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Should Zambians in Diaspora Go Back Home? Part 2

By editor
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Prof Nkandu Luo address Zambians in New York
Prof Nkandu Luo address Zambians in New York

About four years ago I wrote an article entitled, “Should Zambians in Diaspora Come Back Home?” This article was published on Lusakatimes.com. In the aforementioned article, I highlighted the challenges that Zambians go through as they resettle in their homeland. I particularly shared my own experience of trying to assimilate back in Zambia after going to school, living and working in the United States for nine years.

My experience in Zambia

I lived in Zambia for six straight years. In those six years I struggled to make ends meet despite the fact that I graduated with very good grades in very good universities in the United States. I also I gained very good experience working for some of the most reputable companies in the world. Looking for employment in Zambia is a nightmare. You go through useless interviews only to see them employ a mediocre candidate. You see in Zambia, it’s not the best that counts. Zambians love mediocrity. Corporations, public institutions, government and politicians are pretty much a mediocre bunch. Look at our president and his colleagues. Is that the best we could produce as a nation?

Doing Business in Zambia

Although I was actively looking for employment, I tried business. Well, I know some of you will say do not look for employment but be an employer. That is bullshit. Doing business in Zambia is the same as looking for employment. I came up with many business ideas some of which have been copied today by major companies. I did business proposals which were ultimately ignored by management at some companies and a year or so later my idea was being implemented sometimes without any modifications. I found that many of these managers and directors running banks, mobile companies, and state companies lack initiative. Honestly, they are not the best we have. The best, if hired, continue to be frustrated, hated and witch-hunted. Needless to say, they leave and look elsewhere where they will be more appreciated, useful and respected.

[pullquote]

Zambians love mediocrity

 

[/pullquote]Despite that some of the business plans I developed were practical, cutting-edge and could potentially create many jobs for my fellow Zambians, the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) would not give me a loan. Meanwhile, Members of Parliament such as Moses Muteteka was given a loan to buy hummer mills for his cousins in Chisamba, Mable Mung’omba and other CEEC officials were able to “form companies” and loan themselves money. Even worse, foreigners such as Chinese nationals were able to access these funds.

Doing business in Zambia is very challenging. No man is an island. I tried to partner with other Zambians so that we could achieve more. But the results were disastrous. Business partners ran with my money. Business partners stopped working once they got their first big cheque. Business partners sold company property. Business partners hired their relatives and girlfriends to do work they were supposed to do. I am still owed thousands of dollars as a result of trying to do business with Zambians. My advice to those intending on doing business in Zambia is that be very careful when doing business with a Zambian. Never entrust them with money or property.

Bribing your way through

Business in Zambia requires that you sell your soul out. You HAVE to bribe to get business tenders and contracts especially in government. If you are not willing to get dirty then keep dreaming. This is where I completely failed. I was willing to struggle than get my hands dirty. Those of you planning to supply whatever to government and other organizations must be willing to bribe first the security guard at the gate to let you in, then the receptionist, followed by the manager who will pretend like he is the decision-maker. Unfortunately, there will be senior managers, directors and permanent secretaries to bribe as well. Therefore, your mark-up price will take all this into consideration making it increase by 100%, 200% and more. No wonder those hearses valued at $6,000 cost us $29,000 as a nation. It is the people in government and politicians that are especially creating poverty in the nation.

Zambian environment encourages the Brain Drain

I left Zambia a few weeks ago. As I sit here, 10 thousand miles away, in my new adopted country and reflect on my time in Zambia, I shed tears. This was perhaps the most difficult decision I have ever made. I think of the many years I wasted at home doing nothing. I had dreams for my community, church, and country. Yet the country never appreciated me. Here, I am treated like a person. Here, my skills are appreciated. Here, I am treated like a human being. Here, I will thrive. Here, they don’t care about my tribe. They don’t even care about my skin colour. All they care about are my skills and the value addition I bring in this country.

I cannot help it but to think of many other Zambians who have been in my shoes–Zambians who have left the country and offered their skills to countries all over the globe. Zambia will continue losing its best to other countries. As a nation, there is need to come up with a very deliberate plan of enticing Zambians abroad to go back home and invest in the form of skill especially.

As for me, I will make this my own home. I am never going back to that corrupt, poor, tribal and dying country. Yes, you heard me right. I am happy where I am now. May Zambians eat their own vomit in the form of leaders they elect. I am shocked to learn that PF is even winning parliamentary seats. Zambians, what is wrong with us after what we have been through as a nation?

