Thursday, March 28, 2024

Zambia,a developing nation?

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File:A patient at UTH using a plastic container as an improvised weight to help align the bones of his fractured leg straight

By F.Chalabesa

It’s been ten years since I emigrated from Zambia, but I still consider myself truly Zambian. I have been home to visit my family many times and it’s the situation in my country that has led me to start this column. I ask myself whether Zambia is still developing or not. Development is defined as a specified state of growth or advancement. The United Nations Development Programme’s definition of development is more detailed, ‘to lead long and healthy lives, to be knowledgeable, to have access to resources needed for a decent standard of living and to be able to participate in the life of the community’. How are humans affected by the nation’s inability to develop? In psychological terms, development does not only involve the biological and physical aspects of growth, but also the cognitive and social aspects associated with development throughout life. As Zambians are we working towards development?

I still remember as a child, at primary school we learnt about Zambia being a developing country, in Social Studies. When I went to high school, we continued to learn about the same topic in Civics. Looking back, I think Zambia was more developed then than now. I will bring back a few memories here to support my claim. In my family for example, dad was the only one who worked while mum stayed at home and looked after us. With one income we managed to have all the necessities in the house, he managed to send all of us to school and he gave us the financial support that each one of us needed. But later of course when we started growing towards teenage life, things became tough on my parents. This was the time we were supposed to be growing towards development.

Education was for every Zambian child, in fact government schools were the best. Our parents made a donation to the school each year, K1.00 per child, from memory. The schools were fully equipped with education material i.e. books, chalk, writing boards, name it. There were government uniform shops with reasonable prices that were subsidised. High schools were also accessible by most Zambians so long they genuinely passed the exams. The schools had enough teachers to teach all the subjects. Scholarships were there for those that performed well at year 12, with no strings attached. Students were selected to universities and colleges on the basis of how they performed at year 12.

For those of us who had the privilege of going to the Mine hospitals, there was everything any patient needs, enough members of staff, equipment, medicines and transport, for both patients and members of staff. Even government hospitals where far much better than what we see today. Hospitals had qualified staff from both Zambia and overseas such that most procedures were performed locally. Patients were treated with respect and each was treated as an individual.

There was continuous water supply, and tap water was safe to drink. The surroundings in the cities and towns were kept to a certain standard, streets were swept and lawns were mowed on a regular basis. The council maintained public places such that they glittered all the time. Roads were tarred and street lighting was so maintained such that walking in the streets at night was enjoyable. Public libraries had books for every citizen to read. The council also controlled prices on commodities in shops and markets (Price control board). There was also control over shopping hours.

We never heard of words like leakages before exams, corruption, liquidation, privatization, rigging, goonga, pin, nicekeleko, akalilo, pirating, street kids, ukubosha, tamanga, etc. All people had to do was to go to school, study and pass exams, then either look for a job or go for tertiary study and that was it. Those that worked did their job and got paid. People were expected to perform as per agreement. People followed rules and those that didn’t were punished accordingly. The above happened over twenty years ago when Zambia was still called ‘a developing nation’. What do we see today? Is Zambia still developing? Or have we achieved the goal. Living in a developed world has given me a different way of looking at a developing world. The situation in the so called ‘developing world‘ might mean not developing at all, in fact it may actually lead to destruction of whatever is left.

So, what went wrong with the process of developing? Why has Zambia changed so much for the worse if not for the worst? Why is there such a big gap between the rich and the poor? Why do we have the low and high costs? Where is this street language emerging from? Why does everyone want to make money out of everything? Why is there an attitude in most public workers? Why are people harassed in public places by fellow citizens? Why do people including myself leave Zambia for greener pastures? Are we going to sit back and leave the situation to correct itself or until everything is destroyed?

