Zambians are now becoming well traveled and if you ever went to a faraway place like Hong Kong for example, chances are you will bump into a Zambian if you looked hard enough.
I did not want to be one of the less traveled Zambians and decided to travel to Bangkok with an acquaintance of mine called Big Jo. We were first to spend some days in Johannesburg at a place called Hilbrow. My well traveled friend Big Jo, told me they had cheap accommodation and would be the best place to stay, you see we had limited funds. Big Jo’s neighbor’s cousin was doing some business in Bangkok and we were going to help him sell some of the “stuff” in Johannesburg and Zambia. I knew northwestern province like the back of my hand and I was going to make millions of kwacha selling the “stuff” there. Well thats what Big Jo said. I did ask him what we would be selling and he said clothes, sofas, spare parts etc.
I later got to learn that Big Jo had conveniently left out some vital information about Hilbrow, like it was a dangerous place to be! But how was an innocent boy from Kasempa supposed to know such details.
So we traveled in a dirty luxury coach from Lusaka to Johannesburg. When we arrived, I had never seen such a big bus station in my life! It was called Park station. I thought when become rich I’ll build one just like this in Solwezi.We then took a mini bus to Hilbrow. As we drove another mini bus driver waved a gun at us. It was then my legs began shaking. Despite that, we arrived safely in Hilbrow, but just in time to hear more gun shots.
“Big Jo lets go back,” I cried. He, like all the other people around was calm. I was later to learn this was a way of life here. We had barely disembarked from the bus when a group of men approached us.
“Butuka!” Big Jo shouted. But before my wobbly legs could move, all my possessions were taken from me. I shook like a leaf, at least I was unharmed I thought. A few moments later Big Jo resurfaced. My passport, the driver’s license I had just bought in Lusaka and all my money were stolen. At least Big Jo had kept the air ticket to Bangkok.
We were about to go to the police station when a Zimbabwean man approached us.
“I saw what happened,” he said “but if you go to the police they will think you are an illegal immigrant.”
Big Jo suggested we try the Zambian embassy. He said they would take care of me. As for him he had to proceed to Bangkok. The next day Big Jo left me at the Zambian embassy. I walked in and was looked at suspiciously by the beautiful lady at reception. I explained what happened and she said I needed a police report to verify what I was saying. I told her I had no transport money, no passport and no clothes. If they could just organize a passport and drivers license for me I could join Big Jo in Bangkok. She laughed at me so hard you would have thought she was watching one of the late maximos comedies. At this point I had had enough. I broke down in my mother tongue. This attracted two gentlemen from the next office. The lady told them I wanted a passport and drivers license from them. They too laughed at me. This again attracted an elderly gentleman, whom I’ll never forget. At least he showed more compassion for me.
To cut a long story short I never made it to Bangkok. I am back in Kasempa.I don’t have a passport. I tried to buy a drivers license from Mr. Mwape but I’m told things are now computerized so its difficult. I however have a job interview with the Chinese or is it Indians running the mine in Chingola?
So, I never want to travel outside Zambia again. I do not know what the function of a Zambian embassy is, if you can’t even obtain necessary documents from them when you are abroad. As for Big Jo I never heard from him. Never trust someone with the name Big Jo I guess!
EDITOR’s NOTE: Post Your Lifestyle stories through the Contact Us Link Above. The best stories will get published in the Lifestyle section of the site.
You were unlucky,you started in Jo’burg,which is one of the most dangerous places in the world. In Bangkok, they dont use guns. They smile at you while they are stealing your money.
The embassy in london is equally usless. All they have going for them is scandels of who got fired for stealling what.
the immigartion guy and a clark at the front desk were recently relived of their duties for theiving.
There is a massive hall in the basement of the london embassy, which was once used as a beer hall. It now stores the ambasadors things. The embassy was aproched with an idea of converting this space inton a investment centre. The embassy stuff demanded shares from any profitts if they were to make this go ahead.
Stealing is all they know.
Sad story if it really happened that way but the central question is, if you had no money with you how did you get back to Zambia?
Your a stupid muntu !
No Embassy in ZA…..High Commision as in Commonwealth.
And thats in Pretoria,you chibuku drinking prick
Zambian Embassies are the worst,they don’t know their roles they play.All those heading embassies behave like they have never been to school they just suck and incompetent,stupid,arrogant,pathetic lunatics even a grade 12 can think better than most average of them.If at all they reached grade 12 they could have a proper brain working in the right order.
Guys it’s now 18 months since i wanted to get my children’s passports here in the US and i have spent so much money calling them and paying the necessary things and i have not yet received my children’s passports.They keep telling me am one the many applicants waiting for that cause there’s nothing they can do.This is my dilemma;
i had opportunities of traveling outside zambia.on a sunday morning after church i was introduced to some zambia arround and i could even identify some on my own.one of the people around told me not to anouce so much that i am a zambian coz my fellow zambian wont be happy to see me and will begin to inquire if i had original papers, he told me zambian have reported each other to the immigration office and make their friend leave so dont trust our fellow zambia when you are out.i thought what that freind told me was a lie.few days later i heard that i zambian was chased from the house she was renting coz her fellow zambian friend threaten to report the landlord who was keeping a zambian….