Well, for the sake of my friends and family I hope one day things will go well. I hope that industries will be created all over the country. I hope that agriculture will become key in Zambia to enable the country export food in the region. I hope that Zambians will one day benefit from mining industry. Finally, I hope that Zambians will stop being tribal and respect every citizen as being equal. I WISH YOU WELL.

By Wesley Ngwenya

editor
editorhttp://www.lusakatimes.com

112 COMMENTS

    • Wesley shouldn’t hate just because he couldn’t get employment in Zambia. In the US there are many dodgy universities there so just because one has a qualification from US doesn’t mean he or she is better than the local educated students unless of course you went to the Ivy league top ranked universities. It also depends on what you studied. i know lots of students who do courses not suited to the local economy. Also interviews are there to ascertain if you fit the profile. Home is Home and patriotic Zambians will always come back to contribute.

    • wesley ngwenya… you sheld tears easily, you are a weak soul, i wonder if you are a real zambian… ngwenya sounds zimbabwean..
      Be like a bemba man who can swim with a smile in sewerage get copper

    • I am amazed at you Wesley. You think all the Zambians you found have not worked hard at all? You think they just fell into those places? A lot of them deserve the jobs they have. You want to descend from the US and pretend you know it all. Yes there are few jobs but what makes you better than Zambians? Is it because you went to university in the US? They went to CBU, UNZA etc because thats what they could afford. You went to the states because you had the opportunity. You come back and you want to rob the poor lads that struggled to go through a local university. Stay where you are since you are too good….We all struggle to be where we are. We the real Zambians do not give up because we do not have an alternative. You gave up because you had an alternative. A lot of folk here don’t.

    • Any Zambian in the diaspora who loves and believes in Zambia as there motherland, respects the fact that people in Zambia have continuously been getting educated and civilized at as fast a rate as the rest of the world and are prepared contribute positively to the national discourse will fit in very well. It is also important to acknowledge Zambia’s developmental challenges (especially infrastructure wise) and accept that things are deifferent from where yore coming from (am assuming youre returning from a more developed one).There’s a general spirit of refusing to remain poor or backward. People are working hard for themselves and rely less on govt or merely finding a job in which you feel perpetually secure till retirement. Entrepreneurship is order of the day(free market)

    • Just thought I should share my life of failure here in the U.K…I am such a failure! I am a lowly social worker struggling by on £44,000 pa, I hate my Doctor wife who earns more than me(£70K).We can afford to send our kids to attend what the confusingly call ‘public’ schools(meaning private here!) but our local comprehensive schools are just as good so we send the poor sods there…did I mention that our older child is now in a third rate university (LSE or London school of economics) wish we could send him UNZA but we cannot afford it! If God forbid we lost our jobs, We will not be homeless, the state sees to it that we are housed! and will get paid unemployment benefit to live on. If I get HIV/Cancer,I get the best free healthcare,What a life of FAILURE!!Failure for…

  2. Personally, experiences are good for life, but presenting them with emotions as is the case in this article can be very sad. I mean the article does not do any good to the “local” vs “diaspora” Zambian relation. For instance unemployment is just so high; hence companies can abuse the system because of the high demand for employment. This happens in many places in the world. For as long as developed countries are already shared amongst natives, I will encourage Zambians to take part in “the sharing of Zambia” because in the next 25 years you will never find it easy to take part in anything in Zambia. Home is where your heart lies; for me, my heart lies in Zambia. With or without work, I will always love Zambia and its own challenges.

  4. Wow! Ba Wesley, Masimpe aya ngomwaamba, Pesi mwatwanga we! Home is home… Canada is not heaven. Marriages can go wrong. True home is where your roots are… Zed … Cry the beloved country 🙂

  7. i even wonder why somebody after living in Europe or US Would go back to ZAMBIA. ZAMBIA is a joke. everything in Zambia is just not right, infrastructure,transport systems, government, the common man on the street..etc.

    • IT-Specialist, you are right on. I hear a lot of people say Zambia is “nice”. It beats the crap out of me why someone would want to go back and live there….unless one has completely failed in the diaspora. But if one fails in the diaspora where almost everything is on merit, how do they hope to succeed in a country where almost everything is mediocre. …health care , education..generally everything not mentioning corruption, tribalism & nepotism? I am ok here, and l have become addicted to living in Western Capitals of the World where people are treated with common decency and dignity.

  8. Is there one country in the world without anyone in the diaspora?

    If you can answer that simple question honestly, this dicussion then becomes total nonsense.