77 COMMENTS

  1. Even in the developed world things are getting hard not good or easy. The world we live in is changing not only Zambia. Big nations are busy asking for balaouts, why not zambia.Take it easy one day at a time above all turn to God for everlasting life. Thanks

  2. This is a good column to start. A few observations from me. “Developing countries” is euphemism for poor countries. In development economics, “third world” is politically incorrect, so people prefer “developing world”. However, in today’s speak, a developing country is very different from a poor country. Examples of developing countries are China, Brazil, Korea, India, etc. These are the so-called emerging economies. Zambia is not a developing country; it is simply a poor country, period. Now, coming to why countries stagnate. I trully think that natural resources are a curse. Most poor countries have natural resources and those resources replaced the leaders’ brains. Look at Indonesia, Nigeria, Zambia – these are very corrupt countries who should be among the most advanced.

    • How can natural resources be a curse. Dont we thank God that he has blessed us with natural resources?

      Look here, some people are good when they dont have much money. Give them a great money paying job or some other way give them a lot of money, they go bananas with a wreckless life – women and fast cars.

      Was money a case? No! They just could not manage the resources and their lives.

  3. Indeed, we lost it along the way and now we are not even bothering to find the right way. We have gone go go (twaliya ichiyeyeye!). Our statistics are only comparable to those of fragile or post conflict states! Now we waste a lot of our time bickering about every small thing when our friends are busy developing. Unfortunately, time waits for no one. 

  4. But they all have just waken up to reality that actually development takes a lot of thinking. People that develop countries actually don’t enjoy the fruits of development themselves because they die by the time the country has matured its institutions to imbed a development mind. The only leader I know that has developed a country and enjoyed the fruits of his labour, is Lee Kwan Yew, the first prime minister of Singapore. This country is a very special case and I don’t think it can be repeated anywhere. Another point missing in your article is the impact of unchecked population growth. Things worked in the past, but population grew without proportional investments in infrastructure. As a result, there are too many people chasing too few goods and services – supply and demand.

  5. Am sure you have seen that there are street boys/thugs in the developed world as well, but the trick is these are much fewer. The general population has a developed mindset – that is a mind well-trained in human mannerism. That is, you are trained to a work ethic and parents have a responsibility to train their children. Most children in Zambia don’t have this luxury to grow responsibly. People just make children, and it ends there. Those children then have to find a way to live. And if they find themselves among other well-brought-up children, the easiest is to steal. And they also make tens of children of their own without responsibility. I prefer a country that has few people and reliant on immigrants to do certain jobs than a country with too many people who cannot find work.

    • Planners of Zambia’s economy should take population growth in stride. Zambia’s population is still too small. Only that the economy has not been growing. Poor planning is to blame for all these things.

      Some street kids are orphans ex HIV / AIDS. Irresponsible or absentee fathers need to be made to pay towards the upkeep of children. They do that in UK. Money is deducted from payroll by govt.

  6. There is no magic to development – you have to work. Leaders actually sacrifice to develop a country. What discourages many in the diaspora is the low-level thinking you have to sink to if you want to go and be a politician. I think the country needs a benevolent dictator – a dictator who is one that has the country at heart. The problem with Zambia and Africa is that people thieving dictators hiding in democratic hats. Look at Korea for example, when that dictator took over, its eonomy was the same size as Kenya. Now, Korea is virtually a developed country. The guy forced everyone to work and they are now enjoying that labor. Sata is the closest we have to a benevolent dictator, and we need him. As long as he remains sincere, we should keep him. He should redsirect this country.

  7. 20 years ago the copper price was good. 20 years ago there was an oil crisis that totally disadvantages zambia. 20 years ago, the SAP experimental did not work for Zambia. 20 years ago the SAP program was badly implimented by Sata and Chiluba. 20 years ago people started got empowered by the markets and started stealing and enriching themselves. 20 years later, zambia development indicators are terrible, worse than Uganda which has been on war for more than 20 years. 20 years now, the Zambia agriculture sector contributes about 20% of the exprot, and 100-20 are employed by the poor low productive agriculture sector of Zambia. 20 years from now, we will be 20*100 years backward, with stone age infrastructure. 20 years more, I have no idea, but maybe there will be no prostitutes on strts.