I know it is not true but trying to explain of what really happens to our Zambian embassies abroad who are supposed to assist their citizens who are stranded. I like the Malawian embassies assist their own citizens abroad. It is not only when they are in problems but even all is well. When travelling on official duties embassy staff make an effort to help their citizens sometimes linking them with their fellow countrymen and women of the area they are travelling to. I once travelled with a very junior officer from Malawi to Burundi. When we arrived in Kenya she was met at the airport by embassy staff and the same at Bujumbura, but my Zambian embassy could not help me when I missed my flight
Whats going on LT? I remember you had this story last year.
nawemwine ekutemwa u are stupid how cud u trust Big Jo? no wonder they were laughing at u baliku lishila akapata abena big Jo!
cont…another news i got was that a zambian was fired from work coz a zambian reported her fellow zambian to the employers for employing someone without papers.hey it is sad that though we say that zambia is a peace country i have witnessed where zambian doesnt want to see there friends prosper.even when your friend is in trouble learn to help them.when one has taken and illigal way ask them to correct their approach and make things right dont embarace your brother when in another land
back to Zambia in Kenya due to a taxi that brokedown enroute to the airport. I ended up being looked after by my church in Kenya until the next flight to Zambia. I wonder what the role of our Zambian embassies. I was authorized by the Zambian govt to travel abroad on official duties but could not be helped by them.This a true story but I thank God for the good hospitality of the Ugandan Church Pastor in Kenya. Read Heb 13:1-3
LT are you running out of stories, this cheap joke has been posted twice now!
The Zambian Embassy is Washington DC is one of the worst guys. Talk about a receptionist/cler (whatever she calles herself) men … this crazy woman who answers the phone with a thick, hard to understand accent talking in broken English literary knows nothing about her job. She is arrogant and just an ugly piece of sh*t. I hope one day she gets someone to give her the same attitude she gives us who seek help from our embassy. I am Zambian by way and its because of people like these I am even considering applying for US citizenship so I can forget about all this crap and work with civilized people.
Cnt’d I spoke to a secretary who didn’t know how the process works and when i asked if i could speak to other people she told me she was the only allowed to deal with that.This secretary was so rude,we ended up exchanging bitter words when i was just enquiring how this process works.However i had to travel to DC from Florida just for that and paid everything and now 18 months down the line nothing has been happening.
I have heard similar complaints from my friends from other countries complaining bout the shoddy services the get from our embassies,as if we are second class citizens but they are there for us.Its shameful.
Why are bringing up the same story again? Tell us about the new passports. Have you got one yet? and laos let me know if met Mr Lungu to help you with the Drivers licence
#13 PowerRule i agree with you have also spoken to her ala she’s the devils sister together with all her workmates.Problem is that,we don’t have properly trained embassy staff you find that politicians straight from kumunzi going to be High Commissioners. LPM and company should be appointing educated people not that secretary in DC,if you reading this you embassy staff in DC and Ottawa you all suck you shouldn’t think you are gods when in actual fact you behave like cows.You should know you there to serve us coz with out us you won’t be there.Also learn to support Zambian community organizations mwefipuba mwe.U ve frustrated me and my family.my children want to go & c their G/parents in Z.
Some Bembas are tribalists. my inability to fluently speak bemba almost cost me a temporaly passport after I lost my first one in Yoeville, it seems to them that he you cant speak bemba, you are not Zambian. this ***** forced me to speak bemba because I did not sound Zambian enough, luckly my mother(who’s fluent in bemba) was
having a photo of her and myself taken long time ago at Chirundu bridge
Responces:
# 16 and many others you may know that at present there is massive transfer of staf in embassies. Many are being recalled so hope that ass in DC is one of them.
#17- the whole reason to ask you in Bemba is to establish your true identity. If you explain that you are not Bemba but Lozi, Kaonde, Tonga or what ever and that you are able to speak a bit of Bemba but fluent in your mother tongue. Additionally, the proof you gave was convincing. I once faced that and i lectured to the lady about Zambia using my mother tongue Lozi. They also have a duty of establishing truth remember.
Let’s bring out wrongs done by our civil servants so Big Ben can act on them!!
# 14 if you say that nothing is happening since you had your paperwork handled by this embassy, then your money was squandered. At the Z embassy in DC, our money was misused and we never got the passports in time until several complaints which still didn’t help improve the image and efficiency. Some of the good officer/s have since left that place. Be careful when you drop your passports along with the money. Demand a receipt because the person in charge will ‘eat’ your money.
Ali has summed it all very nicely. We lack the spirit to foster each other, even back home. How many remember inquiring from a Zed where and how to get certain goods from somewhere and never told the truth. Look how the Asians support their kind in business -ethnocentric minded. I have just started an employment agency here, blacks (zeds included) will never want to get jobs from me but go to an Asian for the same jobs they are after. My rates are far better but they snub me. When they run aground they look for u! Uh, thats zeds (read Africans) for u mates.
Thats what happens when we travel without going to Min of Foreign Affairs to get details of the Zambian Embassy where you are going. You expect them to guess and receive you at the Airport. Dont look for Embassies in a hurry when you are in trouble.
ANY ZAMBIAN WHO MAKES PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS IS WELL RECEIVED.
OFFICERS DONT MEET EACH AND EVERY JIM AND JACK, THEY ONLY MEET PEOPLE ON GOVT OFFICIAL DUTY.
THEY HELP STRANDED ZAMBIANS WHO COME TO THE EMBASSY BUT NOT ILLEGALLY AND TO THE DICTATES OF THE VICTIM. THEY FOLLOW THE HOST COUNTRY’S SYSTEM.
ALWAYS GO TO MIN OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN LUSAKA FOR ADVICE BEFORE YOU TRAVEL ONLY TO BLAME OFFICERS. IGNORANCE COSTS MORE.
#21 youare right. The problem with the people who run into trouble are in a hurry to be assisted. Even God does not bring miracles just like that. There are steps, FAITH, BELIEF etc. Officers follow laid down rules for the host country which might take some time. Yes you need a police report to get a replacement travel document.
SATA’S PASSPORT WAS WITHDRAWN COZ HE DID NOT GET A POLICE REPORT IN LONDON,; WHAT ARE YOU TO RECEIVE EXPRESS HELP.
MUCHENJELE, IGNORANCE YALIDULA.