  10. Wesley you said it mate, my experience are exactly like yours only difference is I am still stuck in this dark chimney groping in the dark. That is not to say all Zambians are useless infact I commend the ordinary sincere zambian who inspite of his efforts is frustrated by the greedy few who think it is their birthright to trample on the masses. In a nut shell corruption is the root of all our troubles. Until such a time when we accidentally elect an upright leader then we may see our fortunes change.

    • Begin to see yourself out of that dark tunnel. You are light and darkness should commot from your life. How far can you see? Write that vison and believe it shall surely come to pass. That is my moto. Many even some of my relatives said I would amount to nothing but today I look at where I have come from…Who would have thought. Please I beg you do not give up keep pressing and persevere.

  11. MY DEAR FRIEND YOU ARE A FAILURE IN LIFE. WHY ALLOW SUCH A SITUATION HAPPEN WHEN YOU CAN VOICE IT OUT? BE PROUD OF YOUR OWN COUNTRY. WHERE YOU ARE IT’S NOT YOUR COUNTRY. IF YOU ARE TALKING OF THE ILLS OF OUR NATION, WHY NOT COME AND HELP RESOLVE THEM? IT’S NOT A SOLUTION BY RUNNING AWAY FROM YOUR OWN NATION. I AM PROUD TO TELL YOU THAT AM A SENIOR MANAGER OF A PRIVATE COMPANY GETTING ENOUGH MAYBE MORE THAT YOU ALL BECAUSE OF “NEVER SAY NEVER DIE”. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, CHALLENGES ARE THERE TO BE FACE AND SOLVED. IF YOU CAN’T, WHO DO YOU THINK WILL?

    • YOU CANT GET ENOUGH MONEY IN ZED !! AM SURE YOU GET LESS THAN 10000 DOLLARS AND YOU THINK U GET ENOUGH !! THOSE ARE PEANUTS HERE!!

    • you see everything to be normal around you because you have been brainwashed, whatever little money you get you think its enough, driving in those finished roads, moving around a dirty town infested with street vendors, living in a place were if thieves come for you at night police will never show up, taking your wife to the hospital only to give birth in your car..and you see everything normal??. i would advise you to come for a holiday here in Canada and see how normal human beings live.

  12. a person has a right to live wherever he/she wants.I am sorry to say this but countries like Zambia will never be developed. The only thing you can do to help is to close such countries and evacute everybody from there.

  13. Long time bro Wesley Ngwenya.I can`t agree more with your analysis.You are spot on.Yalikosa pa Zed.All the best.

  14. I personally don’t care. But I think, to be fair, you cannot generalise. I know some people who have made it in Zambia without all these bad things mentioned in the article. All those I know who have gone back to Zed and prospered have one thing in common: DON’T RELY ON GOVERNMENT FOR BUSINESS. Create a product which every household wants, and you will find no need to bribe anybody. Infact if you create a good product wanted by everybody, government will come to you and give you business – that is the experience of most of my friends. As for Zambian business partners, why involve them in the first place? Zambians are for drinking beer with, NOT doing business with. Run the company yourself and employ competent reliable employees who will value their jobs.

    • Wesley the problem with your article is you are too emotional and your article lacks substance. Firstly you have not mentioned your professional background or which jobs you were applying for exactly. Secondly you have not told us the business sector you were trying to start your company. Its no surprise your article comes across as sour grapes.

  15. I wish I could comment sentence by sentence, because this Wesley Ngwenya is kind of useless. I guess you NEVER slept with an American, that’s how hopeless you sound.
    – First why did you loose jobs in America, if you were best as you depict yourself, this time you could have being CEO of World Bank.
    – Who called you back to Zambia, was it president, like Chirwa, because citizens should turn-down Presidential appointments…. its a duty!!
    – Are you a taxi driver, that passengers have no choice of skin color? I tell you what, I enroll and grade students based on race, far east first (Japanese, Koreans, Malaysians), followed by African + Latinos from central America… Last ones are the sloppy Indians from India.
    Let me leave this article to you, its very offensive.

    • Nostradamus, I would have appreciated your contribution if you did not call the author useless. Let’s learn to be civil with each other and offer constructive criticism. Why should we lower ourselves even in matters that require level headedness. Please be civil mudla. I am sure there is much intelligence in you that others can learn from.