  8. Finally, development is not only smooth roads and shopping malls. It is more than that. It is a mindset of the people. You need a people that is capable of keeping a country in developing/developed mode. That unfortunately takes a lot of time. And it actually needs govt to take an active hand in this. All development is led by govt. Europeans all had strong handed govts before they reached their current state. Real democracy only comes after people have human AND economic rights. The Asian tigers will all without fail be democratic because their people have a real voice, which they get by exposure to the US, UK and the rest of the developed world. Singapore is already democratising meaningfully. So, in short, development is a long, long way in Zambia.

  9. but walasa kwena….you have brought back all the greater memories of a long gone magnificent zambia……….!!!!!time wasted is never recovered…so they say…!

  10. Zambia has gone backwards. In 1964 Zambia per capita income was 1400 dollars, Botswana 60 dollars and South Korea 170 dollars. In 2012 the per capita of Zambia is 1330 dollars, Botswana 8880 dollars and for South Korea it is 23 000 dollars. Zambia is a failed state. Your choice of leaders is just pathetic.

  11. The only development you can see in Zambia is in peoples pockets, period! The most upsetting thing about this development is that it is only for a particular tribe or rather a group of people mostly coming from one province in Zambia. Ba mudala ba Sata twa papata pantu this will bring serious problems in the country. As you acquire that wealth, you chaps might think that you will be able to protect yourselves from the uprising people once they have their eyes opened. NO NO NO NO it won’t work. The Gadaffi clan thought the same, President Doe thought the same, the list can go on and on. Zambians will only be hoodwinked for a short time. Mark my words.

  12. Its possible that during the so called good old days, Zambia was using money it did not have which led to US$ 7 bn debt for which we had to dance to the IMF and Wolrd Bank tunes in the 90s. And the price was privatisation and misery for many people who lost there jobs. Way forward, investment in labour intensive sectors like agriculture (Kenya is smaller than Zambia and agri-based economy which is bigger than Zambia). I was taught early about the beauty of agriculture. If you do not manage to self your goods, at least you can eat them and survive as you wait for the market. God will punish us for the water we waste as it just pass in Kafue and Zambezi rivers only to go and kill people in Mozambique as floods. We can use it for irrigation.

    • Zambia has the climate, the best soil, the mineral wealth, the huge tourism aspect, the culture of many interesting tribes, and and and..  It’s people have to get it together for themselves. There are now well educated Zambians in high places.  The land must be for the Zambians…it is the asset for future development…for food to send to other nations. So, Zambians please get going…the government has a duty not to allow land and assets to be exploited without internal improvement in Zambia. Can the government draw up a new budget with new manifesto, with carefully selected allies and agreements to , open up to carefully selected international  investment which results in the true development of Zambia, at last.. Is it too late?

  13. Growing up in Ndola, I have witnessed a city that once hosted world renowned multinationals like Dunlop,Colgate,Unilever,Reckitt and Colmann, Land Rover etc etc go down the drain to become a ghost town with less activity. Our manufacturing sector many years ago was very good and that is what made Zambia tick. Nowadays we cannot even manufacture a needle or matches. It has to be imported from China. Our mine hospitals were so good that even the president or vice president would be treated at one of the mine hospitals and nobody ever went down south for medical care.

  14. the truth of the matter is that zambians are generally lazy wanting an easy life and plenty of entertainment which has led to stealing and corruption to sustain their usually sinful life styles.
    look e.g our civil servants who are supposed to be the engine of Govt. how many hours of serious work do they put in. Despite this civil servants in zambia are among the well to do these owning cars and mansions.
    the other thing is zambians hate farming. how many zambians even grow vegies in their backyards. even those who are retired handsomely hang around cities until their retirement package perishes and then they blame it on their former employers for under paying them.dont wait for the govt for miracles think of what you can do together with your govt. these days its private partnerships.

