By Dr. Charles Ngoma
One good thing that one can have in life, is optimism. It is optimism that helped our fathers to fight colonialism and expect to be able to wrest power from the United Kingdom and set on a path to self determination and universal sufferage. By midnight, 23rd October 1964, Zambians were poised to face the future with joyous optimism that the country would be better off being ruled by its own native peoples and of their choice. The promises of free education, free health care and ‘an egg a day for breakfast’ elevated the spirits of our people. I was young then but I can well remember with what enthusiasm independence from Britain was greeted in 1964. From that day onwards, as school children, we looked forward to independence day more than to Christmas. We were all one Zambia and one nation. Our football fields hosted various celebrations on each successive independence day and we were treated to buns, biscuits and soft drinks to quench our thirst in the seering heat of the October sun. We watched traditional dances, military bands and several different competitions with football being the climax of the events in the late afternoon. It was always a joy to celebrate independence!
Shortly after independence, there was something else to look forward to, the public ownership of the means of production. The state took over the mines, the super stores, the public transport system and many other areas of economic activity. Private nursing homes were outlawed and we all went to the state or Church owned hospitals and schools. Things were looking good. We sung ‘Dziko la Zambia ndilapamwamba (the land of Zambia is rich)’ ‘Onani nsomba mu Kariba… kopa mumigodi…(look at the fish in Kariba… copper in the mines)’ Inspite of the attacks from a vastly superior military force from the south, we were proud of our military men and women in uniform. Our own crop of pop stars sung ‘tiyeni tiyamike masoja athu; Smith walephera kulowa mu Zambia (let us extol our soldiers; Smith has failed to enter Zambia) and that in spite of the fact that the Selous scouts were walking into Zambia at will!
[pullquote]We sung ‘Dziko la Zambia ndilapamwamba (the land of Zambia is rich)’ ‘Onani nsomba mu Kariba… kopa mumigodi…(look at the fish in Kariba… copper in the mines)[/pullquote]
20 years after independence, discontentment began to set in. Few of our people decided to take up arms to overthrow the government and bring in a new system, but they did not succeed because the majority of the Zambian people were happy with the status quo. I do not understand how we all generally appeared so happy and content with the diminishing returns from our investment in UNIP in general and Dr Kaunda in particular. There may have been the fear of the invisible force of the secret intelligence unit. There were rumours of people disappearing, but I have no personal knowledge of anyone. The only trouble spot was the University of Zambia. Every now and then students got into cock-fights with the State. The State would close the institution, send the students packing and while everyone was away, round up the student leaders and read the riot act to them. When UNZA reopened, everything was quiet and back to normal.
In general, there was optimism among the public that things would get better. We genuinely loved Dr Kaunda and whether forced to or not, we lined up the streets to have a glimpse of the man or even perhaps shake his hand. There was that aura of authority about him that just endeared him to us. Dr Kaunda is charming and however you look at the man, he has a way of having his own way without you feeling he has wronged you.
Late 1980’s, the Emperor was found to have no clothes and the optimism of over two decades temporarily melted away and Zambians opened their eyes to reality. It was not entirely Dr Kaunda’s fault, but we had austerity programs thrust upon us from the financial oligarchs that it was clear to survive we needed to ditch the captain. That we did in 1991. A former Trade Unionist standing at less than 5 feet brought a new optimism into the country. Indeed, there was so much goodwill world wide that we could expect things to get better, and get better they did but not after much more suffering of the people.
The last 20 years have seen lives getting better for Zambians in many ways. Notwithstanding the high death rate and child mortality, the population has continued to grow at one of the highest rates in the world. For the first time, Zambia has a growing economy at about 6%, inflation in single digits and numerous jobs are and have been created over the last 10 years. There is money everywhere, going by the infrastructure developments taking place in the cities. The only difference this time round is that there is a dearth of optimism among the people. This is what happens in a capitalist economy. The rich get richer while the poor get poorer. The only way that Zambians can begin to benefit from the economic boom, is the creation of a welfare state.
I am one totally against feeding lazy and good for nothing people, but for Zambia the time has come to tax the ‘haves’ in order to provide for the ‘haves not.’ This welfare state may take many forms but in general, it must provide for the vulnerable in our society. I cannot accept that we have $2.5 billion in surplus and yet thousands of street children are sleeping on rough and dusty pavements and going hungry night after night. The Zambian people have never violently risen up in arms to overthrow their rulers, but have borne with fortitude and dignity all the austerity measures that were thrust upon them, barring a few riots here and there. The Zambian worker has been called all sorts of names as being lazy and sometimes corrupt, but our workers still trawl to their desks on empty stomachs, our teachers still teach in dilapidated classrooms, our nurses still serve their patients in hospitals without drugs and facilities and our police officers still fight crime with very limited resources. Most Zambians take home a pay package that can hardly take them through the month and they come to the end of the salary before the month ends.
