Tomorrow sees the residents of my village, Chikankata go to the polls for national and local elections. Zambia normally conducts its elections in a relatively peaceful manner although there is a real tension in the air. Last Thursday Heidie was in Lusaka and got saw the final stages of a widespread riot, which involved burnt buildings and much looting, but she managed to pass through unscathed. This is just one of the more tangible events that I have not been impressed about about the whole election thing. There are a few other things but best not to mention them.

What I am impressed about is how serious the Zambia people view the right to vote. The government has made the day a public holiday and people are travelling long distances and expecting to queue for hours in order to place the X on the ballot paper. I have been well and truly shamed over my poor attitude to voting in the past (although I still maintain that there's nobody much worth voting for in the UK - would I queue for four hours to vote for some numptyheid? I think not).

As well as my bovine friends, I have been having a running battle with the election campaigners. As the risk of sounding like Victor Meldrew, I don't think it is acceptable to be running through the hospital grounds with a loud speaker. I have been warned by my colleagues on many occassions about approaching these groups but I am still here to tell the tale.

I will let you know how it all goes!