  15. RUBISH @ ITS BEST !WHERE ARE YOU?WHO DO YOU THINK WILL DEVELOP THE SAME COUNTRY YOU SOUND TO BE PAASSIONATE ABOUT?
    WHAT WAS THE POPULATION OF THE @ THE TIME YOU ARE TALKING OF?
    HOW MANY HARD TV SET THEN? HOW MANY HAD PAID UP CHANELS?HOW MANY HAD CARS?HOW MANY HAD CELL PHONES?
    HOW MANY HAD A KIND OF EDUCATION YOU CAN BOAST OF TODAY?HOW MANY THEN,@ 28,BUILT A HOUSE,BOUGHT A CAR AS I HAVE DO?
    HOW MANY TV STATION,NEWS PAPER,RADIO STATION THEN?

    DONT EVER SOUND MORE QUALIFIED THAN AN OF US!IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS COUNTRY,YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED AND HELP THIS COUNTRY.

    FOR YOUR INFORMATION,I’VE A DEGREE IN MEDCINE AND AM HELPING MY PIPO IN THIS SAME COUNTRY.PLIZ STOP INCITING PIPO TO BELIEVE THAT
    OUT THERE,ITS HONEY!

  16. I like your analysis. To explain the situation that Zambia and most African countries find themselves I would say these are not developing countries, but “underdeveloping countries” because we have moved from being relatively well off, as you have elaborated, to a worse situation socially and economically. It is also unfortunate that there is a misconception of development which is associated only with material wealth at individual levels. In fact the appetite for this kind of wealth has brought about an increase in underhand methods – corruption, theft etc. We are all, starting from political leaders to the general populace, to blame for the underdevelopment of our country mainly because we have failed to appreciate the need for sacrifice and hard work.

  17. fine ! tell us since you went out ,how many industries,shops etc have you put us in Zambia ? Non . So you only work for your mouth like me back home. Come back my friend and if anything stop commenting on our country . And you run away ,and who do you want to make this country a better place for you? Ebupuba ubu!

  18. To understand why Zambia is were it is today i.e an under-developed countries and also to understand why Zambia will never develop, all you bloggers need to go read this book

    “Why Nations Fail – The origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty”
    by
    Daron Acwmoglu and James  A. Robinson 

    I summary Nations that prosper have sound institutions that allow virtuous circles of innovations, economic expansion, rule of law and peace. In short this book tells you why some nations are more prosperous than others. You will understand why North Kore is ten times poorer than South Korea, why the people of Nogales , Arizona earn three times as much as their neighbors across the france in Sonora in Mexico. ( this applies to South Africa and Zimbabwe across the fence)

    • Cheers! In a way, it all comes down to people themselves. People must have the ability to be able to build a nation from scratch. Unless you have nation builders, you cant go anywhere. A lot of these leaders Zambia has had are tuntemba kind of thinkers. Brain power seems to lack in our countries.
      How we have failed to manage ourselves is always a puzzle to me.

  19. Many good obervations people. The most contructive comments I have seen here. We have problems pa Zed. Corruption or greed, dishonesty, Zed mentality and many other vices are “killing” us. The countries we befriend dont believe in human rights or quality of life. These are important. It doesnt matter if you are getting cheap stuff but they are all fake or counterfeits. Wen I talk to my parents, half the time they dont have power because of load shedding. Water is also in short supply. Common peope! Lets show Zambia what good life looks like. I’m not talking about driving japanese cars. Some people think that is good life. Maybe so, but I’m talking about quality of life in general. I love Zed!

  20. Greed and vanity by thieves masquerading as leaders.Only if we realise that popularity is not synonymous with wisdom.

