THE JCTR UPDATE: PEOPLE AND ACTIVITIES
WHAT KEEPS US BUSY AT THE JCTR? HERE ARE SOME RECENT ITEMS OF INTEREST
DEBT CONFERENCES
Jubilee-Zambia continues with its efforts aimed at securing cancellation of Zambia's heavy debt burden so that the country can experience poverty eradication. This heavy debt burden is a major hindrance to Zambia's development.
Currently Jubilee-Zambia is visiting provincial groups with the objective of strengthening activities of the Jubilee movement in the provinces and to reaffirm the purpose of the Jubilee provincial teams and their role in the HIPC monitoring.
It is expected that these conferences will result in a well coordinated and focused plans for the year and improvement in communication between the local teams and the secretariat.
MONITORING AND EVALUATION
The success of any organisation or programme depends on effective monitoring and evaluation to assure that activities remain in order to meet the set out objectives and also that an organisation lives up to its mission. In late May 2002, JCTR staff with assistance from an external consultant held a half-day session on Monitoring and Evaluation.
It is hoped that the outcomes of this session will help JCTR even move higher and higher in its efforts at ensuring that social justice prevails in Zambia or ensuring that we have a society where faith promotes justice for all in all spheres of life, especially for the poor.
INCULTURATION TASK FORCE
On 8 May 2002, the JCTR Task Force on Inculturation held a one-day seminar facilitated by Father Damian Musonda and Father Stephen Mwewa of St., Dominic's Major Seminary and Roma Cathedral respectively. The seminar was on ''Reconciliation and Healing in the African Context.'' Previously, a seminar was held on ''The African World View and Pastoral Challenges of Traditional Healing.''
INTEGRITY OF CREATION TASK FORCE
In its efforts at preserving the environment, the JCTR Task Force on Integrity of Creation is currently brainstorming around issues of waste management in Lusaka. The problem of waste management in Lusaka is an enormous one requiring well-planned and coordinated activities to assure effective ways of waste disposal.
Indeed, responsibility over the environment lies with each one of us, in particular seeing to it that our actions do not lead to environmental degradation.
CONSULTATIVE GROUP MEETING
One key event that has involved wider civil society through the Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) is the preparation for civil society's participation in the Consultative Group Meeting which take places early July here in Zambia. With this meeting -- especially that it is taking place here in Zambia -- comes the opportunity for sharing with donors key issues to Zambia's development.
ZAMBIA'S SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION
On 14 May 2002, Charity Musamba and Muweme Muweme held a one-day session on Zambia's socio-economic situation with Salesian sisters. Some of the key issues of discussion during the meeting were debt and cost of living and also wider socio-economic issues.
BASIC NEEDS BASKET
The JCTR through its efforts at highlighting the plight of the poor has been conducting the Basic Needs Basket. During the month of June, these efforts will be extending to Mazabuka on a pilot basis. It is hoped that in the future, JCTR will extend its work to other parts of the country on a long-term basis, so that the measure of cost of living could be as nationally representative as possible.
VISITORS TO JCTR
On May 26 2002 a group of Irish teachers visited JCTR to share on Zambia's development situation. We welcome to JCTR Martin Bahati, S.J., who arrived on 3 June 2002 from Hekima Theological College in Nairobi, Kenya. Bahati is here as an intern for two months. We hope for a mutual benefit between him and the JCTR.