Zambia World Wide

Zambia had to do most of its imports and exports now via Mozambique. The biggest problems were the import of fuel and the export of copper.

At first 44-gallon drums were used to import the fuel. There were two problems with this: -

Firstly drums went missing along the road and were never recovered.

Secondly a petrol engine was used to pump the fuel into the petrol tanks from the 44-gallon drums. The petrol tanks were close to the intersection of Chibuluma Rd and Independence Ave. This was possibly the biggest disaster after independence. We were on our way to a rowing practice when we saw the smoke and fortunately decided to use an alternate route in case the spectators held us up. Apparently a spark from the petrol engine set the drum alight which in turn set the petrol tank alight. The Africans were convinced that it was the work of the whites and started stoning the cars. Patients were told to get out of the hospital as the whites were on the warpath. Rumour has it that some of the woman in the maternity ward jumped from the first floor windows. The fire engine of C.P.C. was called in to help but had to return as the stones started raining down on them. An instrument mechanic who had just arrived from the U.K. thinking he could entertain his family by taking them to the fire had a rude awakening. The stoning of his car was the least that was expected. If I remember correctly his wife was treated for shock and of the car windows were shattered.

Trucks were altered to transport copper and fuel. The trucks were equipped with space for the copper and above it was a huge rubber container. The idea was that they would export the copper and then return with the rubber containers filled with fuel. The problem was that the rubber containers often leaked so badly that they were empty on arriving in Kitwe. This also contributed to the disintegration of the tarred surfaces.

One of these trucks went straight into a garden of a house on the intersection of Central and Thirteenth Ave. The truck with its load of copper was well and truly bogged down. It took days to get the truck out of the garden.

Piet Vermaak was accused of swearing at a labourer. He was not sure if the labourer had gone ahead with his threat of reporting the incident. To be on the safe side he decided to keep a low profile for a while. After a week Piet and his wife Connie came to us as he felt he needed a break. Later that evening as they were leaving Piet ran straight for the pool and jumped in cloths and all. The rest of us soon joined him. Our next-door neighbour Lew Evans on hearing us came to see what was happening. The next thing his family was also in their pool and fires were lit on both sides of the fence for a braai. This certainly got rid of Piet’s frustrations.