Zambia World Wide

My third visit to Northern Rhodesia.

In December 1954 my parents came to Cape Town by car for a holiday. In Jan 1955 I went back with them, as my annual leave was due. I am not sure if it was imagination but every time I crossed the border into Rhodesia I could sense a definite change Leaving Beitbridge and traveling on tarred strips that were constructed in 1930 was no exception. It felt as if we were on some secondary road with Mother Nature still in charge. After stopping at the Lion and Elephant Motel for some refreshments we continued our journey. We did not reach Fort Victoria (Masvingo) as the Lundi (Runde) river was in flood. Fortunately there was accommodation at the river. I wish I could remember the name of this place as the food and hospitality was first class. It was the first time that I slept under a mosquito net. The next mourning the water was just breaking over the bridge railing and it was then considered safe to make the crossing. With the fan belt removed to prevent the water from reaching the spark plugs we started what seemed to me a crossing of at least a hundred metres. The bridge was just wide enough for one car. Four locals pushing at the rear and two on the side to help keep the car on the bridge assisted us. At one stage I thought it would be necessary to open the doors to relieve the pressure being exerted by the flow of the water.

The wet graveled stretch of road between Kapiri Mposhi and Ndola was another setback. One minute you would be skidding all over the place and the next moment you could feel the bottom of the car connecting with the road surface.

With this vacation it was arranged to take me to the Hippo Pools near Chingola. My sisters warned me that at the pool they were going to dive into a waterfall. As I stood above the waterfall I knew there was no turning back. On the bridge above spectators were waiting for you to make the dive and what’s more on our way to the Hippo Pool I boasted that nothing they said would put me off. Once you dived in the water the spectators would run to the other side of the bridge to see if you made it safely. As I hit the water I felt myself being sucked in. At first I thought it was good-bye gruel world but then I felt the pressure of the water forcing me upwards. Once above the water I made a beeline for the shore as I was told to watch out for the crocodiles.

My return to South Africa.

In February of 1955 I was transferred to Malmesbury and on the 28^th February 1956 I resigned and immigrated to Northern Rhodesia. It was not an easy decision as I was very happy working in the country. The Grand Hotel I was staying in cost me eleven pounds per month. This included three full course meals per day, washing and ironing. My salary then was thirty-five pounds per month. The farmers always made you feel welcome. They invited you to their parties and during the fruit season you often had to decline the offer of fruit as you had so much that you were actually supplying the hotel. Baskets of fruit were placed at the entrance to the hall during our badminton matches. Dirk Truter and I when bored were rather mischievous. For example when the rival hotel across the road held a dance we would put a potato in the car exhausts.

One Saturday afternoon a fight broke out in front of our hotel between two farm labourers of opposite sex. The female had stripped off all her clothing. They scattered as the policeman arrived on a bicycle. He managed to catch the female and handcuffed her to the bicycle. As he came cycling past us with the nude female cuffed to his bicycle you can imagine the badgering that took place. This was not the first time seeing a female farm labourer strip when involved in a fight.

Home Remedy of 1945.

Around 1945/6 my brother Douglas contracted double pneumonia. As the days passed his chances of recovery became less. Our next-door neighbour Mrs. Roux confronted Dr Mallach and requested permission to use a home remedy. He agreed provided it was not given internally. That evening she arrived with two warm cat skins. One was placed on his chest and the other on his back. Doctor Mallach considered his sudden recovery the next day as a miracle.