    • You are right KC, this Nostradamus guy sounds like a teenage. Lets blog constructively. The author has some valid points although there are lot of other exceptions. We all have different experiences and the author has shared his (thanks for that). Generally his article is good, and the wise will reflect on a number of issues he has raised.
      Thanks

  16. I CAN’T AGREE WITH EVERYTHING. REMOVE YO EMOTIONS THAT MAKE U SOUND A SPOILED BLAT. PF HAS BIN IN GOVT 4 ONLY 19MTH. MMD LEFT DE ROTTENESS U HAVE DESCRIBED.PF Z TRYING 2 SWEEP DE DIRTY U’VE NAMED.HOWEVER, IT’S TRUE DERE’S NO APPRECIATION OF UR OWN.

  17. Good experience and observation.If only you had left out your usual anti PF/Sata propaganda this could have had been a very nice piece of writing.Reason enough not to rush home without putting your house in order.I for one i have vowed to stay put here in the diaspora and only be going to Zambia for vacations while also building my retirement home in Zed.Chirwa`s case is the latest example of how local Zedians down there can easily frustrate a Zedian from the diaspora.Home is home but sometimes it sucks.

    • You actually very right Zebige, ku zambia kwakuya mu retirement when money is no longer an issue. Right now tiyeni tubombe and after June tubokepo nakla Passport nambala 2. Chirwa has been our experiment,but i noticed one thing, the hate speech on Chirwa was actually perpetuated by the diasporians themselves. Umu zambian alishupafye mweh

    • @zebige@musokonjinga…. lets appreciate some positives about that life pa zed, it made us strong and hard, if you have survived pa zed.. you can survive anywhere

  18. NGWENYA, U MUST B DULL .I’ST SAY THIS AFTER I’ VE READ YO ARTICLE AGAIN. U RE JUST ANODER EDUCATED TRIBALIST ND UNCREATIVE FOOL. LEARN 2 LOWER YO STANDARDS WEN THINGS RE BAD. WHO OWE U ANYTHING BYTHEWAY? STOP SLEEPING, NIGER.ZAMBIA HAS MANY CHANCES

  19. WELL WRITTEN, REALLY SAD TO SEE SOME NEGATIVE COMMENTS ON WESLEY’s ARTICLE. FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT MOST CITIZEN EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVES HAVE FAILED BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SO CORRUPT. THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME WITH THINGS LIKE SCHOLARSHIPS, just to mention a few. IT IS NOT BASED ON MERITS BUT POLITICIANS. These are People who can even afford to PAY FOR THEIR KIDS EDUCATION and give a chance to truly poor Zambians. WHERE ARE WE GOING AS A COUNTRY??? PATRIOTISM, FAIRNESS, LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER, OR JUST TO UPLIFT EACH OTHER IN ALL ASPECTS NEVER EXIST. WE SHOULD CHANGE AND TRULY LOVE OUR COUNTRY. BECAUSE NO ONE WILL CHANGE ZAMBIA. DIASPORA IS NOT THE ANSWER. HOME IS HOME BUT TAKES A FEW IN THE DIASPORA TO PARTNER, FIGHT CORRUPTION AND OTHER CHALLENGES. WE CAN STILL MAKE IT.

    • Not scholarships you. These days most scholarships are very transparent. You just go to websites and apply. The issue is that they several educated people and only few numbers are picked. If you in doubt find means of contacting me. How don’t know.
      But with business, yes most heads or leaders corrupt. Imagine, a head registers a company and instruct procurement personal to buying things from her. to extent demanding payments before goods are supplied. Single handle gives contracts to friends on billions of kwacha. when you query you are fired/transferred. What sort of a country is this. Women ve bcm more criminal, seen by way they drink. Corruption is bad in Zambia, unless you have not experienced. This stupid, Guards, Clerks, typist, drivers,MD, CEOs.The whole system sticks/sucks

  20. Zambia lacks order, each time i visit, i see lack of order starting from the CNP govt. But theres hope for mother zambia, mwinenuka! chichetekelo

  21. THIS NGWENYA GUY IS JUST LAZY.WE ALL STARTED LIKE THAT BUT AM PROUD TO SAY THAT I HAVE MADE IT AND NOT GETTING LESS THAN $20,000 P/MONTH.FROM THE LOOK OF THINGS YOU SOUND LIKE A NORMAD(A PERSON WITH AN ATTIDUDE PROBLEM WHO MOVES FROM ONE JOB TO THE NEXT).COME ON TRY BECOMING A PREACHER AND COLLECT TITHES AND OFFERINGS TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

  22. Ok whatever you are all saying has some truth and fibs in it.The article has been written with a lot of emotions.its like this man has been robbed in some way by us money hungry Zambians.I live in the uk am happy here but i miss home because there is no place better like home.Our country is very far behind in terms of development but I will not insult or look down upon the brothers and sisters therein.I do blame everything to politicians who get power to get rich.People like masebo and all those who switched to PF from other parties seem to have no conscience in their souks.One thing I come to understand is that very poor people are born in zed grow up and die without knowing what is the normal acceptable living standard of life should be like.They die appreciting life the it is.