VIVA EMBASSY STAFF EVERYWHERE!!!! KEEP IT UP.
LT, tell us if you ned writers. We in Asia can give you everything you need about Zambians and embassies abroad.
We have no embassy here, but one has to cross the border when you need such services. Hopefully our very own govt will consider opening an embassy here some day!
This might sound a sweeping statement but;Seriously speaking most zambian embassy/high commissioner officials suck. They think they are above ordinary humans when they are called diplomats yet most of them are just grade 12 certificate holders. They are poorly oriented and don’t seem to know that they are appointed among other things to serve fellow zambians in their capacity as diplomats, moreover, they seem to foeget that they feed on the tax payer’s money. mucinje!!!
Guys, let me start by sympathising with our comrade. And then address this issue from another angle of it. I have been at the Zed Embassy in Pretoria and i know how it is there. The staff is not friendly and prejudiced. The latter reason being that many Zambians are selling their passports to the west africans when they reach Jozi. Some are genuinely lost through theft by thugs or drinking places. So when you go to the embassy the first thing they think of is whether your story is true or not before they give you a travelling document back home. This is their major problem. Let us start telling our poeple to be careful when they go to Jozi and Durban. And that they shouldn`t sell passports
This selling of passports has affected those who needed help. This is big business in South Africa. For our document is used by drug couriers and those who want to migrate into Europe and North America. Because of this somehow our passport is losing its value of trust. And when you travel try to inquire where you are going. You can`t just go to Hilbrow anyhow, a drug pushing area and too much gangsterism. Ask before, so that you can avoid such things. But i feel for the brother if the story is ever true. The only good crime ridden city now is Cape Town. Because of tourists. Just avoid black townships and some coloured areas. Jozi is dangerous.
This story is so old. I remember seeing this story last year. Editor????
No 21 you clearly have no idea what an embassy is there for. You obviously have never been in a situation like the one narrated.Why would you go to the embassy if you have no problems? it is like going to a hospital when you are medically ok.There is no emergency like losing your travel document in a foreign country.once your document is lost the first place you go to is your embassy.The Malawi embassy i must say is the most effecient when it comes to looking after its citizens . Zambian embassies are the worst
#21 Imbecile supporter you are so ignorant it is not funny.Do you expect each and every person travelling abroad to go to Min of Foreign affairs? Are you mad? Embassies are there for any eventualities and are there for Zambians.if i lose my passport where do you think i should go? True to the word Zambian missions are so bad and the staff are so insensitive to their own, i wonder why they are there and why they are paid.# 22 you are a blind supporter and clearly a bootlicker whereever you work.
Number 21/22 are you guys for real? infact you sound like one person pretending to be two.Please tell me what an embassy is there for?
When you run into trouble in a foreign country you run to the police then what? Is the police going to sort your livelihood? i dont think so. that is where the embassy comes in. But the issue with the Zambian embassy is you will not be assisted there and then.they expect you to shuttle back and forth for days before your documents are ready. in the mean time you have no money and most likely no clothes and anywhere to go.# 21 and 22 you have never been in such situations that is why you are embassy supporters. Attitudes like yours is the reason Zambia wont progress
#21,22
POORLY ORIENTED.YOU/OR YOUR F**G RELATIVES ARE THE ONES WHO THINK ARE ANGELS BY BEING DIPLOMATS.GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND LEARN HOW TO REASON. FOOLISSSSH
I remember going to London Embassy at 10.30am looking for the passport officer. I was told he was at lunch…At Lunch..its 10.30 in the morning…to which the receptionist replied…it is an early lunch!!!!
Ladies and gentlement, listen, first and foremost Missions abroad are there to look after the intrests of relations of the host country and Zambia and the Zambians aborad. so when you travel abroad, whether in trouble or not you should let your embassy know of you presence in that country, if you are not staying long just a phone call is enough, but if you are there for a long time it is important that you visit the Embassy and give you address and phone no. There are times when Government officials are in that country and would like to meet with Zambians, then it is easy for the Embassy staff to contact you.
Most Government institutions around the world dont offer express service to their citizens, unless its really perceived as an emergency by them. The home office in the UK will for instance charge you a premium price if you want your Visa in one day. My only advise to victims of scams and grassing by fellow Zambians is to guard their travel documents with their lives and to avoid ‘kugwililana monga inswa’ with fellow Zambians. After all you have lived most of your life in Zambia and there is nothing new to learn by interacting with Zambians abroad. Spread your wings, explore the world, learn how other people live.
so when you are in trouble it wont be difficult for the Embassy to assist you because they already know you are in the country. Its true some Embassy staff can be rude, but please dont dent the image of all Missions abroad, everywhere you go you will always find a bad seed. i dont think all members of staff in Ottawa and Washington are unhelpful and Pretoria too! I dont believe the story said about London High Commission, the High Commissioner himself is a wonderful man and the lady at the reception is exceptionally nice, the room downstairs is where you sit when you are waiting for the persone you want to see.
and you in Norway, have ever been to the Embassy in Stockholm, which carters for all the Scandinavian countries? What was your experience? Please lets not always put ourselves sooooooo low on the net, Zambians we are generally good people let not one experience make ALL Zambian Missions a bad place to visit. Lets support each other and learn to forgive. God bless you all
I understand you all for being emotional to a level where you insult me and my brother/sister #21. As long as you do not understand and appreciate that each and every country has its ways of handling matters you will keep on insulting me. THANKS FOR THE INSULT BUT THOSE WHO TAKE ADVICE HAVE PICKED ONE OR TWO FROM MY FREE ADVICE.
