By Hjoe Moono
The role of Zambia’s intelligentsia
There is always a huge role to be played by academics in our society beyond teaching and consultancies in their comfort zones at colleges and universities. To play a critical role in national matters should indeed be one of academics’ roles, especially that we still have a limited number of top tier universities in the country. This role can be played in so many ways, among them being critical advice on specific matters e.g. economic and constitutional matters to government and the contribution of critical opinions when national policies are off what academics predicts and are bound to have negative consequences. These should be done at every process of governance.
Preference for expatriates
There is a strange phenomenon happening in Zambia which had seen a huge influx of ‘advisors’, ‘expatriates’, sponsored by foreign governments to come and ‘advise’ Zambia on how to live a better life. Advice is being given from the health sector (HIV/AIDS is the hot cake), economic policy and all the way to water and sanitation. Most times, this advice, say, on how to improve water and sanitation and reduce poverty in Kanyama Compound or Shangombo is given through ‘workshops’ at Hotel Intercontinental or some five star resort far off the realms of poverty, the very cause of the advice.
You have experts on Zambian poverty who only know the Kenneth Kaunda Airport, driven in luxury cars to Pamodzi Hotel and then straight to State House where advice is given on how to improve the road network and reduce poverty in Kalabo, a place the ‘expert’ has no idea of, and probably briefly read about Zambia while on the long trans-Atlantic flight to Zambia. These ‘experts’ have for long helped ‘shape’ policy in Zambia, and in other countries too. But one would ask, how have we performed with this multitude of ‘expert’ advice? The impact, beyond consultancy ‘advice’ reports has been negligible, yet, they continue to come and are the heavily sought after in our nation.
While we cannot blame these ‘experts’ on Zambia, who actually do not know the detailed intricacies and difficulties of our country, we should ask our government why they seem to have shunned our local academics.
Where are our Dons?
Perhaps not blaming our governments, let us ask where our local academics, the ‘Don’ are? Where are they when you have foreign ‘experts’ giving ‘advice’ on governance, something they are expected to be specialists in? Where is the local content in national advisory and opinion formulation? Surely, mines are owned by foreign companies. Shops in Kamwala by nationals of foreign origin. Construction companies are owned by the Chinese. Chain stores by South Africans. Manufacturing companies, most of them by foreign nationals. Should academic knowledge on Zambia also be externally sourced? What is it then that we could claim and have complete command over? Do we need a foreign expert to tell us that a pit latrine is not a good sanitation measure and may cause cholera when rains come? Don’t we know this already?
[pullquote]Our African (local) experts are not sufficiently assertive-they have lacked self-confidence in themselves[/pullquote]
What has happened to the role of our academics in being the source of solutions to our troubled economy? During the currency depreciation, where are the academic policy experts from our universities in these matters to help guide the nation on what is happening? I feel our academics, our Dons have neglected their role in national policy making and opinion guiding. Consequently, professional advice is now being externally sourced, or left to amateurs, yet its effects affects us all.
But then, we have a situation where the leadership has either resorted to amateurish advice or rushed to foreigners for advice, probably realising the little value our local academics may be perceived to be yielding. This ought not to be the case.
Benjamine Mkapa, the former president of Tanzania and one of the commissioners on the Growth Commission Report once said: “Our African (local) experts are not sufficiently assertive-They have lacked self-confidence in themselves. However, they have the right to demand of their leaders that their knowledge and experience ought to be used.
You get fellows from the IMF and the World Bank who have never run a corner store(-and yet come to give you advice on how to effectively run the store!), are greatly received at State House for hours and hours giving ‘advice’ when you have professors in your own country. I would say to leaders to wake up and realise the wealth they have in the backyard in the form of its academics and business people.”
A call to assertiveness
I think this is key, and every governance system should not only seek advice from its admirers or cadres, but from key stake holders with immense experience in the underlining details of our country. Opposing opinions based on sound academic foundations or experience should not be perceived to be coming from ‘bitter’ individuals. Here the academics are better placed. However, there is also a serious need for our local academics to look beyond just teaching and consulting and taking the easy life of a closed door lucrative life punctuated by strikes for salary increases and threats of university or college closures, we need to be assertive in our chosen career and live beyond hoping to be appointed to a higher government office once some government official is fired or when governments change.
