Fred Mweetwa

From a blog entry by a visitor to Macha: "I spent the morning interviewing and touring Macha with Fred Mweetwe – the self-made spokesperson for the community, and a passionate advocate for the work LinkNet is doing to “wire” Macha and give internet access and global knowledge access to all.  Fred came from meager beginnings – his family was quite poor…he went without shoes until eight years old. He worked his way through school despite all odds and came to Macha when he heard about the work being done with computers. He felt he had found his calling and helped start the community radio station while making his bed under the production table there.  He taught himself basic computer skills, how to use the internet, computer video editing, and more.  He then befriended the provincial chiefs and won them over to embrace technology.  He now works closely with LinkNet to encourage the community in Macha to participate.

Fred’s pet project is documenting his African heritage, customs and culture – much of which has only been passed down orally to date. He wants to use internet forums (Wikipedia and blogging) to do this – I gave him a start by setting him up with a Windows Live Space…and he’s already blogging!

On the tour was the community radio station, the Macha hospital grounds, and the Fires – where families of patients camp and cook for the patients and each other while their loved ones are in the hospital . This area amounts to scattered open fires on the dusty ground that surrounds the hospital.  Here, relationships – taking care of each other – is the most important thing."

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