By George N. Mtonga:
John Maxwell, the evangelical Christian leader, once said ” If we’re growing, we are always going to be out of our comfort zone.” In order to move forward, one has to have the courage to move out of his/ her comfort zone. When you are driving on a highway in any major city, you have to keep in mind your exist on the corner that you need to take to get off the highway and go to where you are going.
If I’m going from Lusaka to Ndola, I will take the road all the way until I get to the roundabout in Ndola, going to Masala Market and go into Masala compound to see my grandmother. Despite of how far I have been driving, when time comes to make a change I have to signal the other drivers that I’m turning to the left side or the right side and take the exist without defying any traffic laws. Can Zambia make an effort to change direction? Or should we keep on the same highway? Is it time to exist or are we going to take the same road and continue on that road?
Political change does not come easy. In 1964 we fought tirelessly to gain Independence from Britain and thereafter to gain the ability to run our institutions; even if our legal system and manners of operating our institutions have retained their British origins we nonetheless felt that we needed to take an exist and make a different corner on EXIST 1964.
Our country then got on a highway called Dr. Kenneth Kaunda Highway and we drove the country on that highway for 27 years; with bumps, promises, achievements, fights, and triumphs all experienced on that highway. The highway at one point seemed endless, we thought we could take that highway forever until we decided to exist the highway in 1991 using EXIST 1991 and we got on the MMD Highway. We have been taking that road from 1991; of course we have had different drivers unlike the highway of 1964 to 1991. My concern, though, is have we as Zambians reached a point were we need to take an exist from the MMD Highway? Should we change highways or should we stay on the same highway? This is a decision that has to be answered by each single Zambian considering their personal priorities and their priorities for our country.
Obviously, political change is difficult.It requires an existential shift that often changes the very reality that we are used to. However, countries in this world have afforded us the blueprint on transitions, change, and complete 360 revolutions as was the case for the Arab World recently. Zambia of course does not need a revolution we are far much more sophisticated than that and we have managed to develop a political system that in theory makes transitions far much more easier than other countries.
However, as we vote for the next president we should ask ourselves important questions about our future: WHERE DO WE WANT TO BE IN 2016 when the new president’s term expires? The man for this job has to present a political vision that is clear and indicates the improvement that they intend on making and not present a CV that champions their past achievements and obscures the future! Our politicians fighting for the highest office should find time to clearly explain where they stand on the issues that concern the Zambian people.
Other than childish slogans, and vitenges with their faces on them what is their position on Education, development, or women’s rights? Where do these people stand when it comes to health issues concerning women, what is their attitude towards AIDS/HIV? WE NEED TO KNOW because these are the issues that our nation is facing!!
The habit of handing out clothes, beer, or any other material enticements merely obscure the Zambian people from figuring out if we need to stay on the same highway or take an exist and which exist should we take if we decide to make one.
As Zambian citizens we need to demand far much more from our politicians and stop playing the victim because in the end we elect them; we put them to power, our tax money pay for their houses, their cars, and their clothes; this at the least is enough of a reason for us to demand answers!! Even a Chief Executive Officer of a company is put before the board of that company to answer questions. If the company is loosing value, or not competing effectively in the industry the business is in the CEO has to answer questions or loose their job.Our president should be given the same scrutiny; even before we hire him for the job!! Zambians deserve that scrutiny because the decisions of our politicians affect every aspect of our lives.
It is important that we make an effort to ask ourselves where we are going and where we want to be in 2016. Politics will always be there, insults will always exist; but once 2011-2016 passes it is rendered history!! What will these years bring to Zambia?
As human beings we should always have a dialog between our past and our future, and merge them in such a way that they give us the opportunity to make intelligent decisions in our present. Let us consider where we have been from the exist we took in 1964 and traveled on the Kaunda Highway and then the exist we then took in 1991 on the MMD highway and ask ourselves where we hope to be in 2016; the decision is coming whether we should make the exist in 2011 or we should continue on the same highway.
THE DECISION is up to the Zambian people and that decision will reflect where we as Zambians will want to be in 2016; WE WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE STATE OF OUR COUNTRY AT THAT TIME. Iam confident that above all, we will do whats right for our country and our future!!