Be assertive!
PS: The author hopes to be an academic at Paul Mushindo University, Muchinga Province.
They are all involved in hot politics never mind their expertise. Politics in Zambia is number one priority. Newspapers ever carry political messages. Attack and counter attack is now the best life activity in Zed. We are all now thinking I am better than you without regard to the fact that no one knows everything. Too much political brains today. Its a shame for this country. Zambia seems a family of battles among siblings, young and old. Everything else in the back yard politics first, weird way.
Our ‘Dons’ are sleeping,rather they only care for themselves as they run the rat race.They are busy accumulating allowances in the poverty reduction workshops held at Raddison Blu hotel or Pamodzi hotels.
Its not that the ‘dons’ are not there. There has been too much politickin in this country leading to lack of serious patriotism and embracing an idea by a fellow Zambian.This is even seen in the way consumer buy products by prefering somethin foreign. A classical example is wht happend at the copperbelt univerity somewere around 2003 were a student proposed to write a thesis that was using a coiled small pipe to heat up water in almost real time. these were suppose to be replacement gysers. all you need to do is step in the bathroom and open your tap the water flowing in the hot pipe gets heated instantly ,this served a lot of wasted energy compared to traditional gysers, well you can guese what happend, the thesis never made it! reason: it disputed the concept of latent heat capacity!
THIS ARTICLE IS VERY ORGANIC, BALANCED, SOUND AND JUST ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO READ AWAY FROM HH AND NEVERS MUMBA TALKING CRAP. IT IS EVEN BETTER THAT IT IS COMING FROM A RURAL UNIVERSITY UN KNOWN ABOUT. (AWA FROM THE TOPIC- WHY CAN’T OUR MEDIA SHOW PICTURES OF THESE NEW INSTITUTIONS AS AWAY OF EVEN MARKETING THE FOR PROGRAMME CANDIDATES AS WELL AS ACADEMICS. EVERY TIME THERE IS A NEWS ITEM ITS EITHER THE NEWSPAPER SHOWS A HEAD OF A POLITICIAN OR JUST LONG TEXT THROUGH OUT. IT IS VERY BORING JUST READING LONG TEXT WHILE YERNING FOR AN IMAGE. IN THIS CASE AN IMAGE OF MUCHINDO UNIVERSITY SHOULD HAVE BEEN SHOWN).
BUT HAVING SAID THAT- AN IMAGE OF A CHIEF GRADUATING WAS MOST APPROPRIATE AND TO SAY THE LEAST MOST ENCOURAGING ON THE PART OF OUR CHILDREN.
Nonsensical article
Thanks
Loving this part…..”there is also a serious need for our local academics to look beyond just teaching and consulting and taking the easy life of a closed door lucrative life punctuated by strikes for salary increases and threats of university or college closures, we need to be assertive in our chosen career and live beyond hoping to be appointed to a higher government office once some government official is fired or when governments change.”
Wow ! What an awesome article ! I love it ! We have an objective article for a change here.It has been too much of PF that ,PF this,Constitution that, and constitution this of late.Keep it up Moono !!!!
By the way bwana Author i`m also planning to join you at Paul Mushindo University.Fingers crossed.
Hahaha
You would sound like a F.O.O.L to tell anyone that you are a lecturer at
“Paul Mushindo University”
@TheEngineer(Australia)…Ha ha ha…really ? Paul Mushindo is a cute name.Lol
AUSTRALIAN ENGINEER, YOU MY BROTHER ARE THE EPITOME OF WHAT HJOE MOONO IS ATTEMPTING TO DESCRIBE– IN A FEW WORDS ITS CALLED “SELF HATRED” “INFERIORITY COMPLEX” NOTHING WRONG WITH THE NAME PAUL MUSHINDO, IN FACT HE WAS AN INTELLECTUAL THAT WE MUST LEARN ABOUT.
