was part of the student church leadership of the PWC and also in SU leadership. I preached my first sermon at Choma Secondary School. A number of Christian disciplines were inculcated in me at this school.

I will always cherish my time at Choma Secondary School.

By Ray Munsaka

Our Second Wedding Anniversary – 26th November 2013

26th November 2011 - Our wedding day

Today marks exactly 2 years in our journey in marriage with Racheal, it has been a blessing to have my dear wife in my life. Other than the blessing of salvation I received from God as a young boy on 17th March 1993, my wife is the second gift that God gave me. I want to just share how I met my wife and finally married her on 26th November 2011.



9th October 2010 - At Racheal's home

I first came into contact with Racheal in 2005 shortly after completing my tertiary education. I was in the same class with my wife’s elder sister (Melissa) and we were so close that at times we used to study together. After completing school and graduating, I continued being friends with Melissa and I used to visit her home frequently as we were staying in the same neighborhood in Nkana West, Kitwe.

One day as we were walking into town with Melissa, we bumped into Racheal who was coming from the opposite direction, she was coming from a funeral where she went to spend a night, her friend lost her mother. She said hi to us and Melissa introduced me to her saying ‘this is my kid sister Racheal’, she had a big smile on her face and I quickly said, “hi, nice meeting you”. She then proceeded home and we continued with our journey into town. Whatever discussion we had with Melissa was put on hold and I began to ask about Racheal, I started by saying, “I didn’t know you had a young sister”… and she just smiled.

16th October 2010 - PPAZ VCT outreach

Then as days went by and I was finding her  home, we eventually became friends. I began to feel bad in the sense that Melissa was my friend and I began to get closer and closer to Racheal each time I saw her, so I stopped visiting their home. I was missing in action and again I started visiting their home. Melissa was seeing someone at the time and Racheal had just broken up with the guy she was seeing. We began to have walks and it was a wonderful experience for me as it was the first time I had real feelings for someone of the opposite sex.

24th October 2010 at our friend's engagement

Our friendship grew stronger and she introduced me to her friends at Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) where she was a volunteer. By then I was working for Zambia State Insurance as a Sales Executive and she was studying two different programs at Zambia Institute of Business Studies and Industrial Practice (ZIBSIP) doing her Diploma in Food Production and also evening classes at the University of Zambia (UNZA) doing a Diploma in Project Planning and Management. I kept wondering why she was studying like that and how she used to manage studying two programs at the same time, when I asked her she said that she liked keeping her mind busy at all times.

23rd April 2011 at Palmwood Lodge

11th March 2012 - Chingola

At Ezra Thole's Wedding - 2012

I changed jobs from ZSIC to C&B Engineering Limited in 2006 and our friendship grew stronger, she also started work near my work place at Pamo Lodge. I wanted to start a relationship with her but she kept refusing and did not give me reasons. I need to say here that when a lady says NO, there is need not to give up easily because most ladies don’t just say ‘YES’ the first time we guys ask. I had to continue visiting her and getting to know her better but when I brought up the issue of a relationship she still said NO.

10th June 2012

On 10th April 2007 a dark cloud dawned on Racheal’s family as she lost her mother, she did not fall sick but was just disturbed by a cry of a baby when she was dozing which raised her bp, she was rushed to Kitwe Central Hospital but it seems the Lord had other plans for her. It was a sad moment and I only got the sad news later that evening from Melissa. I visited the funeral house though I never saw Racheal as she was in the house. A month later on 9th May, she lost her Elder sister Getrude (Bana Ham). This was indeed a big blow and a great loss to the Kumwenda family. I visited the funeral house again and this time I sat with Racheal outside and she narrated what really transpired, it seemed Bana Ham had a lot that she was thinking about, she was the oldest in Racheal’s family. She was put to rest on 11th May.

Again the following day after putting her elder sister to rest, Racheal’s friend from YMCA lost her mother and Racheal went to spend a night at the funeral house. I talked to her on phone and expressed my condolences over the losses… She told me that she was going to spend a night at the friends place for the funeral; I tried to talk her down as they were going through a lot as a family and she needed to stay home and rest but she refused and insisted on going. On the burial day, she fell sick at the grave yard and was taken to Kitwe Central Hospital where she was hospitalized. I got a call from Ethel a friend from YMCA saying that she was admitted in hospital and I quickly dashed to see her after work. Her Blood Pressure was high and the doctor advised her to rest. She got discharged and after a week on 22nd May 2007 she finally said yes and I was the happiest young man at this particular time. This was the first time I felt complete as there was something missing in my life… (My lost rib). We started informing our friends and family and Mr. Bestone Chileya became our counselor.