[pullquote]I cannot accept that we have $2.5 billion in surplus and yet thousands of street children are sleeping on rough and dusty pavements and going hungry night after night.[/pullquote]
Usually it is people who enter public office who are praised as serving the country, but this is not the case at all. So far, it looks like many enter public service to enrich themselves and to set themselves above the law and above every one else. Members of Parliament are the only employees who determine their own remuneration without regard to production and efficiency. Then there is the ‘do you know who I am’ syndrome that they want to use to get away with murder! The politicians who travel out of the country and bring in personal goods without paying duty must be named and shamed by our hard working Customs officers. It is the ordinary Zambian worker who is serving the country and it is this worker who must be praised. When he comes to retirement he must be allowed to spend the rest of his life on a decent pension and live his life in pride and dignity. Many are forced to scrounge and depend on their offspring to provide for them. For God’s sake, these men and women built our country, taught our leaders and is this the way to reward them? Meanwhile, politicians are given a hefty gratuity and at retirement some are provided with all the creature comforts they need, though some were even responsible for bringing us to this pretty pass!
‘Tukaba bwino kuntanshi’ so the saying goes. We have been and we still are a very optimistic people. Many a foreign visitor to Zambia has testified about the warmth and smiles of Zambians. Zambians are not grumpy and ill tempered and we should not be made to change simply because someone wants us to wake up one morning and be angry people that we are not. As we go to the polls in just a few weeks time, let the people who want to lead us cultivate but not abuse the optimism of Zambians by fulfilling their promises, serving diligently and in national interest. Do not take the optimism for granted. It is time that Zambians were rewarded for what they have endured all these years and receive a good return from their investment deposited in 1964.
I can only reiterate the words spoken to Abraham Lincoln after the civil war, ‘these men served the nation and now the nation must serve them.’
Onani Nsomba mu kariba- I like that LOL. Nice article.It does indeed appear that things are somewhat improving in zambia except the zambian optimism.Zambia is not where it should be but it certainly is making headways to be at the a better place.We should not allow disgruntled youth and selfish leaders to highjack our peaceful land.
Well said Dr. You can really see that the material is coming from a learned person who has reflected profoundly about where he is coming from (past) where he is now (present) and where he wants to be ( Future). These are the facts laid on the table. And a true Zambian can not dispute what the Dr. has articulated in simple and strainght forward language. Let us open our eyes. Why should for example an MP who has worked only 5 years and has never contributed in the debates just sleeps in parlianment or absconds debates gets a gratuit ( latin- gratuito meaning for no specail reason) of K 500 million and a teacher who has worked for over 45 years gets 150 million.This is total rubbish. where is justice and love for the poor in a Christian nation? Read the book of Amos from the bible.
Good article. However, I think we lack the kind of people who can implement the policies proposed in this article. The last 20 years have seen a massive flight of skills and competent people. The falling standards of our educational systems does not help either. You also need a healthy population to carry out meaningful change. Let us see what will come out of these forthcoming elections.
The statement that the doctor has made is really true and it high lights the things which are on the ground in Zambia,how i long that we can change the way of thinking for the leaders and consider the expectations of every Zambian and not just their wish lists, we need such thoughts
be optimistic… lol
Zed is sapped by corruption and embezzlement… this corrupt regime and chilubas decad more than ever
they only give crumbs to the Zambian People
“those men plunder the nation and now the nation must kick them out”
SATAn was at the centre of the fraud-riddled and corrupt Chiluba years. He now promises how he won’t Kubeba how he will be stealing from Zetizens. Â PLEASE ZETIZENS KEEP THE BUTCHER OF CHAWAMA FROM STATE HOUSE!
Very thoughtful article, indeed Zambians are a very optimistic people! Zambians have used this same optimism to recognise the successes scored in the midist of so much failure. Yes, though some economic growth is being experienced, distribution of wealth is completely skewed towards the rulers and their kin. The mine taxes instead of being collected using windfall tax at US$9,000 per tonne current copper prices are collected by the politicians underneath the table for their own expediency. Inflation rates which are a major salary adjusting parameter by multinational corporations are doctored to fit the government aspirations and the few employed Zambians are taxed at such a higher tax of 35% while mine owners loot! We need to change government now and have a fair share of our wealthy!
Well said Dr- Ngoma – what is the use of billions of dollars when children are sleeping on the streets and workers salaries can not see them through to the month end. Spread of wealth has to be seriously looked into.
Go to Charing Cross in London – there are vagrants sleeping in cardboards there as well. Â There will always people who will fall by the wayside – even Christ recognised this inevitability. Â Education for all – YES; welfare state – NO.
nice article indeed,we must work hard indeed and as we do lets vote RB
The rich will be richer,the poor poorer! there is no way wealth can spread up to the poorest person if we continue re electing the same politicians from UNIP era.
DONCHI KUBEBA. Have a listen to Dandy krazy on you tube song title DONCHI KUBEBA.
Good Article. RB can implement this if shown,please make an effort for this article to reach him. VIVA RB!!