@Chibamba
Good luck you can take your kids to Paul Mushindo university…. certainly not my kids
AUSSIE ENGINEER WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I DIDN’T REQUEST YOU TO TAKE YOUR CHILDREN TO PAUL MUSHINDO (NOT THAT THERE IS ANYTHING IN THAT) BUT I MERELY POINTED OUT YOUR VERY PRONOUNCED LOW CONFIDENCE IN ANYTHING THAT BELONGS TO YOU, TO US, SUCH AS THE NEW UNI AT CHINSALI AS POINTED OUT BY MR MOONO. YOU FURTHER GO ON TO SAY “GOOD LUCK” MAN OR WOMAN, YOU NEED TO CHECK YOURSELF. THE WHITE INSTITUTIONS THAT YOU PROBABLY RESPECT, WERE BUILT UP TO A HIGH STANDARD OVER DECADES AND WITH DEDICATION BY THEIR OWN PEOPLE. OUR INSTITUTIONS LIKE P.M REQUIRE THE SAME INGREDIENTS FROM US! WE MUST PUT IN TIME AND EXPERTISE. I LL REITERATE OUR SMALL EXCHANGE POINTS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM MR HJOE MOONO IS DESCRIBING. TAKE A LEAF FROM HIM, AS HE LL BE TAKING HIS KNOWLEDGE TO BUILD ZAMBIAN MINDS, AND BUILD OUR…
Good luck for you and you kins at Paul Mushindo university
By the way muzindo in my language is an obscene. I would never want ay of my relatives to be part of it
Even when you have the brains, no one will give a platform to express those good ideas. a lot of brilliant people get “squeezed” out of the civil service just because they are brainy (and therefore a threat to other people’s jobs). they can persecute you to a point of making trumped out criminal allegations against you!!!!!! (I have been in that situation before). it reaches a point where they decide to go to other organizations. the way forward is to find effective grievance procedures and ways to remove the oppressive dinosaurs from civil service
In my language Mushindo is a serious insult to women.
very good article and a call to assertiveness..patriotism..
Nice article!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Our Dons are busy on face book, Shopping expensive clothes for girlfriends @ manda hill and registering companies that’s are doing shoddy works and demand huge payment from the government. Zambians have taken education in a wrong direction that’s why we see people graduating with doctorate in history just to have a title and not working for the nation. The number of doctors and professors currently in Zambia we don’t need Chinese to come and do the roads but why is it like this? Shameful 50 year of independence…..
There was one critical thinking lecturer by the name of Austin Mbozi. I think the Viper has managed to intimidate him from commenting on the ills of the government of the day and he is now dead quiet. You dont criticise the government of the day, you just have to sing praises, no matter what they do.
Bozi was like that even at mumbwa secondary. Very engaging and challenging. What has happened indeed of the guy? I know he did not go with the wind…
Professor Clive Chirwa responded to call, where is he now?
Proffessor chirwa is a conman. Bolton university where he is ,is basically a polytechnic .you can’t accomplish what he was talking about in three years. Britain which wants to build rail for high speed trains is talking about 17 years to finish . Even the house he had in the photo belongs to the queen!!!
Afraid of the Mafia raids I presume!!
What are credentials when a mafia and the police pimps can hold you and yours at gun point in broad day light with the blessing and backing of the law ( the judicial system)?
There are many ways in which a Don can participate in the development of this country; being public, political and vocal is not the only way of measuring their participation. Successive Zambian governments have not been responsive to “think tank” mentality; they would rather a Don is boot licking; using “bad science” to support mediocre political decisions. A nation needs to give a platform for unadulterated opinions on matters pertinent to the development of Zambia; then you will see great participation by University Dons. Secondly, Zambia appreciates foreigners more than locals. What happened to Prof Chirwa? And do you think what ever wrong he did could warrant such treatment from his own people? do you understand why Dons are quiet?
Where are the Dons? Busy teaching from the ‘text book’. What institution in Zambia can produce a publication as prestigious as the Harvard Law Review? It’s about time these institutions came up with publications in which they can analyse issues, voice their opinions or give their expert advice and suggestions and write articles based on their various disciplines.
It’s time to gain some respect.
Just visiting………..