  21. The following have mainly contributed to the rise in poverty:

    1) Weak social Institutions as a result of corruption

    2
    ) Unbalanced Global
    economic structures
    though the IMF, World Bank and WTO policies

    I was reading an article saying that if East Africa alone was to start processing (adding value) its materials, 30 million Europeans will be out of employment…. Food for thought

  22. You should have asked, ‘Why is Zambia a failed state?’ we have even failed to keepour towns and cities clean. Lusaka is a heap of rubbish. Go to Soweto market etc

  23. It isn’t that Zambia is a ‘failed state’, it is that it is a compliant state.

    It complies with the policies of the IMF and World Bank, and as a result $4 billion dollar a year leaves the economy because the mining sector is now foreign owned as opposed to state owned.

    It is this foreign ownership of the mines that has ensured that Zambia only benefited minimally from what are historically high copper prices.

    Zimbabwe did not comply, and as a result has been under attack from outside the country for a decade. It had it’s natioal currency taken out through American legislation which isolated the country from international finances.

  24. But think about it – if they had complied, the Chiadzwa and Marange diamond fields would now been owned by Anglo-American De Beers, and they too would have a government that operates on debt.

    Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, we are all fighting the same old Rothschild/Rockefeller trillionaire’s institutions (Anglo-American De Beers, Glencore, NM Rothschild, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, IMF/World Bank) as we were during colonialism.

  25. No 29

    Its always nice to blame others when you fail….

    Zambia is a failed state not because of Anglo America, IMF, World Bank… thats an old song which is out dated am sorry.

    Zambia is a failed state because it has no leadership….   Point out to me which country in the world ever developed with a president who has never been to school?  You will acknowledger that under two educated presidents Mwanawasa and Banda, Zambia started heading in the right direction. That would have been a foundation which we would have built on… unfortunately the country is now in reverse gear. Do not under estimate the power of an educated mind

  26. #19 Mubanga…I doubt you are a medical doctor.If you are why are you so insecure- why do you say DONT EVER SOUND MORE QUALIFIED THAN AN OF US.I hope you are not of the thought that us doctors are the highest qualified individuals on the face of the earth.Brother this is the 21st century one doesn’t have to be in Zambia to develop Zambia.Its actually quite challenging making a difference in your home country from within.Whenever God wanted a person to bring about revolutionary changes he made them leave their homeland..eg Abraham,Moses,David,Daniel,Jesus ..to name but a few.To change ones thinking one has to leave his country sometimes.Everyone of us Zambians abroad love Zambia and always look forward to making a lasting impact…not just build a few substandard houses

  27. @19 Mubanga. I think you have a degree in traditional medicine and a traditional Doctor. Your thinking and analysis is shallow. Thank you

  28. we need a VISIONARY leader to develope this country my friends,fish to swim needs its head and Isreal moved forwrd because God blessed it,we need the good leader from God and a favor then we also need a vision as a nation

    • It is this kind of thinking that is taking us backwards.”We need, we need, we need dust from GOD!” What has God been up to lately?

  29. To start with, education in KK’s time was free but not really free as someone else was paying. Copper prices were great so we had more money in the pockets. Why high copper prices? The world was rebuilding after teh world wars. Later, demand for copper declined. When you dont have much money, quality of life dwindles unless you live on debt – ever heard of Zambia’s ever $6bn international debt in Civics? The good times were over, we had to privatise the mines.

    Zambia’s fortunes are tied to copper prices. Unfortunately, now copper mines dont belong to us so we are not enjoying all the goodies from it.

    What we need is effective leadership and management of our economy. Times are more challenging.

  30. We need to eradicate poverty first. Then we can start moving in the right direction. Maybe we can can even start voting for sensible leaders. 

  31. Its a greet article and the contributors have been excellent,but this is a debate that has no conclusion due to various factors invisible and visible.May i add: Economic growth and Economic development are different.In 1965 onwards we had,good economic indicator,GNP was good,per capita income was above most countries,but the culture of people was not changing-this is economic growth- economic development is growth plus social change: culture,lifestyles,work ethics-hard work,planning,foresight etc.In the 1990s,there was a rapid social/cultural change,if that happened then, with growth in 1965 we could been better off,now we are on the path of development coz socially we are have developed.What we need are the Hans-Singer theories coming from Zambians who know its turf well. Back to you scho