When you lose anything anywhere under the sun the STARTING POINT IS THE POLICE REPORT and then YOUR EMBASSY, or RELATIVE or FRIEND whatever the case may be. NOTE THAT THE VICTIM IN THIS CASE DID NOT HAVE A POLICE REPORT WHEN HE WENT TO THE EMBASSY IN RSA. A replacement Travel Doc is given on production of a Police Report be it in Zed or Outside.
There is wisdom in finding out about a place you are visiting for the first time my dear brothers and sisters. You lose nothing in going to Foreign Affairs in Lusaka to LEARN JUST A FEW THINGS ABOUT YOUR NEW DESTINATION.
One brother says WHY SEE A DOCTOR WHEN YOU ARE NOT SICK? In the same vein, WHY KEEP THE FOOD AND POTS AFTER YOU ARE FULL? In short, VALUE EVERYTHING IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH.
MY ADVICE TO YOU ALL:
PROVERBS says- A HOT TEMPERED MAN SOLVES NO PROBLEM BUT WORSENS IT. further that ANXIETY IN A MAN WEIGHS HIM DOWN.
Thank you for the insults and I still expect more from brothers and sisters who may be emotional.
I truly appreciate what all y’all are saying on this blog. This is certainly a touchy subject. I have on occasion taken a friend to the embassy in pretoria. I was flabbergated to learn that ‘non-zambians’ so-called tourists are accorded more respect than the native himself. The attitude of staff left a lot be desired. Office hours are not observed as the commissioner and his clique are busy closing personal deals on taxpayer time. It’s a shame. I do not agree with embassy staff when they say you have to visit the emnassy in a country of destinantion. This is only necessary in case of an emergency and loss of travel docs is a case in point!
ama zambian abengi niba muzungu wanga.a common zambian wont help his/her fellow who is in need but will chose to help a foreigner so that he can get some merit ati aliba bwino but the other way the fellow is in trouble.it is not only happening at embassies,hey back home mmmm yalikosa…a foreign can be given a place to do business in the name investment and a zambian will be denied that previlege.the issues it like it is just a mindset to us zambian and we need to change.
Some Zambian embassy staff in Pretoria are very incompetent and corrupt. I moved to RSA last year. After settling in, I decided to buy a car, i was told by the dealership that my driver’s license needs to be authticated with an an official embassy letter. I went there and met a woman at the visa section who told me it takes 21 days and had to make a bank deposit of R150 for the processing fee. I did so next day. As i was walking out, she came out and told me that if am serious, it can take a shorter time (bribe). I told her to get lost and phoned colleagues in the Min of Foreign Affairs. They followed up and found out that she was not responsible for this but someone more senior was. I asked
cont….I went to the responsible guy next day and told me it would be ready after 3 days, of which it was. Apparently my colleague called this guy and he got a fright after he was told about my case. When i went to pick up my letter, i was told by the silly that I shouldn’t think am smart by using my connections. When i have other problems, they will ignore me and went on to say “Na ife ndiye mwamene ti dyela”. Imagine the nerve!!! Apparently, they scum people lying to them that they send the licenses to Zambia for verification and thats why it takes 21 days when they actually just call zed twice a week to verify (if they even do it). I have since reported this scam foreign affairs
yeah surely guys these guys in foreign missions need a litlle more educating. They can be so irritating.
Kandanji # 43 I had better service with my Driver’s License last year at the Embassy in Pretoria.The lady that dealt with my issue was able to help me within a week.Though my only disappointment was that i had to Fax my Documents to the embassy three times cos the kept loosing the faxed documents even after the had confirmed that the had gotten the Faxes i had sent.Other wise the service was good i was given a receipt for all my transactions.
Supporter and Supporter# 2 no doubt you guys work for the embassy or are diplomats / kids. PLEASE TELL ME THIS, WHY HAS THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVT DECIDED TO DISREGARD /DISCREDIT OUR DRIVER’S LICENCE AND YET OUR EMBASSY IS NOT AWARE OR HAS DECIDED TO KEEP QUIET? THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN PUT TO THE AMBASSADOR AND HIS CRONIES YET NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN. IF A SIMILAR ISSUE WAS RAISED WITH THE MALAWIAN EMBASSY SWIFT ACTION WOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN. SOUTH AFRICAN LICENCES ARE ACCEPTABLE IN ZAMBIA YET OURS ARE DISCREDITED.
having lived outside the country and meeting the fellow country men can be so nice. thanks for informing us lusaka times.
Chimwemwe (JHB) #47. Not necessarily sharing Supporter and Supporter #2’s opinions, i can share what i was told the embassy staff. Firstly, the RSA authorities have complained about too many fraudulently obtained Zed Driver’s licenses by mostly SA citizens and other regional residents (its very difficult to get an RSA license). 2ndly, There are a lot of fake ones out there. Then there is also a high no. of road traffic accidents caused by Zed Driver’s license holders (many not Zambian). So insurance companies put pressure on because of the unusually high no. of pay outs for this group. Investigations pointed out to a porous system of issuing and hence pressure to verify. The police also need
…to input your license details on their traffic register system so as to make it compatible with the RSA one. So its quiet a hustle but the peace of mind at the end is worthwhile. Interestingly, this is not enforced with higher end models. A zed colleague a few months back bought a beemer, all paper work was handled by the dealership (and YES, not license verification by anyone). I guess if you are buying a sunka mulamu, you are in for tedious process
#17 It seems you just a dumb stupid Zambian who thinks anyone who speaks Bemba is a Bemba. Are you telling me that anyone speaks English is a Briton? Do not be silly if Bemba hurts you so much you have every right to respond in your mother tongue otherwise I would comfortably say you are a tribalist why should you hate a language so badly. Iam a Bemba but I have tried to learn and speak other languages. Plse let us leave a better Zambia for our children grow up.
Need further clarification on the licence issue in SA, to my knowledge both my brother and sister who drive and live in JHB use their Zambian Drivers licences.