If you have had the opportunity to study at a recognised university beyond a bachelor’s degree you would not think the way you have expressed yourself here. Those that have studied at institutions like UNZA, CBU and now Mulungushi and have gone to other universities whose lecturers are publishing articles in major journals and writing books will know why our Dons are not able to do the same at UNZA. Look at what they do when they work for those same institutions. You have to have experienced mainline university academic life to understand these things. Let us not take away everything from our Dons. Go to the UNZA Stand during the Agric Com Show and you will find some good publications by our Dons.
I know a few Dons who are capable of making a contribution but with draconian laws against the opposition and absence of a constitution which protects human rights and toothless governance institutions these Dons find it very risky to venture into a field where they must respect views which are not backed by evidence. For those in the public sector you have to resign your job to actively participate in politics unless your are in the ruling party (DCs). One of the most discouraging factors is the dominance of kaponya-type of politics (chibuku and nshima motivated) politicians who would do anything to make you toe the party line even when the issue is totally disadvantaging the population. The recent rejection of a motion for a constitution roadmap is a case in point. Toeing party line.
“towing party line”
singelezi
something very mind blogging is that the same Dons we r ignoring offer services outside the country and are highly respected and appreciated out there
Do you now why?
Without political influence/pressure they are FREE to express themselves.
Toe the party line or you are out and disgraced/punished. I do not think Dons such as Dr Simbyakula and others are really opposed to giving Zambians a roadmap on the new constitution. They would have voted otherwise had they been given the chance of a genuine secret ballot and protection from the appointing authority. Better Ministers from outside Parliament so that MPs are free to do genuine oversight of government leaders and institutions.
This is a very well written article which has addressed the issues adequately. I feel among the reasons why our academics are not so vocal in giving their advice to African Governments are twofold:
One is that most of the programmes in African countries are donor funded and as a condi, the donor countries whee those funds come from put it in their agreements that they will also provide technical backstopping through advisors who have to be paid from the same Programme/project budgets. So the support already comes with in-built external unsolicited advice as a tacit condition for the support.
The other major reason in my view, especially if you refer to governance and other politically charged issues is the ethnic and regional nature of African politics in general. As a result of…
Continued..
As a result of this regional and ethnic dimension of our body politic, academicians who are vocal in providing advise are first screened against this criteria to determine whether they are fighting a regional or ethnic cause guided as policy advise. This makes politicians more receptive to perceived neutral advise from external experts than their local people!!
Zeb Mpingangira. Our professionals are a disappointment because in most cases they don’t give professional advice which is free from political, tribal and regional bias.
MY brother I agree with all the points you have made. Personally I think the author should have tackled the issues you have highlighted. In addition when the issue of the Kwacha depriciating was topical I heard a lot of discusions on that from various persons of high education. I thought that was some kind of participation by some of our Dons. I have a hope that as more Zambians get access to higher education and into government leadership we will witness more academic and expert participation.
A well written piece of lecture. “What is it that we Zambians can claim and have complete command over?” This question alone is enough to keep us reflecting and debating on for the rest of the week.
Only for rest of the week?
Either you assume that everybody is political, social and economical non-com or that current social, economical and political environment in Zambia is a most developed in the world.
A week should be enough to talk – thereafter, ACTION should follow! That’s my notion.
Bloggers I like the way this debate is going. No insults no name calling just people putting forth their arguments. Wonderful. Except for saulosi and engineer nearly everybody has put forward an intelligent point. Is it because the subject is more academic than political? I like this cyber etiquette. Keep it up everybody.
BTW @12.1 Let me say, I did part of my education at one those colleges you’ve mentioned but thanks for your response. I agree with some of it.
It’s about time we started discussing issues this article is trying to address. But alas look at the readership comments, as compared to Masebo fired story. Apparently Zambians have now been rewired to ‘eat’ and ‘breathe’ politics. No doubt politics calls the shots about what happens elsewhere but we really aren’t a nation of academics, are we?
Last year I tried in vain to reach out to government entities that are tasked with infrastructure developments to I could share with them my experiences ‘for free’. Tried to send e-mails around but I failed to get a response t have an audience with anyone. Here I am contributing massively to the development of my adopted nation because they value my contributions. Oh well!
