Zambia World Wide

Who recalls the tsetse fly sheds of the 1950s?

As a boy growing up in Kasama in the early 1950's I recall many trips in the prison's brown Hudson vanette. My Dad, Tommy Miller the Officer in charge of the Kasama Prison, would make frequent trips to outlying areas, often going to any one of the many White Fathers missions.

As we travelled along the dirt roads with a cloud of red dust in our wake, our journey would be temporarily halted by a white washed bamboo barrier which stretched across the road. Over to the side of the road, would be a large shed where the ever officious African tsetse fly control officer, a devoted servant of the crown, would direct us to drive through the open large barn doors. Once inside,the doors would be slammed closed, and we would strain our eyes trying to see through the murky darkness which was punctuated by the odd sunbeam that was able to penetrate through the cracks in the roof .

In the still darkness, we would hear heavy breathing and then detect the whites of the tsetse control officer's eyes as he would peer into the cab of the vanette, raise his mobile spray, and start pumping a fine mist of tsetse fly killing muti. The vehicle would be sprayed inside and out, leaving no part untouched by the magic potion.

When the spraying was completed, the doors at the other end would be thrown open, the light from the African sun rushed in blinding everyone, and my Dad would drive out of the gas chamber, while we hacked and coughed with tears running down our our faces.

The bureaucratic process continued outside when once again the vehicle made a stop and an official log would be completed, stating who had survived the ordeal, where we were from and where we were going.

Father Bonar and Father Sherry, two White Fathers and Scotland's finest, were stationed at different missions. They were admonished by the bishop who would read the log each time he travelled through, and noted that the two Sons of Scotland were socialising far to often. Their visits became few and far between however, after their discussions with the bishop. It was noted that many famous world citizens signed the log, including Ghandi, Winston Churchill, Tom Mix and Roy Rogers.

As we said our teary farewells to our friendly tsetse fly control officer, he would stand tall and proud in his government issued khaki uniform, (boots were optional), bush hat at a stylish jaunt, giving us a toothless smile and a crisp salute.

We felt safe and relieved as we continued our journey, knowing that were were part of the war to eradicate the dreaded TSETSE FLY.