One day a group of pupils were taken on a conducted familiarisation tour of a mine operation on the copperbelt and the itinerary included sewer ponds where danger was lurking in the seemingly calm waters of the ponds. TIMOTHY KAMBILIMA recounts what happened.
AFTER the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) government of Frederick Chiluba privatised Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM), a lot of things on the Copperbelt mining towns changed.
The new mine owners stopped providing free napkins to newly born miners’ babies, while doing away with electricity and water subsidies, among others.
The water sector was now under Asset Holdings Company (AHC). The company came up with a lot of sensitisation activities for consumers on the importance of judicious use of water It was during that time that I recall having been appointed by the headmistress of Mitondo Secondary School Mrs. Mubita to be in charge of the school quiz team.
I still remember taking my team to Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Kitwe studios for the inter-school quiz with renowned comedian Bob Nkosha as quiz master.
That aside, the company also embarked on inviting various stake holders such as schools to visit the various infrastructure in Chililabombwe. Mitondo Secondary School was one of the schools picked for such visits, let alone Muleya Seconadary School.
Well, a day before the tour of duty started, the head teacher briefed the group that comprised pupils like Mwalimu Simfukwe, Haden Hamiyanda, Josephine Chisha, Gloria Mutambo, Sylvester Mwansa and Christabel Sampa, among others, about the importance of discipline during the familiarisation tour of AHC installations in Chililabombwe.
The tour started the following day at 13.00 hours. The ROSA minibus from AHC headquarters in Kitwe was at hand to pick the Mitondo team.
The first stop over was at the water treatment plant near Total filling station where the experts explained the operations carried out there.
No sooner had we finished with the first installation than we proceeded to the sewer ponds just after mine farm. Mine Farm reminds me of a football team- Twin Rivers- where the current coach of FAZ/MTN Division one side Mighty Mufurila Wanderers Manfred Chabinga once played for before joining Konkola Blades Football Club.
The boys and girls were very excited and they sang all sorts of morale songs much to the amusement of the driver who appeared to be enjoying the atmosphere.
When we arrived at the sewer ponds, the place was very quiet. The water was still and one would be forgiven for thinking the facility were fish ponds.
Before disembarking, one AHC staff member, a Mr. Siyamakobe, warned the pupils to be careful as they went round seeing what went on at the ponds.
“This place has crocodiles,” warned Mr. Siyamakobe.
He also informed the group that fish was also found in the ponds, but fishing was illegal and any one found fishing in the ponds was liable to arrest and prosecution because the fish was not fit for human consumption.
After the lecture we came out of the bus and began going round. The place had about two ponds if I am not mistaken.
Well, after 10 minutes or so, I suddenly saw something in the water with its head slightly above the water.
I asked the tour guide what it was and he whispered to me “That’s a crocodile.”
He did that not to alarm the situation or cause panic because, just about two meters away, stood a girl admiring the water.
“Lisa, go and get my note-book from the bus,” I intelligently asked the girl and she quickly left the dangerous place. I then followed the guide together with another boy and explained to her why I did that.
Upon realising the danger she’d been saved from, she was full of fear, but I assured her that she was very safe. For his part, Mr. Siyamakobe reminded the boys and girls to be careful once again.
From the look of things, the trip was a flop as the pupils lost concentration.
The AHC team noticed that and they cut the trip short. The lectures on sewage treatment, however, went on as we sat comfortably aboard the bus.
I was very happy and thanked God that he gave me eyes to be able to see the crocodile first and in the end saved the girl from being attacked by the beast that was on a mission to catch its prey.
Each time I sit back to remember what happened in the late 1990’s at Mitondo Secondary School, the familiarisation tour always rings in my mind.
Lastly, may God bless all those who commented on the article that appeared on 30th August, 2014. I value your observations and suggestions.
Comments: 0968-537 064
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