 How can the same leaders who refused our people the CONSTITUTION and even went further to amend the ANTI CORRUPTION ACT esp clause 37, Now come begging for a VOTE from the same people the stole from…begging VOTES from the very people they had denied a NEW CONSTITUTION& the Bill of RIGHTS.Vote them OUT!!! Out out out on 20th Sept!! This attitude and without the BILL OF RIGHTS will continue perpetuating poverty, ignorance and disease among our people.we need Change.we need Change, the change of attitude in our leaders. Isn’t it a shame????
me Leaders who were enemies of the people by refusing to enact the BILL OF RIGHTS now they want the very people they cheated with the constitution to TRUST THEM-now begging for their VOTE, what nosense!!
W NEED CHANGE…HANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN
Bursaries and development only during elections?? This attitude of betraying Zambians and without the BILL OF RIGHTS will continue perpetuating poverty, ignorance and disease among zambians. Development and Caring for Zambians must be an ongoing devotion of a politician’s whole term in office ,NOT educating a Zambian during elections only. We need Change. The change we can believe in, change that can serve Zambians selflessly all throughout, leadership that is dedicated to develop Zambia unconditionally. Isn’t it a shame?? The same Leaders who were enemies of the people by refusing to enact the BILL OF RIGHTS now they want the very people they cheated with the constitution to TRUST THEM-now begging for their VOTE, What nonsense!!
WE NEED CHANGE,…WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE DEVOTEDLY
If a director of a company awards a big contract to his friend or to a company that he controls,that’s corruption!! why should the president an interested party/ presidential candidate continue in power,controlling KEY institutions including the ECZ up to the election day?And you expect a fair result?.if the law of declaring INTEREST was enacted to curb corruption& abuse, why should the sitting president continue in that office up to now?This is a joke on ECZ,and elections in general.The incumbent president MUST hand over power 5days before elections to GRZ 1-the CHIEF JUSTICE as he awaits election results,for FAIRNESS.The constitution must be REPEALED to give key governance institutions TRUE independence from the executive
Chwe chwe chwe chwe!!
ZAMBIA IS FOR ALL ZAMBIANS. TOMORROW IS TOMORROW. GOD BLESS ZAMBIA
Am failing to understand how the Author is using the term EXIST. If one is moving out of a high way the correct term to use is EXIT. I’ve not read the entire article yet and I only hope I can find sense when I complete it.
Apologies to your Fragrante Delicto. In my editing I missed the “s” on the word ” Exist” it should be ” Exit” as in getting off an exit on an highway. This is a correction we have made. Much appreciated and i hope within that context you will find time to make sense of what Im trying to point out.
Dont use the word I. Maybe try the word me. The best way to get rid of MMD is to vote them in now. 2016 there will be no incumbat, all will be fighting. If we vote PF thinking that will retire in 2016 is like trying to make an elephant pregnant. Sata wont retire he seek reelection like Mugabe. So keep RB til 2016, retire Sata and then vote someone either from Southern, Western or North Western Provinces. Zambia belong not only to Northerners but all. Viva ..
What has Northerners got to do with this?
Does this man work ku Roads, he keeps on talking about exit or is it exist, highway etc. very boring article
Any way to answer your question, Zambians have decided to exit, and take up the Michael Sata highway.How about that? VOTE PF
What crossroads ba Mtonga? Zambia has been in the same direction since 1964: incompetence, economic stagnation, mass emigration of the best brains (brain drain), nepotism, lack of leadership and corruption … . What will change this time?
No.. Zambia has not been in the same direction. In 1964 we were very different in culture and discourse. In 1991 we become a multi- party democracy, MMD stands for Multi-party democracy; which shows what the party initially set out to do. We have been on two highways; we need to see if we can get on a different one and if we are to continue on the same one then the question is how do we work to continue on that highway and how do we change our driving.
Mmmm, this english makes the whole article boring to read:o
At 6hrs let me go and vote for change SATA real change.
Your metaphoric usage of the highway to describe where we are coming from, have been, currently are and where we need to go makes great sense.
The stakes are high for the country. We know that the MMD highway under three drivers for the last 20years have been miserable and contemptible especially that the highway itself is also run down.
We have reached a point of no return, teetering on the edge of change that transcends beyond belief, we are poised for change, ready and all set to exit the MMD’s run down highway and hop onto the PF highway, one with a more focused driver in charge.
We have had 20years of free for all under development, misery, despotic rule, institutionalized and govt authorized corruption,
The hard working population does not have govt on its side because it is compromised by the employer
We are ready for the big leap onto the PF highway
Hehe, not so fast, the PF highway has lots of potholes: so we avoid that one and either stick to the MMD highway with various toll gates or turn to your right only 48 meters away into the even better UPND highway which is free of toll gates. Wow its now 00:30 on 20 Sept 2011.
