Although
English is commonly used in Zambia's cities, learning the southern
African English expressions can greatly improve your communication with
Zambians. Although it is not necessary to learn Nyanja, the dominant
local language, speaking a few phrases will be appreciated by your
Zambian acquaintances.
Useful Phrases
and Expressions in Nyanja
Nyanja is the local Bantu language heard most often in and around
Lusaka. Some general rules about this langauge are to pronounce all
vowels and consonants distinctly and with their full value. Syllables
always end in a vowel, and generally the accent is placed on the second
to last syllable, although there are some exceptions. These exceptions
can be important considering that the same word may have different
meanings depending on the intonation. It may be worthwhile to listen to
Zambians say the following expressions before attempting them on your
own.
| How
are you? |
|
|
Muli
bwanji? |
| How
is she? |
|
|
Ali
bwanji? |
| What
is your name? |
|
|
Kodi
dzina lanu ndinu ndani? |
| My
name is ____. |
|
|
Dzina
langa ndine bambo (Mr.) ____.
Dzina langa ndine maii (Miss, Mrs.) ____. |
| Thank
you. |
|
|
Zikomo. |
| (When
someone is leaving tell them to...) Go well. |
|
|
Pitani
bwino. |
| (Their
response will be ...) Remain well. |
|
|
Salani
Bwino. |
| I
am sorry. |
|
|
Pepani. |
Media
Two of Zambia's major daily newspapers, The Daily Mail and The
Times are government-owned and operated, whilst The Post is
an independent weekly news publication. The Lusaka Lowdown is
an important monthly publication for the expatriate community focusing
on local events, regional news, classified ads and a directory of local
businesses and services.
Bookstores and
Libraries
Finding a bookstore with maps and local guides should not be a problem.
Both Book Cellar and Book World are located in Manda Hill, with two
other Book World branches in Kabulonga and Cairo Roads. Mary's Bookshop
can be found on Leopard's hill Road, and if all else fails, visit the
bookstore on the University of Zambia campus.
There are several libraries in Lusaka, namely the City Library on
Katondo Street and the one at the University of Zambia. The Alliance
Française (French-language publications only), American Centre
and British Council all have libraries accessible to members.
Television
There are three types of television standards used in the world – NTSC,
PAL and SECAM, – and there are various subtypes of the last two as
well. SECAM is used widely in Eastern Europe as well as many countries
of central Asia and Africa; its subtypes include B and D (VHF), G, H
and K (UHF) and I, K1, L, M, N (both VHF and UHF). PAL, too, is used
through a wide area, touching every continent where television is
watched; the most common PAL subtypes are B, G and H, while D, I, N and
M are less commonly found. NTSC is used throughout the Americas and in
countries scattered throughout the world; there is only one type --
NTSC M.
Sometimes common use of standards overlap, and different types and/or
subtypes are used within the same countries. However, none of these
types and subtypes are compatible, requiring that people living in
certain countries use only those that accept the local frequencies.
Some televisions are made to accept a range of television standards.
Although they can be quite expensive, it may be worth the cost for
those who move abroad frequently.
FAST FACT:
Zambia uses the PAL B and G type televisions.
Local Zambian television stations offer little to expatriates in the
way of programming. Many foreign nationals opt for access to satellite
television from South Africa, which costs about US$45 per month. This
greatly increases the variety of programming, especially in regards to
international and multilingual broadcasts. Cable television has only
limited access capabilities, but some service is available in Zambia.
With either cable or satellite television, CNN (an American news
channel) and South Africa's M-Net are available.
Radio
English-language programming is easy to find. The government-owned
Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation broadcasts local news and
music programmes in English and several local languages. For
international news from the United Kingdom or the United States, BBC
and Voice of America broadcasts can be heard on short-wave radio.
Although there are multiple frequencies at which these stations can be
found, they change from time to time.
Telephones
Initial telephone service is connected up by putting in a request at
the local post office, but be aware that there is a significant waiting
list to have a new line installed. Most Zamtel services are operated
through post offices, such as bill payment, connection and
disconnection. They can also tell you where to go for telephone repair
and line servicing.
Although telephone services have improved in the past few years,
seasonal disconnections and temporary lack of service still occurs.
This is due most often to being disconnected for billing errors and the
onset of the rainy season. One way to avoid being disconnected due to a
billing error is to keep a positive credit balance on the telephone
account. Bills are most often paid for at the local post office, and it
is important to pay them as soon as received in order to avoid being
disconnected.
FAST FACT:
Contact
Tel: 109 to report problems with your telephone connection or line.
Public
Telephones
Whilst there is a good number of public telephones in the cities, there
are very few to be found in rural areas. Most public telephones can be
found on commercial streets, at post offices and other public buildings
in Lusaka. Most of these telephones operate by using tokens only, which
are available for purchase in one or five units at urban post offices.