  32. Mr Chalabesa needs to be thanked for starting a discussion which if those in power dare to listen; Zambia can become better in next 20-30 years.
    1) Zambia must learn to respect professionals and this should start with teachers at every level. Zambia lost the war to ignorance because of most of Zambia’s good home grown teachers left for greener pastures because successive governments took them for a ride. Doctors, heart surgeons, nurses followed in the diaspora. They are NOT coming back unless…………. 
    2) Secondly the Zambian government must invest money into university education and research. What is the research budget for Zambia? Our students at UNZA are sleeping on the floor; do we expect them to make great discoveries that can change the world?

  33. Attributing underdevelopment to IMF, World Bank, copper prices and such things is really missing the point. The basic fact is that the level of development found in any area corresponds to the average IQ of the inhabitants of that area. The level of development of Zambia indicates the average IQ of Zambians. You cannot develop more than your IQ allows you to. Dinosaurs did not invent computers because their IQ could not allow them. Development of Zambia will rise if the average IQ of Zambians also rises.

  34. A simple question? We have US$2bn in reserves. If we took US$200m and turn Livingtone into a world class tourism destination… golf courses, roads, parks, large international airport. tax free zone for companies and individual investors, international conference centre. Road from Livingstone to Kariba along the Zambezi (Create a Monte Carlo). What would be the return in 10 years?

    Massive employment
    Increase tourist visitors
    Increased tourism FDI

    That is whats called fore sight and leadership. We seat with a wonder of the world and every Zambian mind is fixed on copper

    • Great thoughts. If only the leadership would pioneer such strategies and implement serious developmental projects, Zambia would be well off by now; but all hope is not lost.

  35. #40 Madhorse

    This is why we need leaders with IQ above average, not below, my fooooot!!!

    A leader leads by definition. Others follow.

    Countries are developed by great leaders, others work within the leaders’ vision. KK led us that way and Zambia scored some points.

    What we’ve had since then is mediocrie leadership. This is why some people call for a benevolent dictator.

  36. There is a very big infrastructure deficit in Zambia especially in the road and rail sectors. This is what explains the poverty in the rural provinces. It is on roads that you move building materials. It is on roads that you move inputs for and agriculture products. Without roads there can be no development. So if someone is listening can we have a programme for road building in the whole country and not just the usual provinces!

  37. Thought provocking article Mr Chalabesa. I remember the good old days in Lusaka, Cairo Road was the place to be on Saturdays it was like a fashion parade,guys clad in latest clothes and Afro Hair do. Now I am even frightened to set foot in the City Centre when I visit Lusaka, it is something else man!

  38. Ba Chalabesa:
    I want my Zambia back … two things we all grew up despising were “Kabolala” ne “Lomfwa”. Today these two things have killed the innovation most of the smart people of the Zambian Enterprise prided themselves in. It was a Zambia where one could be whatever he dreamed of being. It was a Zambia where one could go wherever he dreamed of going either for business or leisure. I remember my uncle always flew to Manhattan, New York or London once every two months just for shopping and he always flew Zambia Airways. We would all sit down and listen to stories about the London Bridge or the Statue of Liberty … we’d dream, dream, dream and dream. Some of us our dreams have come true but for a regular kid in Zambia now, his may never come true unless we change the status quo.

  39. Instead of sitting in your sofas and complaining ask your self this:
    What can YOU DO for Zambia to move forward and not asking & moaning how Zambia can make your life much easier

  40. This government should do better than the last. Then the next should do better than this one and so on. In my mind it is those who have left who are unclear how to use what they have to help and set barriers in their own path that prevent them from seeing past the status quo and coming up with innovative ways to help build/rebuild Zed. Case in point. Look at your own last 10 blogs up here and ignore this if you have stayed positive whether you agree or disagree. Place yourself in the top ten list of those unlikely to ever benefit Zed if you have boasted about your geographical location now and dissed all Zedians by tarring all with one brush as being of lesser intellect. Don’t be afraid to face your own weaknesses.

