By Field Ruwe
Fast forward to Zambia 2021
Please take a moment to read this article. It is clear that president Sata will not rule Zambia beyond 2021. Two obstacles stand in his way, the Constitution and age. In 2021 he will be 84 years-old, adding another five years of reign will be a strain on his health and unfair to a progressive democratic Zambia. Since this is a scenario that cannot be changed, it is our duty as Zambians to begin now, to prepare a Zambia for the future generation so that whoever succeeds the incumbent can lead a dynamic democratic African country interconnected socially, politically, and economically to a technologically explosive world.
But as things stand, this is unassailable because we are a divided people. In his quest to consolidate his power, our president is creating and encouraging divisions, and fostering enmity in opposition parties so as to weaken them. We are witnessing the arrest of opposition leaders on flimsy grounds. Violent PF cadres are disrupting rallies and claiming fatalities. The president is using the same methods and stratagems as some of his predecessors. In doing so, he is pitting party against party, cadre against cadre, neighbor against neighbor, and tribe against tribe.
Democracy is under threat. The president has given the police force carte blanche to operate with judicial oversight. In a democracy, a police force is an agency of government that is not only knowledgeable and professional, but also non-partisan. In Sata’s democracy, the police force is repressive as under fascism and is subject to the wishes of the ruling party. Sending a police coterie to parliament to restrain the country’s lawmakers is a clear indication of where the country is heading—to netherworld.
No people can advance in a country where civil liberties are disregarded. We cannot prepare a model for Africa under repressive circumstances. We can’t; not when those who can contribute to change face extrajudicial punishment. They are arrested, threatened and detained—some released after spending days in TB infested cells. We cannot advance until we begin to fight this undemocratic seizure of our rights.
39 years down the road and Findeco house remains the tallest high-rise in Zambia
We are in the second year of Sata’s reign and nothing much is happening. We are as we were before—a stagnant people. Like still water our country continues to lose its purity due to fractured politics. From Chililabombwe to Livingstone, our architects have hardly changed the face of the country. The 39-year old, 295ft tall Findeco House still remains the tallest high-rise in the country and the symbol of our immobility.
PHD -mentality of Zambians
From 1964, years have rolled away. It’s 2013. Our politics are still the same—of poverty, corruption, manipulation, and deceit. Our leaders are as they have always been—dishonest, greedy, insensible, and narcissistic. And we are the same individuals—proud, lazy, divided, and easily manipulated. Each one of us carries an element of pride that makes it impossible to work with the other.
In short, we hate each other’s guts. It bothers us greatly when our friends do well in life, school or at work. We hate their talents, aptitudes, and proclivities. Our natural compulsion is to drag them down, trodden them beneath our feet, so we can stand tall even when we have nothing to offer. As a result, we have failed to take ourselves on a virtuous road to eminence—to the perfection of our moral, intellectual, and physical nature.
We are a failed people, suffering from severe cultural lag, a disorder that has become an impediment to the advancement of our political, social and economic status; and one that makes it difficult for us to catch up with technological modernisms. “Cultural lag” is a term coined by William F. Ogburn. In this case it refers to the slow rate at which we are keeping up with the ever-changing and challenging world. We can’t seem to synchronize our adaptive instincts with those of the advancing world.
And yet we can do better. We can become the African country that changed the continent. Yes, we can become a “Singapore” of Africa. It took only thirty years (1965 – 1995) for a small former British-colonized country of Singapore to grow from a developing country to one of the most developed of the Asian nations. Like Singapore, our natural resources should not be minerals, but ourselves and our strong work ethic.
I already can hear groans of a lazy man: “You can’t compare our situation with that of Singapore.” The “Rome was not built in a day” syndrome has become our extenuation. We are like a vagabond who squats at the railway station watching trains enter and leave. Each time one stops, he rushes to the platform for handouts from disembarking passengers. He has become so addicted to begging, shame is not an emotion in him. When asked, he retorts; “What do you want me to do, steal? It’s not my fault that I find myself in such a situation.”
In the great leap from Colonialism to independence we have and continue to overlook the fact that the great number of us live by the use of our hands and have failed to put brains and skills into our daily modern occupations. We refuse to understand that we shall advance only when we learn to dignify our god given intellect and apply it collectively, cooperatively, and in harmony.
Taking charge of Zambia’s destiny
Again, the stumbling block is the undemocratic politics of the day. The president is blocking collectivism and corporation. We need them because they are synonymous with true democracy. We need them for our politico-economic advancement. We need them to alleviate poverty, hunger, and disease. Our people have suffered enough.