Nice article. I love the photo of the man and his kids. I like people like him, working hard, teaching his kids the right way to go in life and I hope his kids also do get a decent education. We need to have laws in Zambia that say, NO CHILD OR TEENAGER LEFT BEHIND, like the one they introduced in USA a few years ago. This law will ensure every child and every teen ager gets an education. I think so far our education system train people to be employees. Lets have an education system to produces employers, producers, manufacturers, developers, etc. Let us also have in the education system something to re-inroduce us to ourselves so we know who are and be proud of who we are. We can’t continue celebrating independence the way we did but we can move on to benefitual matters now, I think.
thi sarticles is telling us who we are because of allowing few lazy people to squander our resources in broad day light and we say its okey.
Yet another waste of time article. Who told this educated r>a>s>c>a>l he could write? Optimism based on what ? Please do not subject us to shallow pseudo-intellectualism masquerading as knowledge. Go home and attend to your wife and family.
#14 ,iam sure you did not proof read the article,revolution starts from such and people get inspired thereby creating what one will by a wealthy country.
Good and thoughtful article, Dr. We are optimistic to vote RB and the MMD out. Don’t Kubeba, vote PF
Unfortunately Ngoma gets it wrong when he recommends a welfare state for Zambia. Â Where is the money going to come from to pay for such pensions. I agree that politicians do not deserve the gratuities they pay themselves but the whole tax system in Zambia so fas has been designed to pay civil servants and politicians without investing in Zambians. Â What we need is a return to investment in education and health facilities but not a nanny state paying people to retire early in super-comfort. Â Also why do Zambians retire at 55 years when my old relatives in the village are still working their fields in their 70s? Â We cannot afford this type of lifestyle!!
Sickening, dsperate, uninspiring pictures like this one above, makes some of embarrased to even tell anyone that we are zambian. Please find inspring pictures not these hunger polarised people in the picture.
I am disgusted to look at my black passport and reminded yet again, I am zambian.
Saying that I havent been in London for ages I have had a wonderful time and the carnival was nice.
Thanks London, back to Glasgow tommorrow.
Thanks
You may not be Zambian after all. Â Our passports have been green for over half a decade!
thats a very good article , i really like the picture it’s humbling , those are some real zambians :-)….makes me want to work harderÂ
ps: please distribute ths article to the fats cats in governmentÂ
Perception is a very powerful thing. Some people look at the article and the photo in the article and all they is see poverty, they see a bad story. What a person engages his/her attention and seriousness to is shaped by what they see as important and everyone gains mastery in the area that engages their priority. Some of us look at this article and the photo and see potential. The photo can say a million words more than the article. We see a man who is doing what he can and see him standing with beautiful kids and we wish them all the best. Welfare has been around for thousands of years and successful nations are nation and societies that look after the poor, widows, orphans and the helppless you never know you might just be helping a future Albert Einstein. Smart people think this way.
A welfare system would be good to have, but its too early for it. Welfare is an exceptionally expensive system to run in any country. We’re definitely not at a stage where its even feasible in Zambia. Let the surplus continue to be built and the economy to be developed. In the meantime Zambia’s myraids of Churches have a mandate from God to help the orphans and widows. There is an abundance of Churches in the country and this would be the right thing to do.
The government needs to to continue to focus most on education, health and infrastructure.
@17 chipubachesu
The author does not prescribe what kind of welfare state but suggests that those who cannot have should be helped. in my Englsh, there is a difference between ‘cannot’ and ‘WILL NOT.’ The state may have to help those who are disabled and therefore cannot work. There may also be need to help the long time ill. If you are a self employed plumber, being sick for a week is loss of income, but if you are employed you still get paid. There must be ways and means to undertake for welfare of the citizens. I think that is what Dr Ngoma has in mind.
@18 Mushota
Did your white fiancé enjoy the re-inaction of black African slave hedonism! It is a pity that you can enjoy carnival and yet be ashamed of being African.
mmm that brim looks tasty. Better than cod, ayi Mushota?
Good evening
Interesting piece of writing with plenty of truth in it but also some errors here and there (“have nots” and not “haves not”). I enjoyed reading the retrospective part, especially our post Independence times. I also like the author’s fond description of KK.
Like Dr. Ngoma, I also wish there would be a fairer distribution of wealth/welfare in Zambia but viewed from the capitalist perspective, I don’t this is easy to achieve. In a capitalist system, there are always winners and loosers – when corporates are making huge profits, avarage workers will always be forced to accept low-wages or face unemployment risks.
#18 Mushota
Are you normal mwaiche iwe? You suffer from serious Inferiorty complex! That is a great article!
good overview dock..
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the picture of the fishing family. Â You don’t go fishing in a suit and a tie! Â I can see at least K15,000 ($3) worth of fish right there. Â Here is a self-sufficient and dignified family doing what they can with local resources. Â If they keep at it diligently, they will feed themselves and have enough to sell to raise money for school fees etc. Â I have had this type of livelihood in my younger days – IT BEATS BEGGING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS IN LUSAKA or RIOTING IN LONDON STREETS FOR A CHANCE OF STEALING CELL PHONES AND LCD TVS (that’s a below the knicker line kick for you @18 Mushota)!!