2^nd International Student Conference on AIDS and United Nations Millennium Development Goals

Here you will find general information relevant to the conference participants, including; the venue, weather patterns, Travel and Tourism, VISA application, e.t.c.

VENUE

The 2^nd ISCA UNMDGs conference will be held at the Mulungushi International Conference Center in Lusaka, Zambia.

The Mulungushi International Conference Centre: This was the venue for the 11^th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) that was held in Lusaka, Zambia during the month of Septermber,1999. 

LANGUAGE:

English is the official language of the conference language. All presentations will be done in English. However French speaking applicants are welcome to attend but will need to have basic understanding of English.

 DRINKING WATER:

In case you do not like the quality of Zambian water, then, you take bottled (mineral) water which is available at shops, the conference center and super markets.

 CLIMATE:

Lusaka will be entering Spring at the time of the conference. The nights might be a bit chilly but the days should be fine with perhaps some wind. If a late winter cold front should hit you will need your warm jackets and jerseys.

 TELECOMMUNICATIONS:

Zambia does not have a sophisticated telecommunications service in most parts of the country. Public telephones are found. Starter mobile or cellular phone kits can be bought at an entry price of around ZMK 25,000 (USD $5.)

To dial out of Zambia use 00 followed by the country code. Internet cafes are found in and around Zambia. 

ELECTRICAL POWER:

The electrical supply in Zambia is 240v/50Hz. Sockets are usually 3 pins square (British type). Those coming from North America with 110v/60hz appliances should be sure an appropriate transformer.  

HEALTH:

Foreigners travelling to Zambia should be aware of the precautions to be taken with regards to malaria and yellow fever. Malaria is endemic in Southern Africa and visitors should follow a course of Malaria prophylactics according to doctor's advice.

SECURITY:

The Conference Organizers wish all delegates an enjoyable stay in Zambia: however, we advise delegates to especially attentive to personal belongings. Lusaka, like most large cities around the world, has seen an increase in street crime.  

To ensure that you have a trouble-free stay at the Lusaka Conference, the conference recommends the following personal safety measures. 

• Zambian Law recommends that your carry official identification documents at all times. Therefore, photocopy your passport, travel documents, prescriptions etc before leaving home.

• Keep your passport, important documents and the majority of your money in your hotel/hostel safety deposit box, not in your room. Carry a photocopy of your passport or identity documentation and only a limited amount if cash while you are out.

•  Walking alone in city or streets at night is not advised. Do not flash phones, jewellery or large amounts of cash in public places but rather deposit valuables in the hotel's safety deposit box. Do not accept help from strangers at Automatic Teller Machines (ATMS) and do not leave luggage unattended.

•  It is advisable to lock car doors and keep windows partially closed when driving and leave luggage and other items in the trunk of the car, even when driving, rather than on the passenger seat or glove box. Park in well-lit and busier areas and do not pick up hitch-hikers.

• Do not walk around the city at night we recommend that you take a taxi. Taxis in Lusaka are abundant and reasonably priced although their quality varies. They may be ordered by phone or flagged down in the street. When flagging down, always agree on the fare or ask your hotel/hostel doorman as most taxis have no meters.

CURRENCY:

The Kwacha (ZMK) is the local currency with 100 ngree to one Kwacha. There are notes of 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000 ZMK. The Bureaux de change are available is most business and tourist areas and hotels during working hours (09h00 – 16h30). All currency must be declared when entering Zambia.

Bank Hours:

Monday to Friday 08h30 to 14h:30
Saturday 09h00 to 11h00 (Only the first and last Saturday of the Month) 

VAT:

There is a value added tax (VAT) of 17.5% applied to most goods and services, but most prices you see will include it. When it is not included, this should be clearly indicated. 

CREDIT CARDS:

Visa and MasterCard are accepted at many establishments. 

INSURANCE AND LIABILITY:

 The ISCA UNMDGs Conference organisers cannot any liability whatsoever for personal injury, loss or damage to property or participants (or accompanying persons), either during the conference or as a result of the conference. Please ensure that your insurance is up to date and valid.   

TRAVEL AND TOURISM

The 2^nd ISCA UNMDGs2005ZAMBIA organizers are happy to announce that Struts Travel a local reputable and IATA accredited agency has been appointed as the official conference travel agent. Struts Travel will handle all issues pertaining to air travel, assist in conference transport and also hand accommodation for all those delegates who will be staying in hotels and lodges. Struts Travel will book hotel and lodges that will be near the conference center. If you wish to have your travel and hotel accommodation/information arranged for you, kindly contract Struts Travel by email struts@zamnet.zm

Struts Travel will handle all tours/safaris for conference delegates. Apart from the Trip to the Victoria Falls by all the conference delegates during the conference week. Struts Travel has worked out a tourism package that will enable some delegates who would like to see some other tourism areas in Zambia. The worked packages and prices will saw be posted on this website.   Please fill in all relevant information on the application form for his arrangement.

Travel into Zambia

There are various ways one get to Zambia that is by air, land and train. 

