5 Things You Probably Never Knew About Zambia

Here are some facts about Zambia that have now become common place to me, but I thought you all might find interesting:

Stone Crushers

1.  It is impossible to go from our farm to town without seeing multiple people either crushing stones or carrying charcoal.  They are two of the worst jobs in Zambia.  The charcoal carriers (over)load their bikes with huge bags of charcoal and haul them into town.  Every pedal is a struggle and the slightest incline requires that they dismount their bikes and push.  They do this from sunrise to sunset.  Then there are the stone crushers.  Some of them (mostly men) gather huge stones from the quarries and lug them to the side of the road.  From there, others (mostly women) hammer the large stones until they have been reduced to small gravel size pieces.  These pieces are put in bags and sold to anyone who needs gravel.  Just like the charcoal carriers, these individuals work from sun up to sun down.  And they get paid pennies to do this work.

2.  There are hair salons on almost every corner in the compounds/slums (which probably helps explain why a Zambian woman may wear 5 different hair pieces throughout the week).

Mama Andrew's Hair Salon

3.  There are blue minibuses that travel throughout Lusaka and on which you can catch a ride to and from almost anywhere.  These buses are always overstuffed with people (and the occasional chicken).  And I am not sure but I think it is a rule that if you own a minibus you must put some phrase across the back windshield that either supports your favorite football (soccer) club or is a variation of the saying: “If God says yes, no one can say no.”  I have also noticed that most traffic laws do not apply to drivers in Lusaka, but even fewer apply to minibus drivers.

Minibus

4.  Most police officers do not have cars (but they do have automatic weapons).  If they catch you speeding, they wave for you to pull over.  If you do not pull over, they will wave down the next car and make that person chase you down until you pull over (for real).  Once they have you pulled over, they inform you of what you did wrong and the accompanying fine. (If you are white, sometimes they just pull you over and make up a reason to fine you.)  The fine may start out at something like 500,000 Kwacha, but if you give them 50,000 Kwacha (about $10) and say, “This is all I have on me,” they often let you go.

5.  The “Natty Light” of Zambia is called Shake-Shake and can be found within walking (or stumbling) distance from most villages around Lusaka.  It is made from fermented corn and sold in large milk cartons.  You might be thinking that Shake-Shake sounds gross, but it is even grosser than you are thinking.  Trust me.

Well, now you know a little bit more about Zambia and if you ever come to visit you will be that much more prepared.