Zambia World Wide

In 1965 I was required to obtain an Authorization Certificate. Norman Johnson acted as my instructor. The Control Staff would select the highest places to connect the earth rods. These rods were so heavy if you missed the connection point above; there was no stopping the rod from crashing down. The biggest fright I received was walking under an Air Blast Circuit Breaker when it opened or closed. I was not only deafened by the almighty bang but I am sure that I broke quite a few records. On the 14^th June 1965 Arthur Davies the Engineer in Charge of Operations issued me with my Authorization Certificate.

In 1966 after a long negotiation process it was accepted that the chances of anyone becoming a foreman was remote. The post of an Assistant Artisan Foreman was established. In July 1966 I was appointed to the post of Assistant Artisan Foreman.

My only fight I had while employed with R.C.B.P.C.

We had three labourers working in the Light Current Section. Two of the labourers started complaining about the third labourer with the nickname “Shortie”. They were always required to assist Shortie when requested but he refused to help them. When we approached him he would simply ignore us. He also always found some excuse why he could not help in cleaning the workshop. The Labour Department at Rhokana Mine informed me since Shortie was a labourer we can insist that he must help with any other task if he has no work. R.C.B.P.C. labourers were hired from Rhokana Mine.

A couple of weeks later I had two of our labourers digging a trench with their bodies soaked in perspiration. They insisted I go and fetch Shortie as he was just sitting in the workshop. His supervisor Les Aiken was on leave. At first I ignored them as I was in no mood for a consultation with Shortie. Later however I felt I was not being fair towards them so off I went to fetch Shortie.

Arriving at the workshop there was Shortie fast asleep. After waking him up I told him to come with me, as he had to help with the digging. As he got up he pointed a finger in my face and informed me that I can’t tell him what to do. With this my blood pressure rocketed sky high but somehow I still manage to keep my cool. It was as he pushed me out of his way that I lost it. Somewhere in our scuffle I hit him squarely and he fell backwards landing in a wooden crate we used for our rubbish. Before he could recover I climbed in and I only stopped to find something else to hit him with as my fists were by now sore. In that time he managed to get out of the crate and ran towards the Engineering Office Block, which was, then in front of the Switching Station building. He started running up and down the front of the offices shouting for help because Mr. Boswell wants to kill him. As luck would have it all the offices were empty. Before he could run away again I had him in the back of the panel van. The Admin staff was then in Afcom House, Durban Road Kitwe. It was around 1965/66 that they and senior officials moved into the new office block close to the main workshop.

I thought if the two other labourers saw him they would take some pity on him but instead it was the opposite. The next day Shortie did not report for work but to my surprise not only the two labourers but some of the others came and told me they were glad that someone was prepared to put Shortie in his place.

Jerry Mc Claire a very determined and likeable person. He continued his studies until he got his Wireman’s Certificate. He could also use his hands as I really admired the knife he made from an old power saw blade. Jerry and I somehow got involved with Arm Wrestling. Possibly with the rowing I could push his arm over. This I could see had really upset Jerry and it wasn’t long before he was back. Knowing Jerry I decided to let him win otherwise he would keep coming back.