Since the incumbent has failed to take us on a true democratic path, we should take ourselves. We should form a freestanding, non-party “public good” pressure group to keep democracy and its ideals alive. The pressure group shall focus on finding ways to transform Zambia into a “Singapore of Africa.” It should comprise advocates of democracy within Zambia and in the Diaspora. These should include political and democratic activists, practitioners, academics, policy makers, and all those who are ready to confront Zambia’s challenges in the 21st century. The mantra of the pressure group should be “change.” It should be a means and a social goal, essential to our advancement.
The future is not ours but for our children
In the 48 years of our independence, we have witnessed firsthand a tranche of successes and failures of our Founding Fathers and their successors. We are now able to understand them. We know their style of leadership is the same. We now understand that if we maintain the status quo their style will be passed on to us and our children. We therefore intend to change the political landscape of our country and develop a set of strategies and recommendations for effectively addressing today’s complex and intractable developmental issues.
We need to live in a country where our thinking and actions are not stifled; where our intelligence is not eroded. Our future leader should see us as a path to upward mobility and as a weapon for intellectual success. As we educate our sons and daughters, we shall also educate children of the poor, and kaponyas. They are the ones who will be gliding through the mazes of technology. We need to identify in them those skills, which will give them the occasion to practice. We should make it possible for the gifted to showcase their talent in the arts and sciences and reward them accordingly.
That’s right, “our sons and daughters;” it is among them a leader should arise, for it is not ours, but their future. It will not do them any good to continue lagging in technology and society. They need strong analytical skills, practical ingenuity, creativity, good communication skills, business and management knowledge, leadership, high ethical standards, professionalism, dynamism, agility, resilience, flexibility, and the pursuit of lifelong learning.
The existing assumptions and values surrounding our current archaic education system leave them all but at a loss. A new form of “culture education” is the only upward mobility; one that is aimed at the improvement of their condition. The years preceding 2021 must be devoted to their advancement. In paving the way for them, we are paving our way to a respected and prosperous people.
The greatest frustration is that we don’t believe in ourselves. The major questions are: Don’t you think we have been held to ransom by the same old politics long enough? Are you happy with the direction in which our country is heading? Don’t you think we have been a disrespected people around the world for a long time? Isn’t it time to show them we are a force to reckon with? Do you truly believe we can change this country? Wouldn’t you want to be part of the people that did it?
There are 14 million intelligent people in Zambia waiting to be elevated in the scale of existence. All we need is a change of character and attitude. We need to start replacing all the negative words with positive ones—“can’t” with “can,” “don’t” with “do,” “hate” with “love” “failure” with “success” and “impossible” with “possible.” We must build a culture of hope; of curiosity; of success; and of efficiency. We must begin to communicate happiness amongst ourselves.
Working together, we can revive Livingstone Motor Assemblers and not just assemble cars, but also make them; Mansa batteries and make solar batteries for rural electrification and locally made radios; help Clive Chirwa realize his dream of a railway system of modern times. We can create new factories for computers, cellphones—even planes, believe it or not. If we believe in ourselves, we can make Zambia a thriving nation with the highest per capita real income.
Call me a dreamer if you like. I believe anything is possible. We can become a country that takes risks; a country that invents and innovates. We can become a Singapore of Africa. Let’s start with the pressure group so that we ensure that democracy guarantees our freedoms and rights. We shall need a thousand brave men and women to sign up in order to have the pressure group registered. Again, this is not a political party. It is an initiative aimed at changing our country. If you believe we can change Zambia send your name, comment, suggestion, or response to [email protected]
The face of the man in uniform does not inspire confidence. The face looks fossilized!
So who are the front runners to replace Ba Sata? I was secretly routing for Ka Elias but he is increasingly proving to be a one man band. Any ideas anyone?
@1.1 How about offering yourself. Don’t you have what it takes to be a leader?
just wondering,why do you hate the president so much that you even feel like dying?yes he’s not popular on line but loved by so many people who are the electorates.
You are a dreamer indeed.No doubt about that.I bet you have to put the blame more on us as individuals and not on the government.Obama once said “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek”.So no leader will change our country unless the change begins in us.Good article though.
MR Ruwe, Democracy alone will not bring any change to our mother Zambia. We have been thru all this with MMD. Nothing new here. What we have been looking for is a gvt that will make Zambians regain their dignity as owners of this country. Sata and PF are doing this. we are slowly gaining our dignity which we lost to foreigners.This is our future becoz ownership brings prosperity.During MMD, we were lost, no policies to protect our interest as Zambians. Infrastructure development is on our way, dont worry sir.PF cant do everything in two yrs. At the moment they are working on our roads. Just come back from that hiding and be a partakers of the butter and milk which has stared flowing in our beautiful country. Go on PF we are behind you guys.
you must be a chainama case!!!!!!
What good is your dignity if you are still wallowing in poverty?
Come closer kaili. Shouting from afar wont do.
exactly.
these are whims of a coward.
