Transcription of a letter dated 6/04/06 and received by me on 17 July, 2006:
Condotte Guest House
P.O. Box 60
Mfuwe
Zambia
Dear Grant,
Hope you travelled well from Mfuwe to UK. Although you left us in a misery situation we are all fine at Wildlife camp. We thank you very much for your stay with us, you are so kind and friendly to everyone. How are you together with John? Are you together with him?
I want to thank you on behalf of the staffs for the mosquito nets you sent for us. Everybody was happy to have a net as you know this place is to much of mosquitoes. The one I received I gave it to my two years old child who is now sleeping alone by the name of Brian.
Grant, I'm still studying very hard, both at home and at work. I really want to become a guide if God allows. It is the only career I can study at the moment because going to college is too much expensive. There is only one thing I'm worried with. I don't have a driver's licence. I need to have it now before the next year exams. According to the exam rules, it must be one year matured before the exams but I don't have money to pay for it. the money I'm getting is just enough to pay for my wife to school and feed my small family. My wife is doing fine at school and I'm pretty sure she will do better during the final exams. I want her to work after completing school so that we can help each other to raise our child in a good manner. Both of us we are fighting hard to have a better future. My wife is interested in music and she sings very well especially gospel music. She has a voice of a woman who is able to sing at her level best. I love her and she loves me too. I will send her picture and my child's picture for you to see them after your reply.
Yours,
B.J.
or
Joseph Zulu
Note: B.J. is a hard-working waiter at Wildlife Camp. Johnny and I raised money while we were at Wildlife for some mosquito nets for the staff, many of whom were suffering from malaria. B.J. gave his mosquito net to his son at home, rather than using it himself.
Many of the staff at the various safari camps are working hard to qualify as a safari guide, a career that opens out many new possibilities for them. A safari guide is very highly qualified and has to know about many different aspects of the wild game, the birds, the South Luangwa National Park, the clients, etc. The study and exams to qualify as a guide are themselves expensive, and the necessity of a guide to have a driver's license is essential and is one further expense.
B.J. has been sponsored by Noel O'Regan of Edinburgh, Scotland to get his driver's licence. B.J. has been to Chipata and, after a bit of difficulty because the Licensing Office wasn't open the day he went, has managed to obtain his driver's licence. This cost Kw160,000 plus Kw60,000 for the return bus journey to Chipata or Kw220,000. This is equivalent to £27.50 and is therefore considerably less than the amount offered by Noel. I tried to get B.J. onto a 4-wheel driving course that was offered by Robin Pope Safaris to a number of the camps in the Valley, but these courses were all fully subscribed. It is hoped that B.J. will be able to get onto the next course when it is offered here in the Valley.
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