By the way , i wonder at the level of cowadise, ive been to hilbrow several times even during chrismas period! i think its more dangerous to be in Alexander or part of soweto than hilbrow….
And by the way most Zambians live in Yeoville, Beria and hilbow area!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#52 if your brothers and sisters are permanent residents then they are probably being harassed by the traffic cops for using Zambian licence. And further should they be involved in an accident the insurance company will not pay out. The bone of contention was at first what used to happen was if you had A zmbian licence you would go to the traffic dept and convert it to a south african one but now what the traffic dept is saying is our licence is fake so you need to do a learner’s then the test because our licence is not worth the paper its printed on
i thought the “sweetener” when licenses were changed were that they were SADCC licenses???
Kandanji, you see that is why we are complaining about our embassy. What statistic did they use to say Zambians cause too many accidents in RSA.For your own information the south African licence is as easy to obtain as the Zambian one (fraudulently)Our embassy could not even argue on this case they just accepted the decision. Our embassy could have taken it upon themselves to verify each licence before submitting to the License dept. that way only genuine obtained Z licences could be converted.Your friend who bought a beemer with a zambian licence will be a victim of a clever sales man, once that beemer crashes the insurance wont pay and the sales man will be laughing all the way to the bank
you guys am back. one thing for sure is this page has a load of good contributions just as lorry full of rubish. now the thing is do you guys have an inkling whether your contributions hit the intended audience? try to findout whether your contributions no matter how nonsensical they are reach the intended, for their change of whatever you want them to be. all else close this page coz it is serving no purpose.
#56…has your message reached its intended audience?? how did you find out ??? don’t keep secrets to yourself lets us all into the loop !!
Chimwemwe (JHB) #55, thanks for that useful information. I will alert my mate on that. I know of a case of a certain Zambian physician who ploughed his ML into an elephant in Botswana. Insurance refused to pay. Apparently it was because he’s grace period to convert to SA license had lapsed coz he had perm res. I wonder if this applies if you have a work permit?
Original Pundit, don’t bother responding to clowns like #56. jintujijumbuka. He’s not worth your original contributions
# 18 my hope and prayer is that what you said is actually happening. That ass in DC needs to be recalled and be sent back where she belongs. She does not deserve a job an the embassy here in the US. She has the worst attitude I have ever seen in a woman. Woman, I hope u read this this. Your day will come bi*ch…..!!!!!
It may have been true the but today its not true that gunshots and thugery are a way life in Hilbrow,or Jozi in general people tend to generalise a single event. The SA government has been working very hard to make hilbrow which was once declared the most dangerous place in the world the safest place by 2010 as part of the preparation for the world cup. Every weekend i go to hilbrow to chill with my friends and its very safe. The problem with Zambians is Kulibonesha, the way they buy beer and talk in a public place is to shoe that they have money as a consequence they fall prey/victims of crime.
I thought there exists a school of diplomacy or whatever in Lusaka? What are people in Zambian diplomatic missions taught at that establishment? The truth is our embassy and high commission staff are almost useless. These are people who find themselves in those positions because of nepotism so they are as blank as they come. Perhaps a number of these diplomat missions should be closed because they are draining the treasury for nothing.
I still dont understand my sister recently renewed her drivers licence and since she has an ID from SA shes being given a loan to procure another vihicle so if its really true how came that the banks are accepting the Zambian licence i mean the SADC one!!! if there is any difference coz that what we use. Last yr my brother in law was cought in an accident just near Rosebank i was asked to drive the vehicle with my sadc licence….so please clarify may be this is new……….(Chimwemwe)
SUPPORTER2…ARE YOU CRAZY???..WHY WOULD I WANT TO GIVE THE *****S IN THE LONDON EMBASSY MY DETAILS???..THIS IS THE SAME EMBASSY THAT NEVER KNEW WHERE THE ZAMBIA NATIONAL TEAM WERE PLAYING THEIR WARM-UP GAMES…!!!..THE SAME EMBASSY THAT TOLD NO-ONE IN UK THAT ZAMBIA WAS CHANGING PASSPORTS..WHEN WE RANG TO ASK WHY…CAN YOU GUESS THE REPLY..
THE ZAMBIA GOVERNMENT IS ASKING CITIZENS TO SPREAD THE WORD BY MOUTH…CAN U BELIEVE THAT!!!!..THIS FROM THE EMBASSY STAFF!!!
Folks i hope this is not a digression from the subject, but i just picked up this story that two of our sisters have become comwomen in the US and are on the run. This blog has debated the merits and demerits of life in the diaspora but these sisters have sure done the zambians’ reputation some serious harm. Make your oen conclusion:
ORLANDO, Fla. — Authorities are searching for two sisters, with ties to Zambia, accused of stealing credit card numbers from dozens of hotel customers on Orlando’s popular International Drive.
Agents with the U.S. Secret Service said Stacey Chota, 31, and Chanda Chickwanda, 32, targeted workers at the Sheraton World Resort on I-Drive. Chota and Chickwanda
have been on the run after being indicted on charges of mail fraud and theft.
Both were scheduled for a jury trial in December of 2006 but jumped bail, police said.
Chickwanda was last seen working at Ross Dress For Less and Bed, Bath and Beyond stores in the I-Drive area, investigators said.
Officers said both women have many aliases and are adept at changing their identity.
The mother of both of the sisters lives in Orlando, so investigators said there is a real possibility that they are still in the area and living under assumed names.
Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of the sisters is urged to call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS
#65,
Just study the names properly…as a ngoni, I can give you a testimony that these people are experts in this field. We experienced similar raids from them in the 1800s. The trend of raiding has since continued with the excuse of “natola fye”. But will the Americans here accept this cultural trait?