I can’t wait for Sata(n) to get out of the news. The man has done enough damage to Zambia.
Its today.Best wishes for Zambia.
All one Strong and free! Make us Proud again and thank you for voting on our behalf. You deserve to be praised for making your important choice known. Most of us will not vote due to were we are found but you are the pride of Mother Zambia. May God bless you and God bless Mother Zambia!
It is not nearly enough for us to move out of our political comfort zone.We need to move out of so many comfort zones and try the road not taken.Principally its is because of this comfort we’re in that we find almost all major economic activity in Zed is run by foreigners.Politics is just one comfort zone but its the only one that most zambians occupy their minds with.What of the rest Mr author?Even the rest of the world is talking nanotech & stem cells while we just argue about village politics and don’t even know how we’ll rid Mtendere and other slums of filth and shacks for homes.
I totally agree. I could have said exactly the same thing.I was astonished on my recent return to Zambia, to find that the general mentality of many of my Zambian country-men is still unprogressive and entreprenueral averse… We kinda still expect the musugu, Indian or china mian to do the Investing.
Now even Nigerians are becoming investors in Zambia, while the majority of our country-men sit idly by ..living off of bribes.
Attitudes are in real need for change. We need to start believing in ourselves and cherish our country a lot more.
God bless the nation as we vote.
In a few hours’ time let us vote PF and Sata.
Let us witness change with relief for Zambians, and restoration of dignity and nationhood, where individuals and families can afford a healthy meal and medical care.
Stop telling lies about violence. None among us Zambians wants violence. So much brain washing.
Prosperity and good will to all Zambians!
Change, yes we can.
rTakuli na crossroads iyo. MMD must go.
I’m voting for RB, if he loses for the next five years I will be as bitter as u PF supporters have been for the past three years..
That perceived sophistication you are refering mr author when it comes to transition should not be taken for granted. we are not any sophisticated compared to other countries where we have seen violence, people can only take in so much, i guess everyone should just do the right thing and not take anyone for granted. am glad you qualified your statement that its in theory..lets be on the ground and face facts
Make no mistake! The King Cobra is the real Satan. Ask Adam or Eve.
Read only a few lines of this article and trashed it because of silly and petty grammatical and spelling mistakes; and the article seems to be the day’s lead story. You don’t say “Despite of….” Just “Despite…” or you can opt to say “In spite of…” Then there’s “Exist” instead of “Exit.” My foot; does this paper have editors?
Larry. 1. ” Exist” was a typo on a computer and is supposed to be Exit. Which has been correct. 2. ” Despite of” may not be the Queens way of saying things.. but we use it often that it serves the same purpose..
It`s not as if we even need to debate this. Today we are voting for Sata. Naya mukutantama guys. I have to walk 70miles to get to my polling station ku BOMA so got to set off early. I`ll get my mobile internet with me to keep on what is happening.
It`s not as if we even need to debate this. Today we are voting for Sata. Naya mukutantama guys. I have to walk 70miles to get to my polling station ku BOMA so got to set off early. I`ll get my mobile internet with me to keep an eye on what is happening.
Larry I hear you. Even punctuation is terrible. Very painful to read indeed. I managed to read the whole article though.
Here is what 2011- 2016 will bring to zambia: mediocrity. Basically nothing, just another backward african country.
am ready to go and queque up,its nice to exercise my right.later you bloggers who dont vote.
 Zambians have very short memories . To change somthing we need to have a better or equal alternative. Zambia cant forget Micheal Sata ,we cant forget the damage he has done to his fellow politicians and the country . Regardless of the mistakes and whatever is wrong in the article the bigger picture is the massage which is clear. We are on the highway to Ndola and we cant turn right at the Kobil filling station in Kabwe and hope find ourselves at Kansenshi after 3hrs. It can never happen. Lets not blame others for our failure to succeed . Lets look at ourselves critically and develop ourselves . Go out there and do big projects , think bigger, develop the skills needed , reserch, interact with others. look around you and change to your liki
latest, people supposedly voting at Doriani polling station and Kilimanjaro polling station in Makeni Lusaka respectively have been asked to go to Bayuni basic school to cast their votes for some reasons and evidently the voting hasn’t started on time at the above name polling station due to insufficient ballot boxes, however people are expected to start casting thier votes as soon as the remaining ballot boxes alives there. source QFM LIVE RADIO ON TUNEIN RADIO.COM
This is where rigging comes. All ballot boxes should be at the polling station and inspected to make sure they are empty. so if the ballot bowes are inadquet, who is keeping theother boxes and what are they doing with them.All polling stations must have their boxes permanently marked and allocated to them
EXIST, Â is it a code in the article. Is the author trying to tell us something else.