I even went further than that; applied for a Policy related portfolio; the cv reached the ministry; and I was called by one of the fella’s who were handling it. After wards; Zee Zee!!
@ Maverick. You are spot on! It seems Politics and whinging have become national sports in Zambia. Unfortunately our online publications are just worsening the situation due to their laziness. Instead of going out there and reporting on developmental issues affecting the nation they choose to concentrate on politics
The issue is not whether intellectuals are hiding or not. The real issue is whether academic freedom is being promoted by stakeholders. Academic Freedom can be achieved through staff development, scholarships, teaching assistants positions, research assistant positions, tenured teaching positions, generous grants, etc. Germans, science and technology can only grow when ‘Wissenschaftliche Freiheit’ or ‘the right to think freely’ is guaranteed by law and fact. The Makerere Declaration on Academic Freedom missed the point by adding ‘and Social Responsibility’ because science without ethics can not qualify for funding. Academic Freedom presupposes competing institutions of Higher Learning.
Good point/
For once Dr.Kasonde I agree with you. Academic freedom is very important!
We are busy pushing trolleys in GAME, SHOPRITE, AND PICK AND PAY!
Natonal issues will sort themselves out
Nothing wrong with pushing trolleys at the places you have mentioned!
Imagine you are Lenje and your grandfather asked you which University you went to and you tell him “Ku Mushindo” nkambu. Sobwe nammata!
The major problem is that we blacks just go to school and learn (memorise) what is written in books so that we get a good job or a big title. We do not use the knowledge learnt to improve or solve problems in our society. We can not think beyond what we learnt. We were designed to be hunter gatherers. If the white man didn’t sail the rough sees to come and discover us, we would still be leaving in caves and eating wild fruits. We have all the education but we still can not make a car or an aeroplane when our friends did this hundreds of years ago.
*living
This is one sorry and pathetic contribution made so far!
“We blacks?
We were designed to be hunters and gatherers…
If we were not discovered…”
What ignorance!
THE PRESIDENT SHOULD FIRE BRAVE MWITWA DC SIAVONGA FOR CAUSING CONFUSIONS IN SOUTHERN PROVINCE.HE IS IMMATURE.
Well said bloggers. They say a prophet is not recognised in his own land. Zambians are contributing massively to the development of their adopted countries. They are recognised and well respected. I do not agree with the sentiments that we are not assertive enough. It is simply because our governments prefer to listen to opinions, suggestions and advice from so called “Expatriates”. But what has this expert advice produced 50 years after independence? The real problem is with our attitude toward one another. We need to change this attitude. The “Bring Him Down” syndrome really scares me!
I am with you totally.
Academics are theory oriented they rarely have hands on exposure to the things they teach. They believe they can solve a social or economic problem by using a mathematical equation, a statistical inference and prove this by T test, 2 tailed test or chi square…
Please let us be honest, all these issues are based on corruption at the national level and international level. At the national level it is money in our pockets for that we favour, at the international level, we have to create opportunities for our own people, even a fool knows that. Some of us have expertise that is based on local and international level, but the chances are almost zilch, let us not forget even within the international organisations , they dont look at practical work experience, they talk about development programmes, it is all of a con, but those that are seeking these skills should be setting out the requirements. Peter you can be sensible but your Bemba tribalism makes you lose your relevance, learn to be a Zambian, a world citizen,these have sustained you better.
Excerpts from,’ CAPITALST NIGGER, authored by CHIKA ONYEANI.
There r thousands of african medical practioners in america .But the most puzzling issue is the nonexistence of any research on the part of our so-called intellectectual establishments in matters affecting the continent.
It is one thing 2 get a degree and quiet another 2 exercise the use of that degree.
The prblm of african scholars is the lack of aggressiveness, a lack of commitment 2 the goal of later rather than immediate gratification; and of course being easily influenced by the pursuit 4 money.
There are plenty. You may be looking the wrong places!
Still on CAPTILIST NIGGER:
Africans go to school so that they can acquire half-educated knowledge 2 terrorize the masses in the same way that the colonial masters had done .
It is any wonder then that africans go 2 school and still come out illiterates.
What happened to SONDASHI FORMULAR!