Iwe mu ngoni kupusa! Why would anyone civilzed want to raid unfertile land infested by rats and child molesters
I believe the two are already hiding in a laptop.Thanks to modern scientific knowledge from Luapula province or is it Northern ?
Firstly, when u go to a foreign country, u must learn to report to the embassy informing them that u arrived and give some details of ur intended trip; and not only going there when u are in trouble and seriously need their help.
Secondly, of all places Hilbrow, cheap is expensive. It’s better to pay a bit more for decent accommodation in a safe neighbourhood than to risk lossing everything .
Thirdly, I ‘ve read some comments about obtaining passports. U should be aware that not even in Lusaka are they issuing any passports whether new or old.
Finally, Zambians should learn to move with credit cards or travellers cheques and not with cash like it’s Cairo road.
IGNORANCE IS A VERY BIG DISABILITY. LEARN FROM ANYWHERE AND FROM ANYTHING AND THE BIG DISABILITY WILL GO. I FOR ONE AM LEARNING A LOT FROM THIS BLOG. BE COOL AS YOU RESPOND TO ONE ANOTHER KNOWING THAT YOU ARE ALL BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
I had a pretty bad experience with EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON DC. I don’t know how efficient the other embassies are but this particular office is hard to work with.
I think the embassy o should scruitinize officers they employ and ensure that they would adapt to bussineses practices as they send them to these missions. Sometimes I feel stupid to be Zambian, not that I hate my country, but your own country men fail you in so many ways.
If you will keep such employees at a big embassy like DC, I don’t think you gonna get a lot of work done. Good like guys in your search for a perfect embassy. They bring those working practices as of the HQ in LUSAKA. What a shame!! And they are so arrogant
#72 I agree with you.Even in Ottawa here in Canada starting from the High Commission they are incompetent ifikopo…I wonder what goes on in their minds,i feel sad to call my brothers from Zambia names but sometimes they behave as if they just want to punish you for being abroad.I have a couple of friends here in British Columbia who are having problems with the issue of passports and some of them have been to see the High commissioner himself and despite assurances nothing has happened.
#70 Koshet,do u know where British Columbia and Ottawa is?It wouldn’t make sense if am going to BC and go to Ottawa just to report to those incompetent fools.My dear it’s a 10 hour flight from BC to Ottawa
Cnt’d Now Koshet you are telling me after arriving here i should go and report myself there for what.Thats why we have Zambian communities where new members are registered and names forwarded to the high commission but unfortunately these same embassies do not want anything to do with these community organisations which is very sad.Look at other community organizations like the Nigerians and Ghana they are in touch with their respective H C,not the Zambia high commission here in Canada it sucks to say the least.But they still room for improvement.Love Zambia to death!!!
First off I don’t believe the story above ever happened, but it does however highlight the problems with our diplomatic missions abroad. My problem is with the embassy in DC. I would like to organize a collective reprimand of the Embassy and the staff. If you would like to join me, send an email titled “Zambian Embassy” to [email protected] and I will get in touch with you to discuss how we can proceed.
Sincerely,
Ziko
i have noticed that there are too many fckin political/governmental/diplomat clowns on these blogs and we can’t even air our views without one of them coming out and talking sh*t that only makes sense to them.
half of these so called supporters who are writing here are fckin diplomats or children of diplomats, their opinion is automatically biased.
just check and see for yourselves, each time someone says anything negative about LPM there is guaranteed to be some over emotional punk defending him to the death and you have to ask yourself: is this a blulu or what?
they are supporters because they are direct beneficiaries of all your passport money that was swiped.
Diplomacy should be the word to be ingrained int o the brains of all the malfunctioning personnel alluded to. Suppoters!! its disgusting to know that u support issues that are sensitive as this. In your support for your cause i suggest you the authorities in making amends to put an end to complaints. Such is the cry from the complaints.
Just shut up!! Life in Zambia is better than in diaspora. That is the punishment you get from the most high when you try to leave Zambia with wrong intentins. Just hang!! Dont blame the Emnbassies!!
It is sad that a lot of us are incapable of engaging in discourse without resorting to the trading of insults that frequently characterizes disscusions among us Zambians. As I did in my post earlier I invite people on both sides to drop me an email at ziko30@hotmail so that we undertake a civil campaign to improve the system. It may be that the problem is back at Head Quarters in Lusaka and here we are looking in from the outside and crucifying embassy staff and they may not have done anything wrong.
Screw all embassies!
Failures always want to blame someone. There are currently about 29 Zambian missios spread the world over. There are about 7 officers per mission and that works to roughly 183 officer. Their names range from Walubita, Musonda, Simwinga, Habulembe, Tembo, Miti, Silavwe, Mangala, Musakabantu, Chalwe, Mushala,Lyambayi, Nkhoma, Mutale etc.
EDUCATE ME HOW ALL THESE ARE MWANAWASA’S RELATIVES PLEASE
Ambassadors, nobles with little foreign experience and no expectation of a career in diplomacy, needed to be supported by large embassy staff. These professionals would be sent on longer assignments and would be far more knowledgeable than the higher-ranking officials about the host country. Embassy staff would include a wide range of employees, including some dedicated to espionage. The need for skilled individuals to staff embassies was met by the graduates of universities, and this led to a great increase in the study of international law, modern languages, and history at universities throughout Europe.
My above posting is an internet resource from wikipedia.com
I was trying to research about the term “diplomacy”. And there is very good information about that. I am sure there other sources where we can find relevant information as we try to deal with this matter. I think it should be treated as a matter of urgency.
We have for a long time allowed people that are unqualified to run these offices. I dont think many of the support staff have extensive knowledge about how these missions should be run.
I would like to see these offices be run by professionals. If they are already professionals, I would demand that they display publicly their credentials.