Goodbye Banda, Kunda, Dora, Katele, VJ and all your corrupt MMD chaps………. Viva PF Viva Sata
politicians have never brought any good,we vote for the funny of it.that’s why violence shouldn’t be condoned.
its gambling.
if you have put your hope in the politicians your are disillusioned.:)>-exist =step out.
Man has subtuted Theocracy with Democracy and has ever since caused injuries to fellow man. Man is meant rule fellow man. Daniel 2 : 44.
the nosense has began, plse listen to q-fm to get wat is going at the poling station
lelo ni lelo, wina azalila
we just want to hear about results and whats happening in Z campaign period is over fullstop
A bird in hand is better than two in the tree. The greener grass beyond the fence is growing on a sewage dump. All that glitters is not gold.
Good commentary.
However, I should stray a little and mention that this piece appears to have escaped editorial scrutiny. There was “EXIST” where there ought to have been “EXIT” , and then there were several other minor clerical errors like “whats” instead of “what’s”.
I believe Lusaka Times is reputable enough to have an editor of sorts. There should be no rush in posting such excellent content. I always brag about how well polished Zambian English is, the sort of mistakes in this article to not represent the calibre of journalistic professionalism that I am sure abounds in Zambia.
Agony is exiting from a better road only to have a puncture barely a kilometre after exiting.If we choose the Sata Highway, we should certainly get better shock absorbers and steel-built off road tyres.
the word exist in this article is confussing me. What does the author imply by repeatedly saying exist. Because if it appears only once as exist and thereafter he corrects and say exit, i would understand that it was a sleep of an eye. but the word exist is used through out the article. can someone please help me to understand who this word should be understand in the context of this message.
Some articles just put you off immediately you find the same repetitive mistake, though obviously the author has seen the 4 walls of a classroom, & has graduated to a point where they feel confident & bold enough to author articles for public consumption, it leaves much to be desired & more so shows a lack of literal authority that the author seeks to achieve, in that he/she portrays an inadequacy, where they have failed to further self educate, & thus not as enlightened as expected, to be trying to educate others.
Further down in the responses, another tries to express “Arrive”, BUT SO HORRIBLY mixes it up with “Alive” – words that are light years from each other in meaning.
Unfortunately, this reflects the status of our educational system, which has been run down mercilessly!!!
today we shall see if zambia is full of fools or intelligent people. 27 plus 20 years no change. if at all you are reading this and chakukalipa sana, am sorry but why should a person be bought just for a piece of cloth worthy less than 50,000 kwacha and is expected to put on such for the next coming 4 years only to be given a bale of sugar again to last another 4 years? surely here is a person who has been using the road for 4 rainy seasons and has seen no grader and suddenly the road is being graded and he leaps into a frenzy and showers praises on the MMD that its a working govt. ubu ebupuba ndandapo lyonse. wake up and vote into power leaders who have long range thinking faculties and have the masses at heart not their own pockets.
well am back from voting it was so smooth and calm,was done by 8:30hrs had my breakfast.irregularities in some areas are being reported surely in lusaka issues like ballot boxes not arriving on time,should not happen! in this year & age,what more in the village?thats why we dont trust ecz period.
Bye, Bye SATA, You played a better race but your way of campaigning has costed your presidency. The new president of Zambia is official by now, Hakainde Hichilema, getting most votes in Lusaka, southern, central, western and north-western provinces. SATA got his votes in Copperbelt, Luapula and northern provinces. RB got his votes mostly Eastern provinces only 4 in western province 2 in north-western province, 7 in Luapula, 5 in the copperbelt and 11 in northern province and the rest in Eastern province. His execellence HH has shocked most people in Lusaka because it was strange to some people. HH has assured that the cabinet will be out in 3 days time will have national representation from all provinces of Zambia.
When you debate you should now that terms like “Fool” or “Intellegent” are subjective and relative. Wise up. Differences in views is Ok.
Reading what Patrick Mwanawasa has been quoted as saying about the President is frightening. If a young man can have such a language against an elderly man who was his father’s confidant is scary. What can this boy do if he became President? I just wonder. We will be back to being called ‘stu p i d i d iots’ again. RB is President and is older than Patrick, surely he deserves respect. RB never insulted Patrick but encouraged himn to return to his father’s party.
