Two facts brought many visitors to the JCTR office at Luwisha House over the past few months. The ICASA (International Conference on Aids and Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Africa) meant friends passed through the office during mid-September, both from inside and outside Zambia, in search of information on the socio-economic situation in the country. And the CCJP/JCTR Debt Project has attracted media people, NGO representatives, students and international visitors.

Two walls of our small conference room are covered with newspaper clippings describing our work on debt and also on the "food basket" cost of living survey. Reading these walls has proved helpful to our visitors -- it is a short course in economics!

On 6 September, the JCTR staff joined the Luwisha House community in a noon Mass offered for Mr. Clement David Muyebe, the father of Alex Muyebe, S.J., assistant director of JCTR. Alex’s father had died the previous week in Malawi. R.I.P.

Two of the Debt Project staff have gone on for higher studies, to obtain Master’s in Economic Development. Barbara Kalima has gone to the University of Botswana, and Jack Jones Zulu has gone to the University of Nairobi. We miss them but wish them well in their studies and look forward to their quick return to Zambia to contribute to national development.

Chrispin Mphuka has joined the staff, to work with George Makaha in the Debt Project office.

Hardly a week goes by without some article in the newspapers or magazines about the work of the JCTR, especially on debt. The radio and TV have also given us good coverage. And some international media have visited the Centre and interviewed staff.

The cost of living study is slowly taking shape in preparation for a household survey targeting primary school teachers to determine their economic circumstances. We will look at teachers because of the tremendous impact they have on the future development of the country. The study, part of our advocacy work aiming at changing certain policies and practices in order to eradicate poverty and bring about sustainable livelihood, is directed by Alex Muyebe.

Our Office Manager, Catherine Kachidza, participated in a meeting on information and documentation organised by KEPA-Zambia. We are hoping to bring some order into the very good collection of books, reports, and other resource materials that currently are scattered on shelves (and on the floor!) around our office. We are pleased that many people come to the office to use these materials, including students from the University of Zambia, across the street from us.

In September, Pete Henriot and Alex Muyebe attended a mini-workshop on the Nation Wide Advocacy Program organised by OXFAM-Zambia. During the same month, Alex Muyebe chaired a "JCTR Evening" for Lusaka Jesuits, held at Luwisha House. The topic was the work of the Jesuit Refugee Service and three JRS staff presented very personal and moving accounts of their involvement in the lives of the numerous refugees living in Meheba Camp, in Northwestern Zambia, and in Lusaka.

In October Chrispin Mphuka, Jack Jones Zulu and Alex Muyebe attended a meeting on the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) - the Partnership for Capacity Building in Africa (PACT) at the UNDP offices.

The first meeting of the JCTR Task Force on Inculturation took place in early October. Chaired by Father Damian Musonda, rector of St. Dominic’s Major Seminary in Lusaka, this Task Force will over the next eighteen months explore theological dimensions of inculturation of Christianity in Zambia. Particular attention will be paid to pastoral consequences of effective inculturation.

Pete Henriot participated in a colloquium on population in Delhi, India at the end of October, presenting a paper on "Population, Poverty and Development: Zambia Case Study." He then spent three weeks in Germany on a lecture tour sponsored by Missio-Aachen, discussing the debt situation in Africa and Zambia and the cancellation campaign.

In November Chrispin Mphuka participated in the AGM of the Catholic Commission for Development which took place at the Commonwealth Youth Centre.