Pull Him Down mentality- who said you have to be in Zambia to help Zambia.Such thinking belongs to the dark ages.People in Zambia are in survival mode- no mealie meal,no electricity,no water,bad roads,poor health care facilities.With all due respect its easier to help Zambia when you don’t live in Zambia.Lets just work together instead of insulting people in the diaspora.
yes we can
I can confirm a job for you as the first expatriate from neighbouring Zambia in the new Barotse Government Field Ruwe.
Very sensible and well articulated article. these are the people we need in our society , keep it up.
He is not in your society, he is in USA! He is inciting Zambians into another MMD revolution with a different name. That is exactly how MMD came up & what did we achieve with them?
Field Ruwe, definately has political ambitions just like Clive Chirwa. Chirwa is the next president, watch this country begin moving! Ruwe, you are late, 2021 will be Chipimo & Clive Chirwa at the presidential race! We are not in short supply of presidential material to be sourcing from USA by google.
Well said Mundia uyu chikamber he thinks just because he is in USA,he can be in Government.
Wonderful we have a great job to do. Out attitudes needs to change.
It is important to digest the contents of the article before you start barking. What Mr RUWE is talking about is how countries that we call developed became developed. Its not magic its just getting organised. Good writeup Field.
Good article,but why 2021 we will have wasted 8 long years.
The next president will still be from PF. Like it or Not Winter Kabimba is the next president.
Winter? ya , stop teasing him Plizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Cheelo not Winter please! I am a staunch PF supporter, but no! May be if they allow Professor Clive Chirwa to stand under PF. What do you think?
oh my word! Theres an village missing its id…..t
BLOGGERS ?? READ THE ARTICLE BEFORE YOU WRITE NONSENSE, WELL WRITTEN MR RUWE, Hands up to you. True, As Zambians, we should be patriotic to develop our country in the same ways we support Chipolopolo. Let our Leaders Know that our comments mean well, so that they are on track. NO ONE WILL CHANGE ZAMBIA, BUT WE THE ZAMBIANS. OPEN THE DOORS FOR YOUNG ZAMBIANS; YOU WILL SEE THE POTERNTIAL & SKILL OF OUR PEOPLE. THEY ARE CONTRIBUTING TO DEVELOPING OTHER COUNTRIES BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN A CHANCE BACK HOME.
The type of democracy we have cannot and will never be a a vehicle that will foster development. Univerasal suffrage in a poor country like zambia cannot work because the majority of Zambians are unlearned and will vote with their stomachs, their tribes and not their heads. The best people will never be given chance because they do not belong to the correct tribe. We must argue that for one to be an eligible voter then one must have attained a certain level of education, say Grade 12, so that their choice is based on the right man, for the job. My 2 ngwee opinion.
At least Field Ruwe is not again reminding us that he is still a PhD candidate. By the way, Phd candidate is not a title, has never been and will never be! Be yourself man, you have not achieved it as yet like some of us who have in the prime of our lives. Anyhow, I wonder why Ruwe was quiet during the Kaunda era and was more of a comedian and never raised any critical voice. Is it because he feared losing his job at ZBS? It looks he has now become courageous in the evenings of his life because he is writing at a distance!
HH was my prefered candidate but his surport for RB who diverted public funds into his personal account in Singapore makes me doubt him. Most of us are swing voters and we are watching. HH you are a big let down.
Well said Mr Ruwe! Zambia is my country and I need to stand up and do my part in building it and condemn in the strongest terms all those that want to retard progress of this great land.
Sorry, I did not realise Phd candidate was again appearing. Now there is even adjunct professor for someone that was busy dusting and spinning records in the prime of his life at ZBS and had to migrate to possibly see the inside of a lecture hall. Stop cheating Ruwe, who gave you professorship before your Phd? Is this an online title from a fictitious university with no accreditation? Not even at UNZA do people become professor with no recognizable academic career path! May be the guy is professor the same way PK Chishala also used to call himself professor.
@Dr Phil my sentiment exactly. Ati a PhD candidate at George Fox and adjunt professor in Boston . No specific field of his PhD program and no specific college where he adjuncts as professor it is the same as saying i am a PhD candidate at UNZA and adjunct professor in Ndola . Let field ruwe include the college where he teaches so that we can confirm if he really is who claims to be
It is not true that things are the same under PF. PF have done a lot of good things – very soon you will have a dual carriage way between Kitwe and Chongola and btn Lusaka and Kapiri mposhi. Kalulushi will be linked to Kasempa – and oh by the way petrol is cheaper than the MMD reign and the banking regulations are assisting lower the lending rates in banks. Clam down people 5 years from now a lot of you will be calling Sata a saint – you did the same thing with Mwanawasa. You appreciated his policies only after he has died. I know we are all impatient and what a Singapore, but remember the PF has just been in power for a few days compared to the MMD that lamentably failed in thousands of days…!
