Day 12 – 19th October 2025 – Unique Updates

October 20, 2025

Mangoes at Muumba!

Last Tuesday when we visited Muumba School we noticed that the grounds around the classroom and vegetable garden had no shade. Now is the perfect time for planting in Zambia as hopefully the rains will fall at the end of this month and into November.

During our morning time of prayer and chat with the HHZ staff, mango trees were suggested as being suitable to plant now as they are quick and easy to grow. Nalukena, the HHZ housekeeper, had mango saplings available in her garden and we purchased 5 for £3 from her. This morning we took them to Mumba school.

Brenda, the HHZ administrator, is a very passionate gardener and she explained to the Muumba students how to care for the mango trees so that they will flourish in the coming rains. Hopefully, next year when we visit, we will be able to sit in the shade of the trees and eat mangoes!

Nalukena (HHZ) provided Mango saplings

Muumba students receiving Mango saplings

Dimuna Family Update

HHI supporters will know that the Dimuna family receives regular monthly feeding support. Their situation is particularly difficult. Mr and Mrs Dimuna have 8 children which includes 4 visually impaired boys. They live in a very small brick one room house in the rural area of Rusangu, and they are a long way from a water source.

Indeed, when we arrived at their home this morning to make the routine visit with a bag of mealie meal, Mrs Dimuna was fetching water. Mr Dimuna greeted us and told us some very encouraging news. Three of his blind sons are now in residential special schools courtesy of a very caring, local individual. Only one visually impaired son, Chimunya, does not attend school and was seated under a tree. Chimunya, as well as being visually impaired is unable to speak or hear, has yet to be offered a place a place St Mulumba’s or Maamba Special School. Two of Chimunya’s abled bodied siblings were also at home having been at mainstream school earlier in the morning.

When Mrs Dimuna finally arrived back with her water, she was delighted to receive the gifts we had taken with us. Not only mealie meal, but a variety of clothes for all the family, soap and washing powder. The case in which we had carried the items was also left there to be used as a ‘cupboard’.

We would like to build an extension to their home so that there is enough space for all the family: this would cost about £7,000. Maybe next year…