  23. Why do people worship Sata and PF? Why should Wesley leave out Sata and PF from his article? They are the captains of this sinking ship. Their leadership style is reversing everything Zambia has ever gained and the gullible PF members want us to believe that PF is actually sweeping the mess! my foot! Zambia and Zambians have no future under PF. It is the greatest curse Zambians have ever brought upon themselves. People like Wynter have no idea of how this economy should ever be run. The President makes Pronouncements without any plans and the gullible supporters are busy cheering! If you are allergic to planning, you will never get anything right. PF and Sata are a failed project. We should go back to go back to the drawing board to Zambia back on the road again. Bravo wesley. Stay away

  24. The other problem ni njala.this has led to every Zambian to be a thief or corrupt.Eg at school,you steal pencil pen or book,teacher steal exam papers,in the village some steal chickens gots to sell,at hospital nurse steal drugs,mortuary attendant steal from the dead esp accident victims,at church mutulo goes missing,on the road police get money from you to continue your journey,RTSA give licence without testing you all you pay is K500,000 esp in chipata.To get a job you you need to on www=wako ni wako weka.you need to known to someone in the company.So is the case for you to get a place in college.People won’t just do anything for anyone for nothing,everything is uzachita zingati apa.Bwanji ya talktime.Nashota fakapo.Everyone is a thief unless proven otherwise.Wallet should be kept well.

  25. The abnormal has become normal in Zambia. And look at all the dunderheads on this thread talking about “you are weak, ni ku limba blah blah blah”, yeah that article is all about you! Zambia is a lost cause, nothing is done the right way. Be it business, school everything you have to go through the back door. Thats not the way a country thats rtrying to develop should be .

  26. U R BIG BIG BIG Failure. u r de chaps wh go 2 useless America become street swipers u make $2000 & com 2 Zed thnkng pipo wl worshp u, fyalipwa filya mwana, bali joba nomba ama zedian ngawaisa naka degree kube balekwebafye ati kabike apo first.

    if u r clamng 2 ve degrees & hvng workd 4 gud companies y didn’t ve enough captital to start a business???? U r really a failure, jst continue swipng de streets n the states thy need such pipo

    • @Kambanyere, its people like you who that have made the abnormal become normal. Amano ayo won’t take you anywhere, elo nobu chenjeshi muleke. Just because some people have been given an opportunity to live in other countries doens give you the right to hate and undermine. Learn to be civilized in thinking noti ifya bututu.

    • So what exactly is wrong with sweeping streets as long as it puts food on the table for the family? You assume that hygienists lack any manner of skill. As it happens there are cleaners in Zambia too.

      Please give credit where due. Why is it that its us the cleaners who are expected to remit money to family members back home rather than the other way around then?

      Proud cleaner

  28. Zambia is a joke, if you have lived in the US for all those years, my friend stay just go visit. Unless you are well connected then you can go back. Life is not easy, home is where your heart is and this is US.

  29. U R REALY A VERY BIG BIG BIG FAILURE my frnd. u de chps who go 2 de useless America and bcom swiper in de street, make $2000 & thnkng wen return here Zedians wl strt worshpng u. fyalipwa filya my frnd. this tym bali joba ama Zedian, u cn com wth yo ka degree & thy jst tel, kabike apo frst, we wl look at it.

    IF u clam 2 ve degrees and ve workd 4 big companies, hw com u don’t ve enough 2 strt evn toilet business?????

    FACT: there z stif competn pa Zed regardless of wher u got yo ka degree

  30. Ngwenya you sound so frustrated such that whatever point you wanted to underscore lacks seroius reasoning. First of all you should know that being in diaspora doesnt mean people you left back home are STUPID, secondly you know that unemployment level is high in Zambia and Africa at large, so majority are not in employment. Lastly maybe I should remind you that studying in diaspora does not make you a best candidate to get any job you go to for interviews, there so many people back home with good education obtained from local universities and colleges, who knows maybe Mr Ngwenya you went to some online universities in USA and you expect to get a good job back home. Dont discourage people from going home just because of what you experienced.