Public telephones can be used to make calls within Zambia only.
Mobile
Telephones
Cellular telephone service is becoming increasingly available in
Zambia, with several formats available. Zamtel offers both AMPS and GSM
format service, whilst Telecel-Zambia offers CDMA. Expatriates with
mobile telephones using AMPS or GSM formats should contact their home
cellular providers to see if roaming agreements exist with Zamtel.
Telephone Codes
Long distance calls to within Zambia must sometimes be connected by a
local operator. To place such a call, dial "0" and then enter the city
or area code and telephone number. When the operator picks up, tell him
or her the telephone number of the person you are trying to reach. You
can also connect to local directory assistance by dialing "103." The
following is a list of selected city codes:
Chingola: 2
Kitwe: 2
Livingstone: 3
Luanshya: 2
Lusaka: 1
Ndola: 2
To dial direct to an international telephone number, those calling from
within Zambia must enter "00" before the country code. An international
operator can be contacted at Tel: 090 or 093 from within the country.
Zambia's country code when calling from abroad is "260."
Emergency
Telephone Numbers
Ambulance:
992
Emergency: 999
Fire: 993
Police: 991
Postal Services
Internal mail service in Zambia is rather slow and not advisable to be
used for urgent letters or to make appointments. The national postal
service offers Express Post that is reported to offer faster, more
reliable service, despite its limited delivery area. There is regular
air mail service from Zambia to northern Europe, from where mail or
parcels can be delivered worldwide within about two weeks. However,
surface mail takes significantly longer (several months) and the
unreliable handling results in many lost packages.
The General Post Office in Lusaka offers mail, telephone and fax
services. Poste restante is available at the downstairs post office,
whilst international telephone and fax facilities are located upstairs.
For important national and international letters and parcels, it is
advisable to use a well-known courier rather than the local postal
service. Several such international carriers in Lusaka are:
DHL
DHL House
Corner Makishi and Parirenyetwa Roads
PO Box 31395
Lusaka
Tel: [260](1) 229-720, 229-768/ -69/ -70/ -71
Ndola
Tel: [260](2) 611-977/ -978
Kitwe
Tel: [260](2) 223-496
Federal Express
Tel: [260](1) 252-856/ -191
Mercury Courier Services
47 Joseph Mwilwa Road
Rhodes Park
Tel/Fax: [260](1) 239-872, 231-137ß
Post Offices
Lusaka's main post office is located on the corner of Cairo and Church
Roads.
Internet Service
Internet service is available through several service providers (ISP)
in Zambia, the largest of which is Zamnet (URL: http://www.zamnet.zm), operated by the
University of Zambia. The national telecommunications operator, Zamtel
(URL: http://www.zamtel.zm), offers
another ISP, as does CopperNet (URL: http://www.coppernet.zm).
Full Internet access is offered for about US$20 per month, excluding
the charges for local telephone calls. Most local telephone calls cost
between US$1.50 to US$3 per hour. The best Internet connections can be
made at night and on weekends; daytime connections can be problematic.
Unless your residence has more than one telephone line already
installed, you might wait a long time before your request for a new
line is honoured by Zamtel. In the meantime, those craving Internet
access can visit one of Lusaka's several Internet cafés, such as
Cyber Café, Cyberweb Internet Café and DG Internet
Café, where access is available for a price.
Entertainment
With its beautiful weather and diverse landscape, Zambia is perfect for
outdoor recreation. Outdoor enthusiasts might consider bringing their
camping gear with them when they relocate in order to be able to take
advantage of the country's numerous natural wonders. The plateau's
expansive grasslands are home to much wildlife, which is why these
areas are visited often by tourists on safari trips. Whitewater rafting
along the Zambezi and the awesome spectacle of Victoria Falls are not
to be missed. The city of Livingstone is only seven kilometres (about
four miles) from the waterfall and offers hotel and tourist facilities
to both the rapids and the falls.
Horseback riding is quite popular amongst expatriates as it is
relatively more affordable than in Europe or North America. Equestrian
centres exist in both Lusaka and Kitwe.
For those staying in town, there is a good number of friendly meeting
places and nightclubs. Frog & Firkin on Kabulonga Road is a
British-style pub favoured by both expatriates and locals. Other pubs
in Lusaka include Browns (Kabelenga Road), Chasers (Lagos Road),
O'Hagan's (Great East Road, Manda Hill), Sam's Sports Cafe (Malasha
Road) and others located in better hotels. Eureka and Soul Provider are
also popular meeting places in Lusaka.
