Community development in Sesheke and other parts of Western Province in Zambia: A case study of the Sesheke Church’s Transformational Task.

1. Community development
in Sesheke and other parts
of Western Province in
Zambia
David Mutemwa

3. A case study of the
Sesheke Church’s
Transformational Task

4. Findings of the field
research
Conducted in December, 2014
The church failed at its transformational task!

5. 1
Reasons the Church failed
at its Transformational
Task
Participants in the interviews cited the following reasons for
the failure …

6. Lack of participatory
transformational practices
The local community and church were passive recipients of
projects designed elsewhere
Reasons for failure. #1

7. Church politics /
Personal gain
Self-centered actions of churches and leaders aimed at
improving their own status, positions, or to achieve greater
power
Reasons for failure. #2

8. Oversimplified approach to
transformation
• They did not provide a holistic solution to people’s basic
needs
• Only a single aspect – forest preservation - was focused on
• Survival, however, is the biggest need of the people of
Sesheke
Reasons for failure. #3

9. Underlying dualism –
Spiritual opposed to
Physical
The church’s task is seen as attending to the spiritual needs
of the people opposed to their physical well-being.
Reasons for failure. #4

10. Lack of Skills and
Understanding of the
Transformational Task
• Insufficient planning on behalf of the church
• The church did not have skills to work with external experts
• The church did not address community’s basic needs
Reasons for failure. #5

11. Non-Sustainable Interventions
• No replacement strategies (alternative livelihood measures)
were put in place for people to survive on if they stopped
exploiting the forest
• Projects were dependent on resources from outside the
community for its continuation and success
Reasons for failure. #6

12. Lack of Resources
No Transport and funding for the Pastors’ fellowship to
carry out transformational projects
Reasons for failure. #7

13. 2
Church’s impact
Despite the perceived failure of the church the participants
did identify interventions by the church that are beneficial
to the community.

14. Interventions that addressed a
range of needs:
• from school fees,
• food packages, to
• HIV/AIDS assistance
Church’s impact #1

15. Interventions however
• were not necessarily coordinated and proactive efforts,
• brought temporary relief but not necessarily permanent
change and
• kept people dependent on contributions.
Church’s impact #2

16. 3
What people expected from
the church

17. Church should impact the
community holistically
Attend to both spiritual and physical needs of the people
What people expected from the church #1

18. Church should liaise with
the Government
Church has influence with government and should act on
behalf of the people
What people expected from the church #2

19. Church should empower
people
The church should make available information, training,
and resources needed for people to be primary actors in
their own transformation
What people expected from the church #3

20. 4
Transformational
challenges
The challenges are put in two (2) groups

21. A
Challenges related to
community characteristics
The following challenges are related to the particular
community characteristics of Sesheke:
• Challenges related to community characteristics
• Challenges related to operational practice
Transformational challenges

22. Poverty
Most people cannot afford decent meals, accommodation,
or to pay for their children’s school fees
Challenges related to community characteristics #1

23. Position of Zambezi
Sawmills ex-employees
• The Sawmill led to an influx of people from other
communities.
• The abrupt liquidation of the Sawmill was a severe blow
to an already vulnerable community.
Challenges related to community characteristics #2

24. Education across all
sectors of community
There is lack of skills, knowledge, and training among
community members
Challenges related to community characteristics #3

25. Cultural and language barriers
• Cultural diversity and practices pose reasonable
challenges to the transformational task
• There are also immigrants from Angola in Sesheke
Challenges related to community characteristics #4

26. Accessibility of
communities
Lack of transport and non-existence of roads to some
communities
Challenges related to community characteristics #5

27. Vulnerable community
members
• Children, youths, and widows are suffering
• Deviant behaviour among young people
Challenges related to community characteristics #6

28. Farming
• Inadequate farming land
• Farming in protected forestry area is illegal
• Lack of knowledge, resources, and skills on modern
farming methods
Challenges related to community characteristics #7

29. Water
Clean and safe drinking water supply is inadequate
Challenges related to community characteristics #8

30. B
Challenges related to
operational practice
The following challenges relate to operational practice
Transformational challenges

31. Cooperation with
government departments
Careful planning and consideration of involving government
projects and aid are required
Challenges related to operational practice #1

32. Financing
transformational projects
Challenging the belief that funds should come primarily
from outside organisations instead of the local church and
community
Challenges related to operational practice #2

33. Establishing community
participation
• Giving priority to the basic element in development, the
local people themselves
• Moving into the area not as the “saviour of”,
but as a “partner with” the community
Challenges related to operational practice #3

34. Incorporating the Pastors
Fellowship
• Lack of cooperation within the pastors’ fellowship,
• Infightings and dissentions amongst churches and church
leaders
Challenges related to operational practice #4

35. Engaging social
institutions
Accessibility and support of social institutions such as
schools, hospitals, and prisons
Challenges related to operational practice #5

36. Effective planning and
implementation
Planning is to include a practical and measurable
implementation strategy in order to ensure success
Challenges related to operational practice #6

37. Conclusion
• The church in Sesheke failed at its transformational task.
• Transformation involves alleviating the plight of the poor and
less privileged people
• Some of the church interventions were beneficial but not
sufficient to bring about community transformation
• The church must holistically attend to needs of the poor and
vulnerable people in society according to the teaching of the
Bible (Matthew 25:35-40)

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