Fox!!! We need to wake up, this fight is not for us but for our future generation. The time to act is now.There is an email in one of the postings and we can write our suggestions about how best handle this matter.
If any one of you have some other better ideas, please comment. We can even organize a one day protest to travel to Washington DC demanding the removal of incompetent staff and improved services. I am sure 5 to 10 people in each city can sucrifice a day off work and travel as a group.Organizers in DC can try to Obtain a protest permit. We can plan a protest on a working day of the week.
Number 82, How does failure come into this coversation or topic?? I dont understand. Who has failed?? Is it the people or the officers?
I meant to say Number 81.
I think it’s high time Zambian presidents stopped appointing diplomats on political status.Most of our embassies are run by uncapable people.One wonder how they find themselves in such positions.Give those job to young and educated Zambians and not your relatives or close friends.It’s a pity.We can’t develop because our Embassies do not market our lovely country.Zambia is a peaceful country with much natural resources,so if educated young guys are given a chance of running these missions,millions of dollars can be flowing into Zambia each year!!!!!!
#81… I will not claim that President Mwanawansa appoints relatives for a fact because I have no evidence, I will say that if he has ever treated anyone with favor because of a connection to himself or one of his high ranking officials; that favored person knows another person and the other person knows someone else and so it goes on ad infinitum. Simply listing the diversity of names to dismiss the existence of nepotism is fallacious reasoning. While you have proved the diversity of embassy officials, could you also vouch for their competence and professionalism across the board? What most people, myself included are asking for is an elevated level of professionalism.
I agree with you # 87. Do you know how many dollars can flow into that nation?? Alot!! But as long as we have people with low professionalism we will forever stay the same. If you need have an idea of why things are the way they are, search the term, “Why is africa poor” in yahoo or google it, you will find some interesting facts.
It is sad to hear my brother.
Never trust a foreigner and Big JO in life again.
why are we zambian like this.how can you start off not knowing where you are going ,i think they give you a big lesson next time ask,maybe big jo had some connections with the same boys.
Now you STUPID embassies why do you think you will be forever that side, i dont know what you do but i have never heard of any embassodor talking to any presidents from the G 8.
THEY JUST SIT AND EAT TAX PAYERS MONEY.BRING THEM BACK .
You are right.All paid for by the Zambian Government for being arrogant and incompetent. If were a company or corporation they would have gone out of business!!
I am Zedian and live in live in Bolivia. My passport initially run out of pages. I have been doing the paper work with the embassy nearest emabssy in america, which is in the USA, since 2005. I have añready paid the required US$50.00. Todate, I haven’t seen the passport. The one i had got expired on March 31st this year.
I feel like renouncing my country.
Bolivia? Its too far. No wonder you are suffering but becoming a Bolivian wont help. I don’t even go to the Zambian Embassy here in Windhoek. I see them driving nice cars. On Sunday, I saw the HC at a mall being driven in a Merc. The point is they don’t care.
Hey guys this issue abt zambian embassies being incompetent is everywhere.I wonder where mwanawasa picked these dull cadres.its like they come frm the same village cz they all behave the same.just wasting taxpayers money wit huge allowances 4 doing nothing.They jus sit in their offices cracking zambian jokes lik pa market.
#95 continued.We hv one of the worst zed embassies here in moscow,imwe these pipo r so dull.guys the last place to rush when u need help is any zed embassy abroad.
This topic just shows how we Zambians treat our issues with such little concern. If our Embassies are bad then it is high time the Zambian soceity at large did their homework and find ways of correcting this. This is very important because the amounts fueled into these Embassies monthly are just so huge that it is time we got to understand our Foreign Service Regulations in terms of selection, perfomance and results. Zambia has no foreign service – the foreign affairs just picks up any civil servant and send them abroad at their discretion. Most of these are those hard core civil servants that have never been abroad – John who is seeing money for the first time and thinks he won the lottery
Check our Embassy sites and the first impact is how our Lady Ambassadorin the US seems to forget that she is a representative of the REPUBLIC of Zambia and not a Hollywood star. All you see in the photo gallery is NOBODY but her. Being a Dr. in her own right, why would this lady think that all Zambians want to see is nobody else but her. Kindly Madam, do you really think that the Parliament of the REPUBLIC of Zambia is justified to send a handsome amount of money monthly that could do better to feed so many AIDS orphans in Zambia instead -on your personal presentation with famous personalities. Where are all the other zambians in the US
madam you are a fool in your right; please change!!! Be a zambian not an american!!! Mwanawasa kick that this woman out of this chair!!!
#98 you are 100% right. Have you ever tried to visit the Visa/passport requirement section? No information whatsover and yet we are trying to support tourism. shame on us.
Guys support # 73 ziko who wants to take this issue futher…
i Register my protest
Zambian embassies seem to not be doing their work. we need qoutas on the requirements, be it investment solicited or passports renewed to citizen helped. We need facts and figures.
Lets register our dissapoitment with # 73 Ziko, well done my man..
This is what we need, pressure groups.
Guyz, write an open letter to the president outlining all the anectodal evidence you have outlined here and end it with a petition asking the president to act on this matter.Append your names and or signatures and we will get one of the papers in zed to publish the letter. These embassy people are funded by tax payers who deserve to know what they are paying for. We will also upload this on Youtube for zedians with internet access to read.
# 102 Kulibonesha, why don’t you write the open letter.
We have some one willing to take this matter futher, # 73 Ziko now you are offering alternatives, are you going to do it ???.
There is some one who thought up the idea of moving this forward, now you are diverting attention to your alternative, which you are not even willing to spearhead, typical african, talk talk no action.
#102 what makes you think the flipin president will do anything about it,hell, his the dumhf**k that sent them overseas in first place.Best just close the embassy down and save the Z, people some money.