There are several live music venues, such as Xcape, which offers an
entertainment centre, restaurant and alcoholic beverages. Still many
other clubs play a good variety of recorded music including the sounds
of rhumba, kwela, techno or rock 'n roll. The following is a list of
night clubs and dance venues in Lusaka, but keep in mind that such
establishments often change hands or formats:
8000 RPM (Techno music)
Black Velvet
Cafe D'Afrique (Cultural entertainment and restaurant)
Chez n' Temba (Rumba)
Cosmopolitan
Jungle
Mike's Car Wash (Rumba)
Mr Pete's
Polo Grill (Live music weekends)
When venturing out for the first time, it is advisable to go along with
someone familiar with the area and venue.
Cultural
Highlights
There is an abundance of cultural activities available in and around
Lusaka due as much to national pride as to the tourist industry. In the
city, the Lusaka National Museum along Independence Avenue and the
Namwandwe Art Gallery on Leopard's Hill Road are just some of the local
offerings. Handmade artefacts can be purchased at the Kabwata Cultural
Village on Burma Road in Kabwata.
Locally made handicrafts such as wood carving, pottery, basketry and
paintings are highly-praised art forms in Zambia. Basket weavers are
particularly specialised and it is quite interesting to watch one
produce some of Africa's finest baskets from raw materials like bamboo,
vines, roots, reeds and papyrus leaves. When these baskets are
finished, they are often decorated with traditional symbolic designs
and patterns.
Local Cuisine
Freshwater fish from the local rivers are a favourite of Zambians. The
specialities include bream from the Kafue, Luapula and Zambezi rivers,
Nile perch, lake salmon and other freshwater varieties. Dried fish is
available at local open-air markets, but fresh fish is best if
purchased at the water's edge.
Cornmeal porridge, nshima, is a staple in Zambian food that
makes an appearance in almost every meal of the day. Served thin and
sweet for breakfast, it is thickened for lunch and evening meals. As a
main dish, nshima is served with sauce or relish made from tomatoes,
vegetables, meat or dried fish. Nshima is traditionally eaten with the
hands, and it is customary to wash one's hands both before and after
eating.
Some Lusaka restaurants that are popular amongst locals and expatriates
alike are:
| Restaurant |
|
|
|
Location |
| Café
D'Afrique, African specialities |
|
|
|
Lufubu
Road |
Cattleman's
Grill, steaks and seafood
|
|
|
|
Los
Angeles Boulevard
|
Chit
Chat, a popular lunch venue
|
|
|
|
Omela
Mumba Road, Rhodes Park
|
Danny's,
Indian food and steaks
|
|
|
|
Gazenga
Road, Woodlands
|
| Fra
Gigi, Italian food |
|
|
|
Lubu
Road |
Giant
Dragon, Chinese food
|
|
|
|
Paseli
Road, Northmead
|
Hibiscus,
European cuisine
|
|
|
|
Central
Road, Jesmondine
|
Jaylin,
Creole entrees
|
|
|
|
Lusaka
Club, Los Angeles Boulevard
|
Mr.
Pete's, ribs
|
|
|
|
Panganani
Road
|
Tipping
Ten
percent tip is the standard in Zambia where tipping is appropriate.
Taxi drivers expect a 10 percent tip, but a similar service charge is
automatically added to restaurant bills, eliminating the need for
further gratuity.
Technically,
tipping in hotels is illegal, but many still give porters and
housekeepers small tips without fear of being held liable. The trick is
to do it subtly, without bringing a lot of attention to yourself or the
party benefiting from your gratitude. If you would rather not tip the
help directly, you may be comforted by the fact that a 10 percent
service charge is automatically added to the total bill in lieu of a
tip.
Shopping
The resources for local shopping have exploded within the past few
years, giving Lusaka residents more options than ever for imported food
and products. Of course, these new additions come with a price tag, but
prices are changing consistently in response to competition amongst
retailers, a relatively new development. Some of the more established
shopping venues in town are the Kabulonga, Northmead and Woodlands
Shopping Centres. There is also the new Manda Hill shopping mall,
Zambia's very first.
One thing to be aware of when shopping is security. In the past,
shopping centre and supermarket parking lots have been the scene of
many car-jackings and thefts. Although many such establishments now
offer increased security for their customers, it is best to remain wary
of potentially dangerous situations. Ask friends or even local
authorities of which stores have better security than others.
Most expatriates shy away from visiting the open-air markets in Zambia.
Bargaining at such venues is a skill that takes a lifetime to hone --
and it is something at which local Zambians are much more adept than
foreigners. Expatriates will always end up paying more for goods than
locals but good deals can be found. Those who know the current prices
for goods will benefit the most from a trip to the market. If you
decide to venture to an open air market, be sure to have someone guard
your car. Keep a close eye on your money and your car keys. Due to
security risks, it is advisable to stay away from the sprawling Soweto
market.
FAST FACT:
Bargaining
is an acquired skill, but a novice can be helped by a few quick tips:
Start your counteroffer at one-third of their asking price, then
bargain up from there. With any luck, you should be able to purchase
the item for about half of the original price.