  31. You don’t have to be struggling to leave for Zambia. According to the hierarchy of needs, staying at base when you reach a certain age is part of life development. We may doing good out here but I tell you what our hearts are where our navels were buried.

  32. Wesley, still playing the victim? I saw your first post and thought, oh, dear here’s a fella who’s having it rough at the moment. I wished you well and went back to my own problems. Nothing you’ve said above is a lie – all of it is true but what can you do? Be a man and dive right in!!! Just because you came from the Diaspora does not entitle you a vantage seat on the food chain.

    I didn’t have the time to finish reading your latest outburst but if you’re in Zed, stop complaining. This is a third world country. If you’ve returned from whence you came, stay there. We’re getting on with it around here. Enjoying enterprise!

  33. @shortcake ve u eva seen pipo who ve really being given an opportunity 2 live n other corntries de amt of investmnt they take home?????? i guess u ve no idea, bt record are ther 4 u 2 see. de fct that ths chp cam 2 borrow a miga loan meant small small busineses frm CEC tels me tht thngs arent gud wth ths fellw. & wat i said z true, obviously ths fellow he/she thot they wer going 2 intimidate CEC wth so caled degrees and experience into givng thm a loan, bt alas fyalikosa mwana.

  34. Knowing how Zambia is, before you think of going back please set up something there, something you can depend on when the going gets tough: some houses for rent and a business to see you through the day. Some people have already built houses there and bought farms which they are developing. You can not entirely depend on a job in Zed, especially if you have been away for sometime. Just a bit of advice – this what some of us are doing.

  35. Wesley, you are a failure. Many more Zambians are making it and enjoying life pa Zed. I am in diaspora but am going home because here in diaspora, you are not any less than a slave. So y friend wake up that is why you end up picking bad habits and come back in the name of human rights.

  36. Generally, it is very difficult to adapt to zambian lifestyle (work, business and social) once you have stayed outside … But like anything else, you need to conduct risk analysis and determine your success rate of doing something. Not everything is bad in Zed. Pipo have different priorities, Some would prefer to stay in a flat in US for the rest of thier natural life, others would like to own a small piece of land in Zed where it is possible’.. As for me Home (Zed) is the best.. I will be going back to Zed my beloved country next year. And I know i will make it.

  37. It appears there is either cartels or syndicates in Zambia and nothing in between from the way the article is written. Aside from the insulting blogs I do get the sense that it is a difficult call to get back and try and settle in. I have friends who returned and are doing alright – in fact some have indicated they will not seek the diaspora again. I suppose it does depend, then, on where your buck falls when you return. However – there are cartels and syndicates in Zambia. My friends have indicated the “in-between” is extremely narrow… I will try to return some day.

  39. Nick and I came to Zambia for a month. He was always sweating and the long hair in his armpits created a strong smell as though he had been playing soccer.

    His yellow teeth (from all his smoking) scared kids and the Indians kept on trying to beat him up. Oh how I love Nick…..

    Thanks.

  40. I tried relocating to home sweet home in 2010 after living in diaspora for 12 years. Lord have mercy, poverty and inefficiency is viewed as the ordinary way of life in Zed? My experience was equally frustrating? I tried everything , almost joined UPND…but thought otherwise as my mother raised my right? I would rather be poor and still have my dignity. I really have no respect for opportunity seekers (Zed politicians). I have now been in diaspora for 1 year 10 months, back in gainful employment. As for you ignorant zambians that continue to vote for the same cramp and yet expect a different result …..I can only wish you all the best. I love my country, but the welfare of my children comes first. If you are still waiting on PF, UPND, LP, MMD ……you have another thing..more poverty.

  42. Wesley my brother, you do not go back to Zambia with the hope of getting a job, you get a job and then move back. And judging by your poor writing skills, I wouldn’t hire you either. Like someone pointed out, it depends on what you studied, if you are an Aeronautical Engineer, it maybe hard to get a job. Truth be told, Zed is as rough as it gets from poor infrastructure to poor services but at the end of the day, people go back because they think they can make a difference. And those in Zambia need to understand that it will take a collective effort of all Zambians from all over to develop the country. If we were as good as we think we are, one wonders why almost half a century after independence, the country still lags in terms of development.

  43. Wesley, you sound really unprofessional in your dealings, no wonder you were dealt with by other unprofessional business partners.
    Do NOT speak hatefully, or else you will for ever remain crying foul. One question you should yourself is how come others are making it big in business, but the likes of your type are crying? No direction, that the simple answer I can give you. Every successful business person will tell you that it takes real time to gain from the business.
    Anyways, to answer your simple question, I would say YES, Zambians in the diaspora should go back home to contribute to the development of our mother land. I am going back home from Europe this summer to create jobs for my brothers and sisters that are not yet employed. Government CAN NOT employ everyone!!!!!

