By Roxanne Reid
Ever been camping in the boondocks miles from home and had a craving for fresh veggies, fruit or salad that you can’t find for love nor money? Visit Zambia and you’ll be surprised at the profusion of fresh produce you can buy in the remotest of places.
Ever been camping in the boondocks miles from home and had a craving for fresh veggies, fruit or salad that you can’t find for love nor money? Visit Zambia and you’ll be surprised at the profusion of fresh produce you can buy in the remotest of places.
Whether it is basins full of tomatoes stacked in neat little pyramids by the side of the road, or mounds of fresh pumpkins and purple sweet potatoes, you need never go without your Five-a-Day when you’re in the backwoods of Zambia.
One day we were lazing at our campsite near the South Luangwa National Park when a young Zambian thoughtfully cleared his throat a little distance away, preparing us for his soft greeting. He was pushing a bicycle laden with veggies in a huge sack strapped on the back carrier. We discovered lettuce, spinach, leeks, green peppers, guavas, paw-paws, even basil, coriander and parsley, and chose a few things to buy, all beautifully fresh and aromatic as organically grown produce is.
One day we were lazing at our campsite near the South Luangwa National Park when a young Zambian thoughtfully cleared his throat a little distance away, preparing us for his soft greeting. He was pushing a bicycle laden with veggies in a huge sack strapped on the back carrier. We discovered lettuce, spinach, leeks, green peppers, guavas, paw-paws, even basil, coriander and parsley, and chose a few things to buy, all beautifully fresh and aromatic as organically grown produce is.
Shadrack got all serious when the camera came out
We discovered his name was Shadrack Phiri and he was just seventeen. ‘Sometimes I have to miss school to work on my garden,’ he told us. The garden is how he supports himself since he lost both his parents three years ago.
It seemed impolite to pry into how they had died, whether it was in an accident or whether they were just another Zambian HIV/Aids statistic.
More important was Shadrack’s story.
Instead of giving up or expecting anyone else to care for him, he was prepared to work hard and pay his way. It was obvious that his ancient and gearless black bike was his prize possession, the thing that allowed him to market his produce. It had cost him 400 000 kwacha (about ZAR680 or US$80), he confided in a reverent tone that suggested this was an almost impossible sum, a good investment he was proud of.
It seemed impolite to pry into how they had died, whether it was in an accident or whether they were just another Zambian HIV/Aids statistic.
More important was Shadrack’s story.
Instead of giving up or expecting anyone else to care for him, he was prepared to work hard and pay his way. It was obvious that his ancient and gearless black bike was his prize possession, the thing that allowed him to market his produce. It had cost him 400 000 kwacha (about ZAR680 or US$80), he confided in a reverent tone that suggested this was an almost impossible sum, a good investment he was proud of.
Fresh salad and homebaked bread in the bundu
When we paid for our veggies – what unimaginable joy to have fresh basil when you’re camping! – we included 30 000 kwacha extra (about ZAR50 or US$6) as a token encouragement for his efforts.
It wasn't a huge amount of money in the big scheme of things, but his quiet smile lit up the whole campsite and left us feeling we were the ones who had got the better deal.
More about Zambia
Copyright © Roxanne Reid - No words or photographs on this site may be used without permission from roxannereid.co.za
It wasn't a huge amount of money in the big scheme of things, but his quiet smile lit up the whole campsite and left us feeling we were the ones who had got the better deal.
More about Zambia
Copyright © Roxanne Reid - No words or photographs on this site may be used without permission from roxannereid.co.za
