Vision Community Centre Macha

Recently I received the following comments from a Macha resident on the effects of the fire: "It is not an easy time, because some people have "nothing" to do in the sense that their workplaces got burnt. The most hit are the Radio Station and Restaurant workers. These two plus the Internet Cafe and Library & Craft shop also have a huge effect on the community because the services cannot be used at the moment.

The feel of Macha is very different without the services mentioned above and people are affected differently. Some miss the Radio Station more than anything else while others (as in my case), miss the Restaurant a lot more. Because I could take my friends there, have some nice time chatting and buy a couple of drinks. Another striking thing I was told the the whole leadership of Macha mentions the loss. This shows that all in Macha liked the community center it a lot!

On the Internet Cafe, the community no longer has a public place where they can have access to computers plus Internet. To those studying online or students that would normally come to research via Internet, it is no longer possible to do so. On top of that, the Library is also not available to the public! One employee of the Malaria Research Institute at Macha expressed concern over the Internet Cafe because the international students do frequently use it for Internet Access!

All this is to say Vision Community Center Macha is missed by a wide margin! And everyone is affected; visitors and residents alike.

Today, in two hours, raging fire consumed the buildings of Vision Community Center Macha. At 09.15 hours smoke was detected from the middle of the center. Although eight fire extuinghers were used, the fire could not be contained, and the main building of the center had to be given up. With concerted efforts, the fire could be stopped at the kitchen, and thus the Community Hall could be spared. These are pictures of the tragic events today.

The Major of Choma, the Chief of Police of Choma district, and other dignitaries raced to the scene and witnessed the community efforts to save as much as possible. About two thirds of the goods could be salvaged from the center.

The Internet Address for Vision Community Radio Macha has moved! Now visit Radio Macha at http://radio.macha.org.zm.

On 14th  June 2007, Leaders of Vision Community Center, Fred Mweetwa Society Manager- Vision Community Center, Prisca Kakanda- Administration and Beverly- Chisanza Team leader Vision Restaurant held a meeting at Vision Community Center's Care Corner around 15:00hours.

The outcome of this meeting was fruitful as everyone made a felt contribution to the development of Vision Community Center.

During the meeting, the following issues were looked into:
1.Organization of Vision Community Center
2.Financial Report of Vision Community Center
3.Task lists,
4.Electricity and Water bills

Vision Restaurant opened August 2005, operating with two persons in attendance, Moono Chali and Beverly Chisanza. Early October that year Final Musanje joined in to make a team of three.

Then Gracious joined 3 October 2005. Gracious is 23 years, married, and has one child. She did not complete school. She prepares complete meals and naturally hard working.

Next one is Gift Moono. He is 25 years, single, and completed grade twelve. He started work on 11 February 2006. He is particularly good at customer service and generally good in most areas and very active.

The month of January to December last year, nothing much happened due to the problem that there where a few computers working by then, this resulted in having a few customers coming to brows and to do other things on the internet, but we made sure that our customers where satisfied with us, at least they understood the situation we where in, though others still complained about the price being high, we had to make sure that we explain to them why the price was high and that was due the expensive satellite that we are using. When we sow that many people where complaining a lot we decided to introduce another way of doing things or rather to make things easy for our customers, we to introduce a flat fee paying which was and still K150, 000 per month and we still allow those who want to be paying per minute, per hour and also per every two weeks. As time went by we had new computers in the internet café, this helped us a lot reason being that we had received visitors from other countries who came in to look at what is happening here in Macha, we were and still are privileged to have them, because the visitors have not stopped coming hence bringing in foreign exchange, we had students from the Messiah college and spring harbor, we where happy to have them around. The other thing that I was not happy with was losing one of our work mate leaving us or rather going out and joining other organization, that was not a good thing and from that time no else has left the place.

This morning, Saturday 19 August 2006, Zambia  Republic Vice President Honorable Lupando Mwape, officially opened Vision Community Center Macha by cutting a ribbon put up for the occasion at the center. In attendance were dignitaries from the Zambia Republic, Choma District, and, of course, the Macha community.