  44. It’s not easy in zambia. Opportunities are few. The political system especially the current on is inspiring and more to cash the economy. Mwanawasa gave more hope and saw a number of returnee successfully re insert and be in gainfull employment or business. Comes rupiah Banda, tribalism umozi kumawaya. This Sata is worse and what we never should have. If you are doing well in the diaspora, don’t even think of returning to zambia. Maybe when these thieves get full they will start thinking of developing the country and create equal opportunities..but alas they are many and being thieves they don’t know how to invest. Look at the euro money, they are like monkies, playing with a gun pointing it at each other not knowing its loaded and can kill.

  45. It’s not easy in zambia. Opportunities are few. The political system especially the current on is un inspiring and more to cash the economy. Mwanawasa gave more hope and saw a number of returnee successfully re insert and be in gainfull employment or business. Comes rupiah Banda, tribalism umozi kumawaya. This Sata is worse and what we never should have. If you are doing well in the diaspora, don’t even think of returning to zambia. Maybe when these thieves get full they will start thinking of developing the country and create equal opportunities..but alas they are many and being thieves they don’t know how to invest. Look at the euro money, they are like monkies, playing with a gun pointing it at each other not knowing its loaded and can kill.

  46. Some people who conduct interviews can smell a man who is full of himself from a mile away, they do not give jobs to such. I feel you are full of yourself Mr Ngwenya, judging from your article by how many times you have used the word ‘mediocre’. You felt you were the best thing that had ever happened to Zambia.

  47. Why do I get the impression that theres some inherent enemity between those in the diaspora and those back home?
    Personally I think its a fair thing that those of us in the diaspora should not expect to be favoured than the locals. However, it is not sin to criticise our systems and attitudes if we notice any deficiences. Any country that is developed has had to learn or in some cases even steal data or labour from other countries. So beating those in the diaspora or treating us like brats is a little unfair. Zambia chalo cha bonse. We would all be very proud to see it succeed.

  48. The US is the world’s most developed economy so comparing its opportunities with ‘one-industry-Zambia’ is very very very unfair. If you are going to start a business in Zambia dont expect it to be as easy as pressing buttons on a PC in Detroit. In the first place the buttons will not be there to press. You must create your own buttons. And thats where the difficulty lies. Its much more of a challenge starting a business in Zambia than in the developed world. The country is yet to enact laws that make it conducive for one to commence business ventures. The laws are inclined towards very big business.

  50. Matthew 13:57: A prophet is not honoured in his own land.In other words, a prophet is honored everywhere but not in his own country and in his own home. Jesus spoke these words to show that those who had only recently heard believed, while those who knew him since he was a child did not. The modern day equivalent is that those who don’t know you that well will treat you with respect, while often times your family treats you with contempt. You find this in

  51. Ba wesley tell us what you own in the US. You will die renting a house. You chose mararapaipes to do business with. What do you expect.

  52. Ba wesley tell us what you own in the US. You will die renting a house. You chose mararapaipes to do business with. What do you expect. BA is no longer a career. Even security guards have it

  53. Home is Home Mr brother man…am also in diaspora..and am pretty sure that one day i wll be home for gud despite holding s.a citizeniship…….

  55. I love Zambia but really we need to change our mindset. For one thing hope is the last thing to lose. Never give up!

  56. We doubt if Zambians can dare return home. Professor Clive Chirwa will tell them, based on his experience, that there is a dramatic unfavourable climatic change in Zambia. They are better off wait until the tornedo passes through our landscape.

  57. I can understand where Ngwenya is coming from and has emphathy with him being emotional. Being exploited and mistreated in your country is hurtful especially when you have returned with good intentions. It can be very difficult to do things in Zambia in a straight forward manner. You need to go through hoops and loops to get anything done. I have lost a bit of money wanting to set up a small business due to very dishonest people requiring their hands oiled just to do things we take for granted in some places. You have to develop a certain kind of mindset to fit into the way of doing things and that may imply your morality. It is a shame but denying it is not the answer. We love the country but the few conmen who tend to be the most powerful are destroying the country.

