Thank You Japan

Before coming here I had read the Japan had an abysmal record on foreign aid. Thus, its promise last year to double aid to Africa meant nothing because it hardly gave anything to begin with. Zambia, however, appears to be an exception to this rule as Japanese aid has been very visible throughout my stay here and, in fact, benefits me every day.

First, I would like to thank Japan for its infrastructure program that put in K29 billion ($7.25 million US) to repair six major roads around the city. These take me to both schools that I work at - making it possible to glide across fresh tarmac for much of the way instead of bouncing along bumpy potholed roads. Sure, the money went to pay a Japanese company to build the roads but the people being paid to build them were Zambians and the result is a road that will help decongest other roads and allow greater access to town for the people of the compound. Every morning on my bike ride to work I say a big thank you to the Japanese people.

Second, I have seen numerous other JICA (Japanese International Cooperation Agency) projects in the city. Schools are built and boreholes are dug. Once again, thank you Japan.

Thirdly, there is the annual Christmas party at Chimwemwe School which has been discussed in this blog. Thank you Japan.

Finally, I got a ride home from the Christmas party with some Japanese people. Another big plus.

My experience with Japanese foreign aid, therefore, seems to be different than the impression I had before arrival. In comparison, CIDA has been pretty quiet. I have seen that they helped the Zambian Red Cross with some project but that is the only evidence of their work I have seen. It is quite possible that they are working elsewhere in the country, but in Lusaka there is next to nothing from Canada, at least that I've seen.