I agree with you people, Zambian embassies, not only are they, but their employee make good garbage in those garbage bins we call “Embassies”. But as Zambians we must learn to speak up to these people, its our right and tax payers many. Thats way white people’s government prosper, because white people just never give up nor shut up where something is wrong or fishy. Good idea #75 Ziko.
I agree with you people, Zambian embassies, not only are they dirty, but their employee make good garbage in those garbage bins we call “Embassies”. But as Zambians we must learn to speak up to these people, its our right and tax payers money. Thats way white people’s government prosper, because white people just never give up nor shut up where something is wrong or fishy. Good idea #75 Ziko.
…by the way, it is very true that Zambian embassies do nothing to market Zambian tourism (what a shame). Thats why Zimbabweans made the whole world think Victoria Falls and Kariba is only in Zimbabwe. Ask any anybody in any foreign county. Even most South Africans (White and Black) think so. Amazing what marketing & advertisement can do!!!!
GUYS WRITE A LETTER TO [email protected]
Not just talk. Let us put our voices together and get as many petitions as we can to send to the appropraite offices and the media like LSK times
fg
The Embassy in moscow is the worst.All they do is to wait for students(those on scholarships)to be chased and they feel honoured to give a go ahead.As a student,you dont expect protection from these chaps.They are YES Bwanas.One wonders whose interests they represent.We need a complete overhaul in our Embassies.
There are no Zambian embassies any where!. If they are there, then they are just representing the attributes of the arogant Government we have. There are no better terms to define the functions of Zambiam Embassies!
Im here to say I don’t know about other Zambian embassies but THE ZAMBIAN EMBASSY IN MOSCOW,RUSSIA is very welcoming and makes you feel at home. The treat you well and with respect be it via email, phone call or in person. According to what you are all saying I guess it could be rated as the best. The follow up on things and even give you a call back. Embassies are only places in the world away from home that should make you feel safe and make you feel like home away from home. I am appealing to all embassies to learn from the Zambian Embassy in Moscow. We are all Zambians, lets be united especially once away from home. It’s a rough world out there.
helen volgograd
You are very lucky! You must be a sweet lady
110 says Moscow is the worst, #112 says its the best. Who’s telling the truth???
#110 is right, while #112 is a lady. You know this kind or relationship
I can tell from her comments ” Embassies are the only places in the world away from home and that we are all Zambians”. I don’t get this view that we need to be united.
Its not about our nationality, but what these guys are paid to do. They are paid to provide services, whether Zambian or not, and ways that people get the best service.
The embassy in Brussels is non existant too! People operate without an ambassador most times..as it is the position is still vacant. When one goes there, they make you feel very welcome indeed and take note of your contacts and promise to alert you if at all they have functions or anything of importance being Zedian. But that’s the last time you would ever hear of them ! Things happen and we only hear it from Congolese people. What a shame !!
Those working there are so arrogant and jealous of their fellow Zedians living abroad. We now live without them and just wait to change our nationality… only unless if they want to use you because they don’t want to go back then you become friends.
After reading all these comments, I started getting concerned in early May about my passport renewal at the Embassy in Washington. After numerous phones calls and emails which were not answered, I finally managed to get an embassy staff member on the phone today. I obviously complained about the unprofessional manner in which their citizens were been treated even for mere things like passport renewals. Not only have they not even bothered to write to me that my application was received way back in April nor send me a receipt, they don’t even check their voicemails which are full. So what exactly are they doing in Washington, …..ghost workers i would say.
Lady from california # 18, I have been waiting for mine from the same embassy for three years now. I do not even have the receit, which means I cannot even ask someone to make a follow up back home. phones never work, emails neither…………………
sorry, #118, not 18
#113, thank you for the compliment. #114, its an opinion I shared by rating Zambian embassy in Moscow as #1.Everyone is free to air an opinion right? #110 might have had a bad experience I respect his opinion.#115, wake up and smell the coffee, it doesn’t matter if you are a lady or not but I believe if you treat people with respect, you get respect back. The people I dealt with at the embassy were women too, I was not favoured or anything ,they did their job in a way they knew best and I am so grateful I had to write about it. #116 This is about our nationality have you been reading? People are complaining….zambian people are complaining! Again, embassies are the places away from home peopl
#116 This is about our nationality have you been reading? People are complaining….zambian people are complaining! Again, embassies are the places away from home people should be happy to visit without rethinking. That is why I am yet again appealing to other embassies to be helpful,polite,kind,respectful regardless of gender because their job description entails them to.
zambian embasies are not doing anything constructive at all. when you have a problem let say you loose you drivers licence, they just tell you that go back to zambia. What is their work now? and they are very stabon. When you go there as a zambian they cant even greet you. there just there consuming money without doing their duty. Im particuly talikng about this people working here in Pretoria S. Africa, they are very foolish. So you mean when I loose my drivers licence here I have to come to zambia?
The Zambian High Commission in Windhoek, Namibia, is an example of how an embassy should be run. The lady acting as High Commissioner is excellent and really has a heart. those people at that office will make every effort to look after you and will even pay for your bus ticket back to Lusaka if you are stranded. Some officers do make a difference. I think it is when politicians are appointed to these places that things go crazy – they think they are the president and can do what they please. as a result, everyone goes crazy too, after all, it is easier to spread arrogance and frustration than humility.
This person charges £66 to repair my dc jack. Free collection and return postage. I also get 12 months warranty. His website is http://www.imayne.com
Magnificent submit, very informative. I’m wondering why the other experts of this sector don’t realize this. You should continue your writing. I’m confident, you’ve a great readers’ base already!|What’s Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have discovered It positively useful and it has helped me out loads. I hope to give a contribution & assist different customers like its aided me. Great job.