Food
Grocery stores such as Game Store and Shoprite operate in Lusaka. Much
of the food offered in supermarkets has been imported from South
Africa, and prices can be high but reasonable for expatriates. Local
meats and produce are fairly inexpensive. Usually shoppers have the
option of either doing all the food shopping in one convenient location
with higher prices or visiting several establishments in order to get
the best deals.
Meats and some fresh fruits and vegetables are better bought at farm
markets, which are different from the open-air markets of Soweto,
Northmead or Longacres. Most offer much better prices than the
supermarkets for food that comes from the same source. When visiting
one of these farms, it is a good idea to bring an ice chest in which to
put the meats so they do not spoil before you get them home.
FAST FACT:
Home
gardens are quite popular, and with the right care, fruit and
vegetables can be grown throughout the year.
Furniture and
Appliances
Because
high-quality furniture, household goods and electrical appliances are
scarce in Zambia, whatever you may find will probably be expensive and
of low quality. Therefore, it is advisable to take full advantage of
duty-free import of household items. If you find that it is necessary
to purchase some items, consider making a shopping trip to South
Africa, where prices are more reasonable and import is still tax-free.
Keep in mind, though, that local appliance repairmen may not be able to
fix these items.
Health Clubs in
Lusaka
Active
Bodies
Tel: [260](1) 290-285
Hotel Inter-Continental Lusaka
Tel: [260](1) 250-600
T and T Gym
Tel: [260](1) 255-288
Helpful Clubs
and Organisations
There is a large number of expatriate and local organisations in Lusaka
that gather for social and humanitarian purposes. Several nationality
clubs exist, such as the Alliance Francaise de Lusaka, American
Canadian Women's Club, Caledonian Society (Scottish) and the Wild Geese
Society (Irish) as well as others. The Lusaka Music Society
co-ordinates and hosts local concerts, whilst the Magic Theatre Company
produces plays and musicals at its own playhouse.
Many other clubs are co-ordinated by humanitarian causes (Rotary Club
and YWCA), religious groups (Catholic Women's League), businesspeople
(Business and Professional Women's Club) and people with common
interests (Lusaka Kennel Club). Children's athletics and social groups
also exist in Lusaka, such as the Girl and Boy Scouts and the Junior
Chamber of Commerce.
Alliance Francaise de Lusaka
Northmead Shopping Centre
Lusaka
American Canadian Women's Club
c/o Community Liason Office
American Embassy
Corner of Independence and United Nations Aves.
POB 31617
Lusaka
Tel: [260](1) 250-955
Fax: [260](1) 252-225
Pets
Many expatriates bring their pets with them to Zambia, where the
weather is mild. Other foreign nationals buy dogs upon moving to Zambia
because they are excellent deterrents against thefts and break-ins.
Most imported household pets can acclimate themselves in a reasonable
amount of time. Pet care is available in the large cities, and some
veterinarians make housecalls. Some clinics and veterinarians in the
Lusaka area are the Provincial Veterinary Office, the University of
Zambia School of Veterinary Services, Veterinary Clinic Makeni and
others.
It is very important to locate a trusted veterinarian in your area.
Vaccinations must be kept current, and regular deworming is necessary
to maintain your pet's health. During the rainy season, many dogs are
afflicted by biting flies that leave wounds on their ears. One way to
treat this by applying petroleum jelly or Fly-Away jelly to the
affected areas. All animals are susceptible to putsi or tumbu flies,
whose larvae burrow under the skin. One way to help prevent this
problem is to keep your pets away from wet clothing or bedding.
Tickbite fever is a more serious condition that is one of the leading
causes of dog and cat deaths in Zambia. Should your pet display a loss
of appetite and gray-coloured gums, you should take it to a
veterinarian immediately. This disease can prove fatal within a short
period of time.
There are several pet shops in Lusaka that can provide you with pet
food and supplies otherwise unavailable at local grocery stores.
Certain brand names may not be available at all.
Prior to importing any pet to Zambia, it is very important that all of
the following conditions are met and all of the following documents are
available to show to customs officials:
• International Health Certificate: must be issued by a licensed
veterinarian and endorsed by a government official in country of
origin; should not be more than ten days old at time of entry.
• Vaccinations: all routine dog and cat immunisations should be
administered at least 30 days, but no more than 180 days, prior to
entry into Zambia.
• Rabies Certificate: original certificate, issued by a licensed
veterinarian in country of origin, must prove that the vaccination was
administered at least 30 days, but no more than 180 days, prior to
departure.
• Import Permit: required for all animals entering Zambia; should be
obtained in advance, so sufficient time should be allowed for
processing and issuing; can only be obtained from the veterinary
authorities in Lusaka -- written requests should be sent to:
Director of Veterinary and Tsetse Control Department
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries
Mulungushi House
P.O. Box 50060, Ridgeway
Lusaka, Zambia
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