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Julian Monroe Fisher (right) is given a first-hand look at what MAG’s work is all about by Technical Field Manager Abel Tesfai. |
Julian Monroe Fisher has completed his most ambitious expedition to date, to bring global awareness to the efforts of MAG.
On June 12, MAG Angola Programme Officer, Chelsea Moore received a surprising and exciting phone call from Zambia: Julian Fisher, who was in the process of walking his way from Mozambique, was near the Angolan border and was waiting the release of his Angolan visa.
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Julian and a MAG vehicle head towards Angola. |
Mr Fisher’s energetic spirit motivated him to traverse roughly 43km daily, leading him to arrive almost a month ahead of the anticipated schedule.
Due to the recommendation of the Government of Angola, Julian was told that the area of road from Jimbe to Luena was not recommended for walking, therefore he must arrange transport. MAG agreed to fetch him at the border and take him to Luena where he would then have the opportunity to visit MAG Angola’s field sites.
Julian was meant to arrive at the border at 8am on Wednesday morning. The MAG team, aka “Operation Searching for Mr Fisher” (PO Chelsea Moore, Community Liaison Manager Evaristo Luis Cambembe and Mechanic/Driver Antonio Emiliano Marcial) eagerly awaited his arrival. After two hours of no communication, the team decided to head into Zambia to find the missing traveller.
Unfortunately, the 100m of road between Zambia and Angola is not maintained and the MAG team got stuck in knee deep mud for over five hours. At 3pm, the team arrived at the Zambian border still with no signs of Julian. Concerns were rising.
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Julian, MAG Angola Community Liaison Manager Evaristo Cambembe and Programme Officer Chelsea Moore at the Angolan border. |
Then as the MAG team, along with over 15 Zambian border officers and loiterers, were brainstorming Plan C, the Somali truck driver that pulled the MAG Land Cruiser out of the mud pointed towards a faint shadow off in the distance and calmly said: “Hey you demining guys, I found your crazy white friend who walked his way here!”
It was a surreal moment as everyone present went silent and glared towards the horizon to see if it was true. At last, at 3.30pm, Mr Fisher, accompanied by an entourage of Zambian followers, emerged out of the trees and strutted into the Zambian border area. Memorable does not come close to describing the highly charged moment when the MAG team and Julian united with hugs and laughter.
At four o'clock, the MAG team along with Julian, was towed back through the mud of ‘no man’s land’ into Angola by the Somali truck driver. Angolan border officers all cheered as the exhausted and extremely dirty team entered into Angolan territory. At last, we made it... Julian made it! In his own words, “If this can be done, anything is possible! Thank God for MAG!”
On Friday, the MAG field teams welcomed Julian to the Lucusse field base where Technical Field Manager Abel Tesfai and the demining teams gave Julian a first-hand look at what MAG’s work is all about. Julian was guided through the minefield and given an in-depth explanation of demining.
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Mine Action Team in Lucusse. |
“I had no idea, I am truly humbled,” he said. “The work that these guys [deminers] do is tedious, exhausting and life threatening, I have nothing but the utmost respect for what you all are doing out here. MAG and these dedicated people are what this world needs.”
The experience was mutually empowering as the deminers were amazed to know that a stranger from another continent would dedicate himself to walking from Mozambique all the way to Angola to recognise their work.
“I can’t believe that he walked all the way here from Mozambique. His effort make me proud to be an MAG Angolan deminer, but his feet must really hurt!” said one deminer.
After a press conference in Luena, Julian continued on his journey to the coast of Angola although footing it was not be entirely possible due to unsafe areas. Upon return to Austria, he will be writing a book titled “Equatoria, A walk Across Africa”, which will cover the effects of landmines in this part of the world and what MAG is doing to alleviate the problems.
He concluded his interview in Luena by saying, “Africa is a complex mixture of beauty and ugliness all wrapped up into one vast space. What MAG is doing is trying to reduce that ugliness and allow the opportunity for that natural beauty to shine! I applaud MAG Angola’s work and I am ever grateful for the warmth and amazing experience MAG Angola has provided me with.”
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• Text and photos by Chelsea Moore, Programme Officer, MAG Angola |
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4 July 2011
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