In December 2010, I left C&B Engineering Limited and joined Tata Zambia in Lusaka, this was a joyous moment in my career and again a sad moment as I left Racheal in Kitwe, she was at this time working for A Safer Zambia (ASAZA), a Care International led Project as a counselor and Social worker. I moved to Lusaka but then kept coming back to Kitwe during my weekends for counseling and wedding preparations. Mr. Simon Chilongoshi my former church mate was coordinating the wedding arrangements. We planned to marry in November as Racheal’s contract with Care International  was expiring sometime in November that same year. We married on 26th November, 2011 at Nkana East Chapel and my wife moved to Lusaka. We now have two lovely children, Micah Madalitso Kamanga and Precious Khumbo Kamanga.

Scripture Union Van stolen into Zaire – 11th June 1991

Recently our country has been plagued with theft of motor vehicles involving thieves coming from Zaire in collaboration with Zambians. The rate at which vehicle owners are losing their vehicles is so alarming that many are finding it unsafe to drive especially at night. On June 11^th 1991, it pleased the Lord to allow the Toyota Hilux belonging to S.U. Zambia to be stolen into Zaire. Below is a brief account of how the Hilux was stolen.

Mr Kunda Kalifungwa

Mr Wilson Kamanga

After months of planning a tour of North Western Province S.U groups, we finally set off for Solwezi, the provincial capital of N.W. Province from Scripture Union House, Kitwe at 15:30 hours on June 11^th 1991. Our aim was to reach our destination within three hours in time for a meeting at Solwezi Secondary School. We arrived in Chingola at 16:00 hours and made a stop over at a military check and at a Christian couple’s home to collect some empty bottles for use in buying some soft drinks. Upon buying food and drinks, we left Chingola at 17:00 hours.

Between Chingola and Solwezi, we met two road blocks mounted by the Zambia Defence and Police force respectively. Roughly 20KM after passing the second roadblock we overtook a Toyota Twin-Cab parked by the road side seemingly ready to branch off into the bush. The men in it were shabby looking and did not seem to be the true owners of the vehicle. The Twin-Cab was full of bicycles and live chickens packed and ready to be sold. After by passing the Twin-Cab we saw ahead of us a small motor bike belonging to the Zambian Government with two passengers on it. We had just managed to overtake the motor bike when we saw the Twin-Cab we left parked behind go right in front of us and made a stop. One of the men in it fired six bullets in the air in our direction. This forced us to stop and wait to see what was going to happen. Two men, armed with rifles came out of the Cab and made their way to the van, one in the direction of the driver’s seat where Mr Kamanga was seated and the other went to the passenger’s seat where Mr Kalifungwa was seated. Incidentally we were only two of us in our vehicle. Pointing guns at us, they asked us to surrender keys to our van and go in the back of it. The motor bike we had just by passed was also pushed in the back of our van making us realize that the two men on it were actually part of the group in the Twin-Cab. The men were six in number possessing on AK 47 rifle with three sub-machine guns. They spoke Swahili, Lingala and a bit of French.

Dad, Sister Mary & Brother Gregory

One of the men took over the driver’s seat of our van; the other went to the passenger’s seat while another sat with us to guard us. Following behind the Twin-Cab, the two vehicles turned in the direction of Chingola. After driving a few meters, we branched off towards our left in the bush, heading for Zaire. We drove a kilometer or so before making a stop at a small village where three more young men were taken captives. We later learnt that the five of us were captured to help build a temporary bridge across a stream we were yet to cross. Heading for the stream, we drove for several hours deep in the bush. It was interesting to note that the path we were using had no definite roads and yet the two vehicles were managing to avoid the trees. On our way, our monies, shoes and watch were taken away from us. We received intimidation and threats of being shot if any of us tried to escape.

Family Picture with the Van that was stolen

We were captured at 18:00 hours and arrived at the stream at around midnight, somehow managing to avoid the Zambian mobile policemen. At the stream we all got out of the vehicles and helped build a bridge for over two hours. The construction of the bridge involved clearing off some winding trees that had grown in the stream and cutting enough wood to be laid across the stream for the two vehicles to pass smoothly. After finishing the bridge, we had to clear some tall grass and shrubs again to make way for the vehicles to pass. From the stream we moved another six hours before finally being released at 08:00 hours on Wednesday 12^th June 1991, deep in Zairean bush. Including the van, items such as beddings, clothes, Christian literature etc. worth K590,000 were stolen from us into Zaire.

Dad on his tour to Eastern Province visiting Schools

We managed to walk back to Zambia in four hours’ time. Fortunately, just about the time we met the Zambian soldiers and while narrating the story to them, the Member of the Central Committee for N.W Province, who was conducting some political meeting in that area linked up with us. We shared the story with him after which he asked one of the policemen with him to escort us to Solwezi Police Station. After giving our reports, we traveled back to Kitwe on 13^th June 1991.

Though we lament the loss of our vehicle and other items, we thank God that He miraculously spared our lives to the praise of his glorious name. Amen.

WILLIE KAMANGA & KUNDA KALIFUNGWA

(Traveling Secretaries)