BY AIR 

Getting to Lusaka-Zambia by air is one of the quickest methods. Zambia has four International Airports (Lusaka, Ndola, Mfuwe and Livingstone)  

Zambia has no flag carrier. However, Zambia is serviced by a number of international airlines such as Kenya Airways which has daily flights to Lusaka,  British Airways, Regional Air, Air Malawi, Nationalwide, Ethiopian Airways, Air Zimbabwe, South African Express, South African Airways which has more three flights per day to and from Lusaka via the Johannesburg International Airport.     

From Europe

 Since Zambia Airways went into liquidation in December 1994, direct flights to Zambia from Europe have been very straightforward: BA runs them three times per week. There are few alternatives. 

Various other airlines have connecting flights to Lusaka, usually either through Nairobi (like KLM) or Johannesburg, but only BA flies direct. Unfortunately even BA's flights are not usually non-stop, as they often fly via Harare .Johannesburg  

Johannesburg International Airport is certainly the busiest airport on the subcontinent, and most of the world's larger airlines have flights there, or at least connections. From Johannesburg, South African Airways (SAA) has flights to Zambia. Nairobi is also an important African gateway, and Kenya Airways flies from Nairobi to Lusaka 7 times weekly. 

From North America

If you are coming from the US then you will probably need to stop at London or Johannesburg to make connections to Zambia. There are no direct flights. Booking everything in the US may not save you money; investigate the flight prices in comparison with those available in London.  

Note that there is a US$20 departure tax for all international flights from Lusaka, Ndola, Mfuwe or Livingstone, and that this is always payable at departure by you. It cannot be pre-paid on your ticket, so you must have a few dollars left at the airport before you leave.

Overland Border Posts

Most overland border posts open from about 06.00 to 18.00, although this is less rigidly adhered to at the smaller, more remote posts.

To/from Zimbabwe

Zambia's greatest flow of visitors comes from Zimbabwe, over the Livingstone-Victoria Falls border. Many come over for just a day trip, so this is usually a very relaxed and swift border crossing. The crossings over the Kariba Dam and at Chirundu are also straightforward, and the latter is especially good for hitchhiking on long-distance lorries, which ply the route from Harare to Lusaka.  

To/from Botswana

Despite their territories only meeting at a point, Botswana does have one border crossing with Zambia: a reliable ferry across the Zambezi linking Kazungula with the corner of Botswana, which costs about US$25/£17 per vehicle.

To/from Namibia

A new bridge has been constructed across the Zambezi river linking Zambia and Namibia.Some years ago the roads on the Zambian side of the bridge were in a bad state but today that is a different story.

To/from Angola 

Because of the war that just ended a few years ago. The easiest and safest way from Angola is by air (TAAG-the Angolan Airliner)

To/from Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)

There are numerous crossings between Zambia and DRC, especially around the Copperbelt. Otherwise there is a good track leading into DRC reached via Mwinilunga and Ikelenge.

To/from Tanzania

Many visitors from Tanzania (and the rest of the East Africa Africaa few from Burundi or DRC) enter Zambia by ferryboat across Lake Tanganyika, into Mpulungu. The main alternative is the land border, either by road crossing or by TAZARA train, crossing east of Tunduma. The TAZARA train is the important rail link between Zambia and Dar es Salaam.

To/from Malawi

The main crossing between Zambia and Malawi is east of Chipata. This would also be the swiftest way to reach the Nyika Plateau, as the roads in Malawi are better than those to Nyika in Zambia.

 To/from Mozambique

There is a land crossing between Zambia and Mozambique south of Katete, west of Chipata, though this is not often used. A more common route would be via Malawi or Zimbabwe.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

VISAs

Zambia's visa rules appear, on reading them, to be very complex. In practice, it's certainly best and probably essential to ask at your nearest Zambian embassy or high commission - as only they will know the latest news and how the rules are generally being interpreted. 

All visitors to Zambia need a visa, except those from Ireland or Commonwealth countries (with the exception of citizens of Britain, Cyprus, Ghana, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Pakistan - who do need them). US citizens need visas, whilst most citizens of neighbouring Southern African countries (including South Africa) do not. 

Costs for visas vary, but most are US$25/£16 for a single-entry visa, US$25/£16 for a transit visa, US$40/£26 for a double or multiple-entry entry visa. Most can be obtained either overseas at your local Zambian diplomatic mission, or at border posts (including the international airports). They are generally valid for use up to three months from date of issue, and for a maximum stay of 90 days. You may be asked to show an onward ticket, or at least demonstrate that you can support yourself as you pass through the country. 

The main exception to these changes is the Finns, whose visas are free, the Norwegians who pay just 150 Kroner, and the British who pay a huge £33 for a single-entry or £45 for a double or multiple-entry visa. (The latter is apparently in response to the UK making similar regulations for visiting Zambians.)  

VISA EXTENSIONS

Visas can be extended, by personal application to the Immigration Office, Box 50300, 2nd Floor, Memaco House, Cairo Road, Lusaka. Tel:+260-1 251725; fax: +260-1 252659.

You'll need two completed application forms (each with a passport photo), a valid passport and proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay. If it's a business application then you'll also need an explanatory letter with some good reasons. Your application will take at least three working days to process.

Here is a list of Consular Offices found in their respective countries.

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