Society:
While being rich and abundant in nature, this country's poor financial status pulls it down. Education beyond schooling remains a luxury so most of them end up as laborers after completing school or even before, if their parents cannot afford. Politics plays with people's sentiment, blood sucking or witch hunting rumours spread like wild fire and affects the innocents. Women are still not treated equal to men but they are the ones who take up the family responsibility. They are working women and take care of the domestic chores as well. Men are trained not to do any domestic work and are less burdened in many families. Each of them can take only one 8 hours per day job and stick to those job until they are asked to leave. Even when the work can be completed before the stipulated 8 hours in a day they are expected to still hang around. The language spoken widely is Chichewa. Most spoken languages here do not have a script of its own, being written using English alphabets.
Life:
On talking to the staff at our guest house, came to know that women walk few kilometers daily to fetch water while society doesn't allow men to do that. Every month, the minimum usage of electricity per family is around 5000 kwachas, while charcoal used for cooking is 3000 kwachas, around 20000 kwachas is spend on rental, maize - the staple food costs some 3000 kwachas per bag, the other food items come to 5000 kwachas and children education (each family here has 3) is 10000 kwachas. While government schools charge less fee, the attention given to kids there is no good so parents go for private schools. If both the wife and husband work in family they end up earning only around 60000 kwachas hence can't save any. Similar to any lower middle class or middle class families in India, but opportunities for growth is very minimal.
Goodness:
On the brighter side, this lush green country is even blessed with wonderful rivers and several water bodies. Food cultivation here is mostly organic and air remains unpolluted. Kids go to school only from Monday to Thursday and a half a day on Friday. Men during their free time indulge in the game of Bauba (like pallanguzhi). No smoking at public places and all city remains liter free. Irrespective of their financial status everyone comes dressed up appropriately to work. You will be surprised to the formal wear of drivers, cooks and office boys. The overcoat they wear during cold weather too is stitched to the T and worn. Tailors put shop along the platform and charge an average of 3000 kwachas to stitch a gown or pant.
Market walk:
The market in Blantyre, house a huge complex for vegetables, fruits and other fancy articles. Just near the market is a huge mall, with numerous shops for clothes, foot wear and electronic items. On the way to the mall too there are many shops owned by native Indians. One can spot ladies running these shops with the help of locals as staff, white rose and Bombay bazaar are a few shops to name. Most of the women living in Blantyre seem to be a business woman. There is also a Masai market beyond the mall. Many wooden items are put for sale here. When walking towards Kabula hill road from here we can come across Hong Kong restaurant, grill restaurant and Indian restaurant. Following this is the Adventis hospital and the local school with in the church compound.
Commuting:
Just outside the Hong Kong restaurant, mini-vans queue up to ride passengers to Limbe, which is 7 kilometers away for 250 kwachas. Most people walk, while the privileged ones go in cars, two wheeler are rare and taxis are taken only by locals mostly for late night trips from work. For foreign travelers its very difficult to get a cab and taxis are not advisable. Commutation to work is taken care by the office. Weekend sightseeing or going to the city is difficult as getting a reliable cab and driver is a nightmare.
Communication:
Airtel has its strong presence throughout this region and procuring a sim was easy too. Internet comes at a cost of 1000 kwachas for 240 MB data and can be used in many locations where the hotspot is available. Also Skyband offers 10 GB with 1 month validity for 5000 kwachas. But the drawback is the frequent power cuts which brings the radius server down and no connectivity is possible. Power cuts for a duration of almost 16 hours at a stretch happens here quiet frequently. DSTV brings home the cable network with majority English channels and other African channels. There is a Brit domination in channels having got independence from them in 1965.
The above are just from our observation within our limited exposure during our trip.
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