@44 Zero Option.
What annoys me is not the politics and what you say but when you use ‘piece of cloth worthy less than ‘ instead of ‘worth.’ What is wrong with you Northerners? Worthy is an adjective. The word you need is the preposition – worth. Ok? Ba kiti!
Why are Zambians living abroad think there are better than us?They adopt everything they come across. accents. opnions on africa, e.t.c.Some comments sound like mokery.Is it not embrasing for you that white people keep their life style when they come here and Nigerians also remain the way they are abroad? Remebr that Europe is losing grip on its economy and America too.Soon you will be treking back here where change is being made.I hope the bazungu are not blaming u for any economic hardship they are going through.Check the comments on Kweku Adoboli and recheck your stay there.
I have just voted. Pf as of now has 1 vote for President, MP, and Concil. Add on yours
End of my political career.
WELCOME PRESIDENT SATA, Please don’t disappoint us as these MMD thieves on the EXIT roll. Let’s change our mother Zambia for better.
Goodbye Thieves RB, DORA, KUNDA & RB’s Sons let you repaint before your D-day.
VIVA Dochi Kubeba, this year’s election has really been exciting. Dochi kubeba eee Ninkama yandi eeeee. Inkama Yandi eeee Ni Dochi kubeba eeee!!!!!!!!!
Unfortunately Mr author we are only managed to get back on the highway when Levy took over from FTJ and the Satas who derailed us when they took over from KK. Now some people, for what ever reason, want Mr Sata in the driver’s seat. I can assure you should that happen we will turn towards Mpika to Chitulika village. Mark my word; it will be a long, long time for us to make a U-turn to go to Ndola. God save us all.
Gentlement; I have to clarify a correction due to a typo. The term ” Exist” should be replaced with an ” EXIT” as in the place where one comes out of the highway. The idea was that history is always a straight line and extreme changes force us to change course such as: 1964 and 1991. Zambia has been going in the same direction since 1991; the decision to ” EXIT” is up to Zambians or the decision to continue is also up to them. I do apologize for the typo mistake i hope within the context of the term ” EXIT” we find the meaning of this editorial adding value to our political discourse.. ABENA Zambia mwalishupa.. so I had make sure we are on the same page. But my use of the highway as a metaphor for history should resonate to you guys. One Zambia always One Nation!
I managed to answer some of your issues with the word ‘ ” EXIT” and it seemed that the comments were more an issue of a typo than the questions i was raising. Which is something I understand. But I also like the fact that people took to the metaphor and found some points of discussions. We will be sure to make sure that ” Exist” is ” EXIT” in our next editorial. Zambia is a great country, i believe in it and i believe in political discourse. We are a sophisticated and complicated people! But thats Zambia; our politcal future is great hands because i always look at 2011 and look at 1964; if a man cant see progress then he does not know what progress is!!! Than You and God Bless Zambia!!
It takes a smart person to know what this English men are after . Fela Kuti used to call them Gentlemen .They have been taken out of there comfort zone . The only way out is to take a cheap shot at Author . Bunch of loosers
It takes a smart person to know what these English men are after . Fela Kuti used to call them Gentlemen .They have been taken out of there comfort zone . The only way out is to take a cheap shot at the Author . Just a bunch of loosers
 Im sure this article will resonate with people after the election.. there is an EXIT coming up in  a few days either we press on the gas and continue to move forward or we  just take the exit and  move to the PF Highway. We  have to be very careful what we decide but it should reflect the fact that thats ( a better Zambia and a better future )where we will want to be in 2016..Â
THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE THE EXIT; WE ARE GETTING ON THE PF HIGHWAY.. MY HOPE IS THAT WHEN 2016 COMES; WILL I BE POSTING THIS SAME ARTICLE AND ASKING THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE IF THEY WANT TO TAKE AN EXIT OR STAY OF THE PF HIGHWAY; IT WILL DEPEND ON HOW WELL THE PF HIGHWAY WILL BE IF THE ROAD IS BAD; WE WILL NO DOUBT TAKE THE EXIT BECAUSE WE HAVE DEVELOPED THE MECHANISMS FOR TRANSITION AND NO MAN OR WOMAN CAN DENY THAT FACT TO THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE. ONE ZAMBIA ONE NATION AND ALWAYS A ZAMBIAN!!
Im sure my audience finds more sense in this article at this point.. ka? Lesa apale.