Good article.. Just to remind Ruwe, Cyber critique no matter how good it is will never bring development to Zambia. Mr Ruwe, you need to go to Lusaka and lobby to have your views heard by ba GRZ. If you are prepared to work with the PF Govnmt like Prof Chirwa did, PF will accomodate you. Zambia needs your skills not the ‘internet’.
CALLING ALL THE YOUNG ONES (45 YEARS AND BELOW) FOR THE FORMATION OF A PARTY THAT WILL BE ABOVE POLITICS OF HATE, TRIBE AND OTHER RETROGRESSIVE FORMS OF BRUTALLITY THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY SEEING. WE CN CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF OUR COUNTRY, REMEMBER, WE ARE THE MAJORITY OF ZAMBIAS POPULATION .
That would actually be cool!!! Even Chipimo would not qualify for this party and we would have more years to allow it to take shape & the leaders to shine. By the way, raising money for this party would be hell. Kekekeke, dreaming is allowed!
It’s a brilliant idea twanaka nabo abakote ! Lets do that please.
well written Ruwe! You should advise Zambia on the issue of Barotseland. I would be happy to read your well articulated article on the abrogation of Barotseland and how Zambia shall stand to lose at the ICC.
Mr Ruwe, I like your thinking, even though I don’t support the idea of waiting up to 2021 for Sata to leave office. Preparation for a take over, by we the young ones should begin now. But not with characters like Elias Chipimo and Cosmo Mumba. The other issue is that individuals who change the world do not wait for the masses to start the change. I strongly believe that even one person with a strong belief in something can change the world. Those who wait with the crowd to see what will happen tomorrow, are what we bluntly call cowards. YES WE CAN!!!
MCS will only go for a term then Given Lubinda will take over. Forget about Chipimo.
I totally disagree with you that the are 14 million intelligent Zambians in Zambia. If you go look at the Human Capital Development Index from United Nations, Zambia’s HDI is 41.
That means the the average Zambian has only spent 9 years in formal school…. the rest you can conclude why they can elect a grade 7 for a president and why Zambia has no hope of going anywhere.
No country with a low HDI is developed because the is a strong relation between education and intelligence
Mbingu was a prof did he change Malawi ? U are a foooool my friend. These outside bastard who waffle anyhow what have they contributed to mother Zambia. Point what U have done u illuminates.
Bwezan was educated what did he do, he was stealing .
Your opinions do not make change to Zambia, anyway stop talking and start making change to Zambia.
Baba Ruwe, u cant say 2021, with due respect out satan has no steam to reach thus far. He is already running on low battery,u dont need a degree in medicine to see this.
I met our satan.
Very good article as usual, will definately subscribe. Keep on keeping Field, I have no doubt in my mind that you write/speak/educate/inform because you love the country and I know you will not be discouraged by negative comments from certain individuals.
Between an old person and a young man I would vote for an old person in view of what the young men and ladies in the MMD did to Zambia. They raped Zambia…so I have no trust and faith in the young people.
Peace and Prosperity To Mother Zambia.
@Truth Hates…….my dear this is a moronic name. I am quite sure that if you were not dumb; you would have correctly called yourself Truth Hurts!
Comrades if you really think Mr Ruwe is reliable then think again , he only thinks about his opinion and not that of others . Anyway good luck to those that have already submitted their names for the so called pressure group. We will see if it wiill even reach december 2013
Ndeloleshafye
An adjunct professor in the whole of Boston? What nonsense is this. I never realised an elderly person like Ruwe could turn out to be an imposter. This guy is fake or a counterfeit.
Besides, you do not become a historian because you passed the cambridge Form V exam in history or read about Shaka Zulu. You need a minimum of a masters degree in history, and if you want people to take you seriously on your claims, a Phd. Since when did this old cheat get an MA in History to call himself a historian?
Mr.Ruwe, you are slightly becoming reasonable by not being critical of particulars leaders, but rather you are offering advice to the populace of Zambia, or simply motivating us to be more patriotic,hardworking,resourceful citizens, than to incite us to hate an elected leader no matter how uneducated one could be. When we were together at school you were three years younger than me, you should be 60years now, by the time you return home you will be too old to be our president. It is good your article is futuristic without your position envisaged in it. As long as you dont insult our leaders I will listen to you. By now you should have made some money to come and invest here insteady of sending to usWhat do you think? your articles only. USA is 236 yrs old, at 48yrs we are not doing badly.
@DR.Phil.
Yes It seemly something might not be correct with his qualifications. He is a Journalist and he can write nicely, no problem with that. Surely PhD student and Adjunct Professor at the same time. I doubt. Photos no proper acknowledgements. No ways. In academic ethics it does not work like that.
Am yet to be convinced.
ITALIAN (PhD ,MPhiL-HDR, BSc Merit, Dip Merit. )