  41. Dr Jugular,
    you’re a colleague,
    I just feel bad about people who sounds wise when they have run away.look am a professional and I have what takes to be out of this country but honestly ,who will attend to your poor diabetic,asthmatic,hypertensive,HIV striken mother,father,uncle ,brother etc of yours if we all left ?
    YOU TALK OF INSECURE ?FAR FROM IT MY FRIEND.
    ANYWAY AM A KIND OF A PERSON WHO ENJOY PLENTY IN THE MIDST OF GLOBAL DOWN TURN.
    BIBLICAL QUOTES?FAR FROM THE TRUTH !
    DOUBTING IF AM ONE DR ?
    I CANT MAKE YOU BELIEVE MORE!

    THIS IS MY COUNTRY.I USUALLY GO OUT BUT NOT WHAT YOU MIGHT THINK FOR.
    YOU SEE I HAVE FRIENDS WHO LEFT THIS COUNTRY LONG BEFORE I STATED PRACTICING,AND THEY USUALLY ENCOURAGE ME TO GET OUT ,BUT LOOKING @ THEIR LIVES!! NO BETTER THAN ANY AVERAGE ZAMBIAN.

  42. Well, good effort y the author who seems to try to understand our problems, BUT FAILS TO TRY TO APPRECIATE WHY THINGS ARE SO DIFFERENT!!

    They are different becoz after independence EVERYTHING WAS SUBSIDIZED hence the free Education!! When things are SUBSIDIZED, means YOU ARE NOT PAYING THE TRUE COST, however SOMEONE HAS TO PICK UP THE TAB, in this case Govt did from Copper earnings!!! THE KWACHA WAS STRONGER becoz DEMAND for COPPER was HIGH.

    Things changed becoz a] Copper price dropped; b] We helped SOUTHERN AFRICA in its march to FREEDOM; c] OIL PRICES KEPT ROCKETING!! With dwindling Copper incomes & Govts that continously made us INDEBTED to IMF/ World bank & MANY OTHERS!! The subsidizes HAD TO GO, meaning WE STEADILY HAD TO START PICKING UP THAT TAB that big bro did b4…..

  43. …. Well, welcome to the real world, coz after independence what pertained was NOT REAL, it was SUBSIDIZED!!!!

    It’s laughable when you ask, “Why does everyone want to make money out of everything? ” I actually fell off my chair, reading this question, SERIOUSLY, you AREN’T TELLING US YOU LIVE IN A HARD CORE COMMUNIST STATE! IT’S WHAT’S CALLED CAPITALISM, & as we seem to ASPIRE TO ALL GOOD THINGS IN LIFE, we have to embrace ALL & SUNDRY!! Unfortunately, what’s transpired now, AS PEOPLE FAIL TO EARN THEIR KEEP, they have become more crooked, & the propensity for WHITE COLLAR CRIME has risen in EXPONENTIAL TERMS!!!
    What brought tears to my eyes, even though hardened as I am, was – you had the AUDACITY to ask: “Why do people including myself leave Zambia for greener pastures?”

  44. Fellow Citizens
    In the light of this article of time and age of an independent Zambia,i was struck by a song done by Mozegeta called TIME.The argument made by most of the writers are have left a flimsy scratch on my mind showing me the greatness and brilliant brains of my fellow Zambians.I imagined sitting with you all on a around table solving problems faced by the country. As though it was a dream your solutions destroyed the barrier that felled like the walls of JERICHO and i saw i new Zambia as the walls of corruption,poverty,social injustice had fallen.Today is today lets all be part of the solution not just merely complaining because together not only “we can” but “we should” develop ZAMBIA

  45. Fellow Citizens
    In the light of this article of time and age of an independent Zambia,i was struck by a song done by Mozegeta called TIME.The argument made by most of the writers have left a flimsy scratch on my mind showing me the greatness and brilliant brains of my fellow Zambians.I imagined sitting with you all on a around table solving problems faced by the country. As though it was a dream your solutions destroyed the barrier that felled like the walls of JERICHO and i saw a new Zambia as the walls of corruption,poverty,social injustice had fallen.Today is today lets all be part of the solution not just merely complaining because together not only “we can” but “we should” develop ZAMBIA

