About Us

Primach Lusaka

An Interview With Mr N'gandu

Primach was established in Lusaka in 2000.  The vision came from Mr and Mrs Mfula, who were soon joined by Mr N'gandu.  Mr N'gandu has remained in Lusaka and continues to run Primach there.

The vision for this organization came from the mother to Mrs Mfula, Priscilla.  She had had a real heart for the poor, and used to visit the poor often.  This is how the three realized that they too could go to the poor areas, because they had seen it done.  I think it would be fair to say that she really inspired them, and showed them that it's very possible to care for others.

I met with Mr N'gandu to find out more about the beginnings of Primach and the work that is happening in Lusaka at this time.

To start with, they began researching.  This meant visiting the poor areas of Lusaka.  They would try to find out the level of knowledge that people had about HIV and AIDS.

Mr N'gandu said that it was really appalling, that the virus inflicted so much fear in people.  They would not see themselves living beyond 40, and assumed that once they had it they would die soon and painfully.  What is even more shocking is that this fate was readily accepted by the community as a whole.  They would see it as something which had come to live with them, which must be tolerated.  They just thought they would have to receive it, as there was no way out.

Primach worked in two major ways.  

         The first is with civic education.  They would go into the compounds to talk to the people about what HIV is and how to deal with it.  They would tell people how to live when you have it, and also tell those how to live without it.  The aim is to give hope, so that they may be rehabilitated within themselves.  Hope is a powerful thing, and it can mean the difference between life and death. 

        The second way of helping these communities is still very much a dream.  Just like here in Choma, Lusaka really needs a centre where street kids and orphans are able to go to.  There are a lot of children in Zambia who have been orphaned because of AIDS, and many end up on the streets.  Even when they have relatives to go to, you will often find that in the home there are just too many to care for.  This is even the case in the families with an income; they will end up throwing the kids onto the streets.  Sometimes this is because the family will see this as the best option for them.  Other times it will be the friends of the children who are telling them that it's a better life. 

          With a centre, Primach would be able rehabilitate children with their families. 

        It would be one part "half way house".  This would mean that the children have a place to stay while Primach investigates their family ties and the potential there is for a family home.  Primach is committed to helping the family member house the child and offer parental care.  Family ties are seen as crucial in Primach, and it is important that they don't break.

         Another part of the centre would be a permanent home for certain kids who aren't able to go back to a family.  The most important thing remains the home for the child. 

         Next, it is important to get the child back into school, or to find a way of training the child so that he or she has a skill.  In this way, Primach could release the children into an employment set up.

Mr N'gandu told me his dream for Primach:
"I would love to see a child show someone how he came to be in a good position, with a home and an education and a future, after being on the streets.  For him to be able to say that 'Primach did a, b, c and now here I am'."

For now, Mr N'gandu focuses on counselling.  There are big dreams in Primach, but the resources are lacking.  However this does not stop any of those who are involved.  Instead Mr N'gandu will give his time to sit with people and give them guidance and encouragement.  He aims to build up strong minds, as a defence against the fear that HIV/AIDS brings.  This work is with both adults and children, whatever their status.  This work is particularly important as a lot of people end up making very bad decisions based on hopelessness.  There are those who will become alcoholics and prostitutes because they see no future for themselves.

There are three children being sponsored in Lusaka.  They were picked from broken homes, and were ready to give up. 

·         Two of these are young children, Emmanuel Nglamtowa in Grade 6 and Marjory Choma in Grade 4.  Primach organised for them to go and stay with the grandmother. 

·         TThe third child is Chibalakasha Mfwakila who is in Grade 10, and now lives alone in an apartment. He had been living there for almost two years, and Mr N'gandu keeps a close eye on him. He has made sure that Chiba is always welcomed in church and he has found family there.

These three children were helped in accordance with the resources available to Primach.  They were desperate, but there are those who are even more desperate.  However, Mr N'gandu cannot tell a child that he can sponsor him or her through school, and then have to abort responsibility when the money isn't there.  This would cause damage which would be totally contrary to the ethos of Primach, which is to care for the vulnerable.

I asked Mr N'gandu what his motivation was in this work.  He told me that it was to see hopelessness being overridden by hope.  "That is what really drives me." 

Primach UK is a charity for tax purposes.  HMRC reference number XT23597

Primach Zambia registered charity number:  01711