Veronica Kalima, Chair of the Kankoyo women’s group, looks after 15 children (some orphaned), and has precious little money to send them all to school or for medicines.
Veronica works hard. Together, she and 60 other women make ends meet by selling charcoal, farming, and dreaming about knitting and rearing chickens. Determination is not in short supply, but government support to help them is. Why?
"The government can help us with school children and social amenities. All these children who have dropped out of school, it would be good to get them back in school."
Zambia’s government plays host to multinationals including the UK based owner of Grolsch and Peroni, SABMiller. ActionAid research has shown how the company shifts the profits it makes in countries like Zambia, into tax havens like Switzerland and Mauritius.
While people like Veronica provide huge support to their local communities, tax dodging by companies like SABMiller undermines her efforts. Lower tax revenues from multinational companies means the Zambian government can’t invest in the teachers or doctors that villages like Kankoyo need.
"I am begging you to push them so our burden can be lighter."