  46. Wow!
    At the Zambia National Service we were taught about intiative.
    The picture you have here is one such example. 1 Litre of water weighs 1 kg, therefore if you want a 5kg weight, just put water in a 5L butiza and voila! You have 5kg. No need for a non-ecologic friendly metal weight!
    Yes, it looks crude, but it will save the planet!
    To me, that is what I call progressive idea!

  47. Ba Chama,I like your well thought contribution to this chat.I feeling sleepy tomorrow I will contribute to this topic brought by Chalabesa.

  48. I much enjoyed Mr. Chalabesa’s column. I hope you won’t mind an American interjecting his observations and advice, and I am sorry that since Zambia is no longer a baby nation, I will not sugar-coat it.

    You are neglecting your principal natural resource, which needs to be regarded as more precious than all the copper and beef and mealie and zinc you could ever produce.

  49. What resource is that, you ask? I saw it on the Cairo Road in Lusaka when I was there, begging for kwacha outside Nando’s. A street boy or kaponye as you call him. About 9 or 10 years old, living by his wits. His English and my Nyanja did not measure up to allow much cogent communication but I did see that this boy was intelligent and that without an education he will be doomed to poverty, prison, disease and an unremarked early death.

    Do not do this! Your country has the potential to be the lion of Africa if not all the world, and you can do it by dedicating yourselves to providing the best possible education to every Zambian child, regardless of whether the child or his/her parents can afford it.

  50. Next, when you harvest the doctors and teachers and engineers of this young generation, do not stint on paying them the value of their work or denying them the tools and resources they need to serve Zambia well.

    They will leave for better jobs if they don’t find them in Z. You know that already. So make sure they are never tempted to look elsewhere.

    As for those who have already left, you know, jet airliners fly both ways. Tempt back your expats by showing that you are serious about returning to the way things were in the halcyon days Chalabesa pines for.

  51. Next, when you harvest the doctors and teachers and engineers of this young generation, do not stint on paying them the value of their work or denying them the tools and resources they need to serve Zambia well.

    They will leave for better jobs if they don’t find them in Z. You know that already. So make sure they are never tempted to look elsewhere.

  52. As for those who have already left, you know, jet airliners fly both ways. Tempt back your expats by showing that you are serious about returning to the way things were in the halcyon days Chalabesa pines for.

    It’s not too late. In fact the timing could not be more perfect. This vast generation of under 16s you have could, if properly taught and encouraged and supported, provide you with a Zambian miracle that you could then build upon.

  53. But should you fail to take my advice, I am sorry to say Tunisia and Libya will look like play compared to what will occur in the streets of Lusaka or Kabwe or Ndola.

    I admired your President Mwanawasa and hope President Sata will build upon the advances he inherited. But really development must come from the constant insistence of the average Zambian for the government to get off Its ass and do what needs to be done to improve lives for everybody, not just the rich and powerful. So you are like a woman in labour and now it is time for you to PUSH!!!

    Good luck!

  54. its been an intersting discussion.But pls lets be gentle on one anonther with our language when giving our views as opposed to our friends.We all love our mather Zambia-ninshita fye isonde lifikilepo in fullfilling Bible Prophesis.Na mitotela bonse mwe lupwa!!!!
    Lesa apaale

  55. **== The biggest problem is that when we were busy enjoying the wealth which the much condemed ‘ba mwisa’ left behind we were not replenishing and continued singing praises to the freedom fighters. When that wealth was gobbled we were stuck and turned back to the same ‘ba mwisa’ for assistance. The dependence syndrome should be erased and an arractive environment be created to retain/return the rich manpower lost to foreign lands. I strongly believe that “together we can” turn the nation around.

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