Embassy of the Republic of Zambia

If you want to go to Zambia, there is no avoiding this business since a visa is required and they are the only processors in the USA. However, there are a few warnings stemming out of my experience:
A friend and I needed rush service since we needed multiple visas while traveling in Africa. We paid an extra $ 50 each for same day service when in actuality we got next day or 2 day service. To make things go smooth we had expedited service from the post office as well, totaling almost $ 70 extra per person (in addition to the visa fee) to make sure we got the visas quickly. Fine, so they didn’t expedite our paperwork. However the real disgust and shame comes from dealing with them after the fact. I sent proof of the envelopes and visa receipts, countless emails and phone calls. When they did answer, I was told multiple stories, excuses, «oh just send an email». In a year they have not once got back to me. The result, $ 120 loss. in addition, I feel like a stereotype has just been renewed. I have lived in Africa twice now and working alongside people with different values has been quite a struggle even though we both have the same end result in mind. I feel the Zambian Embassy is the same way; containing laziness, excuse giving, pseudo working, feeding of words/​what you want to hear, and lies. I sponsor a child in this country and it disgusts me that their representation in the US is this way.