  59. Ba Ngwenya, Zambia is still home to many of us. We have relatives there who always ask for the western union number. It is a blessing to be able to help them. We do business there and have built mansions from our proffessional jobs here. We plan to retire there and enjoy our sacrifices and tell stories of our lives here to our grand kids. Not everything in Zambia is bad. I miss my family. Calm down. There are good and bad people in every society. Share Gods blessings on you with others.

    • @muyanda, thanks for such a sober and level headed contribution. being here it’s easy to empathise with ngwenya and i think we are duty bound to acknowledge his feelings and experiences but at the same time as true patriots point out the silver lining streaks in the dark clouds. lets try to win mr ngwenya back. you can / should never give up on your country

  61. I love my country, but going to Zed?.. Forget that.. We have good opportunities in zed but the Health care is terrible, that’s what puts me off.

  62. As a proud zambian who has been in the diaspora for over a decade, I get put off by negative comments about home. some of you exaggerate too much. ZAMBIA is your birth place where your ambilical cords are burried or flashed or whatever your mothers did with them. Its ok to discuss how we can work on things to make our dear Zed better.
    But to talk about it like its the worst place in the world is so unfortunate. No wonder our brother sheds tears because his heart (deep down) si wokhutila (not satisfied ) about ma life ya abroad. most people have to do tu vikwati twa boza to get papers ,cmon now if u call that good life living with such burdens muvifuba, it says alot about how u were raised. sad!
    Lets not give pipo the idea that lifeabroad is a bed of roses, its NOT!!! It is hard and…

  63. I love Zed and Iam definitely going back. grateful for my education, the house i have built and 2013 kuya bebele!!
    Tired of fake jobs, na ma bills eish!!!!! to get papers mpaka vikwati vaboza for most people, EISH!!!!
    Iam hapily going back. some of u vowing kuti u wont go back, time will come when u will be sent against your will.
    HOME IS HOME!!!!! Your umbilical cord is burried there so be careful what u say about your birth place.

  64. Mwiponta mukabwela.Am a proud zambian living in Australia.
    I must tell Wesley that his article has no instint and and is an
    called for.The best he can do is to withdraw it.Those are personal
    Words and does not have the blessings of all zambians in
    Diasporor.There people like me who respect my country
    and its people,yes we are out for now and ll wet get back
    where we came from.Home is home.

  66. I ain’t coming back to filthy ,lethargic zambia where i can’t find a job and i have to bribe my way into what is deservedly a right of every citizen.Zambia long ago turned into my diasp-horror.

  67. Life abroad also is not as straight forward as the writer would make it seem. Sometimes you are made to feel the foreigner you are, kind of like you are an unwanted visitor. There is also in some cases hidden and open racism. The endless bills also don’t help matters. In the end of it all there is no place like home. Am making preparations to return home too. despite the struggles highlighted I’ll be in my own country and not made to feel un welcome.

  68. No place like home. If you are in diaspora you feel mistreated because of color, when you go back home you are scared of us bembas. Life is touch either you have to be white or bemba to make it my friend. I am comfortable, I visit Zambia, do business and get back here where my neighbors know me by heart, in Zambia they know me by money. My children are happy here that is what is important for me, just as someone said if you are passed age 40 don’t ever think of going back to Zambia to look for a job stay here. Health care is good here if you go back to Zambia you won’t even find antidepressants that will be your end. Life expectancy is high here, go back to Zambia your skin will fed in two months. Life here is not the best but the chances that you are going to live longer her high.

  69. l worked out side Zambia but decided to come home and despite hardships which everyone faces am still happier because am no longer called mukwerere and l enjoy equal opportunities as other Zambians. Of course financially in the diaspora its easier to have access to credit so one rarely gets broke. The growing economy in Zambia requires skilled man power so all Zambians need to come and help in places like hospitals.Some of our best doctors are out side Zambia trained by K.K.I will never stop paying tribute to Kaunda. My parents had very little money but l still went to school because education was free.

    alfred

  70. you have to know the winter kabimba ,the masebos the chalabesas or the satas to have a job in zambia unless you want to work for cuty councul then they will give you a job they dont look at +your degrees

  71. I must say though i do understand both those that feel that just because they had no alternatives but to study at our own institutions such as the university of zambia and the CBU make them stronger in endurance of their own struggles does not mean that when they get jobs those jobs are suited for them. Meanwhile other zambian that have had the opportunity to expose themselves in the developed economies could have a lot to offer when it comes to both applying initiatives and good ideas to zambian companies. The thought that just because you are bred and educated in zambia gives you first priority to get jobs is a backward idea which will never do zambia and zambians any good but create mediocrity at its best. One senses that an element of threat is more than that of development for all.

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