Zambians living in the diaspora have been counselled to resist the temptation of being messengers of negative messages against Zambia because such harmful sentiments have the potential to adversely affect the country’s political and development trajectory.
Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Lazarous Kapambwe has said Zambians living abroad are the true ambassadors of the country and should therefore cultivate the spirit of patriotism and respect for their country and its leadership.
He cautioned Zambians in the diaspora against the misuse of information technology to negatively project the country’s leadership and the government.
Amb Kapambwe said it does not matter how far Zambians living in the diaspora are from their country because what is important is that they are citizens irrespective of their tribe, religion and political diversity.
Amb Kapambwe told Zambians living in the Tri-State of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut that if there are bad things being said about Zambia by citizens of other countries, it is because Zambians themselves are slandering their own country and leadership.
Amb Kapambwe said this at the commemoration of Zambia’s 54th independence anniversary at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations (UN) in New York.
He stated that the world would only perceive Zambia in light of how Zambians projected their country and its leadership and that he is saddened that some Zambian nationals have a tendency of misusing technology to politically and economically disparage their country.
Amb Kapambwe said it is important for Zambians living abroad to always be mindful of the responsibility of their citizenship as well as the duty that comes with the right of being a citizen of a country.
“We are here to celebrate our 54th independence anniversary and I want to share with you that when you Zambians living abroad say something about Zambia, people are more likely to believe you than they would if I said something about our country. We are living in the times of information technology and what we say about our country lives in cyber space forever and is believed by many people. So what others think about Zambia is what we say about our country. How the rest of the world is going to treat and perceive Zambia depends on what we say and how we project our leaders and government,” Amb Kapambwe said.
He stated that no one, including the leadership of the country could stop Zambians from having different opinions or to express themselves but that a spirit of patriotism should always be the guiding factor in their actions.
And Amb Kapambwe has expressed concern about the fragmentation of leadership among Zambian communities in New York and has advised that they should get organized and be united under one leadership.
He said it has been difficult for Zambians living in diaspora to welcome him because its leadership has remained fractured largely because of political inclinations.
Amb Kapambwe appealed to Zambians living in abroad to consider coming up with a united leadership that could serve their interests, stating that he is aware that there is a fragmentation of leadership serving the same community.
He said Zambians regardless of their religion, tribe, and political persuasion should be free to visit the Mission and interact with staff on a range of issues, stating that the Chancery shall always be their home away from home.
Ba pf, today you taste power & you want Zambians about to speak well of you with your none performance (no job creation) rampant misappropriation of government resources (audit reports) & the general stealing happening in the country (through road contracts). What have Zambians living abroad done to you. That’s why you announced dual citizenship but you are not implementing it. Zambians abroad have been lied to about getting their citizenship back. But do you remember when you wanted power the things you used to say about Rupiah. Ati Rupiah every time he flew out of the country he carried dollars to go & hide. You demonised Rupiah’s boma. Today the Tongas are doing the same to you. But leave out Zambias abroad, not all are Tongas. What you soled you are riping naimwe bene.
You started well then the demon of Sharon entered into you. Demon of Sharon out ,out..
No one in the diaspora is talking bad about zambia, they talking bad about PF, they are talking bad about about lungu and company (those kawalalas bena kaizer), don’t mix the two, we love zambia but not PF government
Zambians have always been proud of their county until recently. What has changed?
The leadership behaviour of the country is the mirrow. Political space is the mirrow. Poverty aliviation is the mirrow. No one in the diaspora can succeed to paint a negative picture of their country if freedom of speech is granted, Police dont stop prayer meetings in church to fish out a perceived political opponent, newspaers are not closed and everyone in that country is living on meal worth US$10.00 per day
The ones demonizing Zambia are OF with their insatiable greed and corruption. It’s Lungu with all the scandals and incompetence. It’s the PF police with their lack of professionalism and corruption. We simply speak about what we see and what we want to see. It’s called speaking the truth. Something that this PF Government clearly knows nothing of.
If they can’t stand up and sing of Zambia, proud and free; then they must offer alternative leadership and lead this nation in their own rights with their own vision.
But if they can’t do that, then they are nothing but a sounding gong and we will treat them with the contempt they deserve.
What kind of a descent child never talks about how descent and great his parents were and/or are despite their human frailties???
Zambia Is Greater Than Any Single One Of Us ~ B R Mumba, Sr
Zambians in Diaspora are not negative about Zambia, they are asking hard questions to the government and also providing a different perspective, that other people back home are unable to see.
You would expect any diaspora who loves Zambia to keep quiet and you see the flipflop and mixed information provided by some government officials. Start from there, so they are answering questions that are being raised in good faith. Please define “negative messages against Zambia”, then the diaspora will abide by that. If people question “Wheelbarrows” or question eSwatini, please don’t take that as negativity against Zambia. You will be misusing the term “Zambia”
Am sure larry mwetwa has heard this time. The chaps only problem is that of believing in tribalism.
Ba BR Mumba welcome back!
But your logic on this point is not on point. I know many descent and successful people that don’t have good things to say about their parents because they were abusive. How can you expect a woman who was sexually abused by her father to speak well of him?
Additionally, to be silent when wrongs are being done is to be complicit to the wrongs.
Finally, people are complaining about PF not Zambia. there is a big difference. Zambia is our motherland. PF are there to serve the people. So if they are failing, we must tell them. if they don’t listen, we must fire them.
This is the problem, us in diaspora are perceived NEGATIVELY.
We go for independence celebrations, just to be told that we “demonize” Zambia.
I didn’t go again this year.
There simply is no positive correlation between criticism of a nation’s governance and lack of development. So let’s just call this for the dumb reasoning that it represents and move on to the next issue. Like how in the world are we tolerating this much corruption?
I m one of them in the diaspora commenting nagatively about the thieving corrupt and murderous PF regime under Lungu. But I m not against Zambia as a country and its peaceful citizens who are being taken for granted by the PF.
Its not even Zambians alone pointing out bad things about PF s leadership in Zambia. All the donors are saying it out of their own agencies’ investigations.
Instead of blaming Zambians abroad Its time PF changed its leadership or be confined to the dust bin soon.
I for one will not stop condemning Lungu and his theiving thugs. I will soon form a twitter account to call for Lungu to go. PF should change its leader now or be forced out by Zambians.
Lungu must go.
The heading should be changed to:
“Don’t demonize Zambians in Diaspora, Lazarous Kapambwe advised”
@Journeyman
Thats good counsel you just gave to BR Mumba and his cohort.
I always ask myself; what kind of juju did Lungu use to brain wash his supporyers?
Ladies and gentleman here … we are all grown ups. There’s a difference between complaining about wrongs and literally denigrating your home state and it’s people.
And there’s whinnying!!! The majority of what you get is simply just that!!! A bunch of whiners not offering alternatives.
The best you guys can do is form a party go home and take over the government and run it the best way you know how.
Some of you guys have never even run a lemonade stand and you pretend to have solutions to running an entire country
Ba Journeyman … thanks a trillion. Every now and then I get a breather and come here.
The bottom line is what I have said time and again … I will be glad to say it another million times.
Whining Is Not A Winning Strategy ~ B R Mumba, Sr.
You want to change the status quo??? Be the change agent yourself otherwise just put up or shut up and wait for the next government.
If your opinions are in the majority, how come those opinions of yours are not running the country now??
Natotela
What is there to demonize when everything is in black and white…PF is not Zambia and Zambia is not PF..this is also coming from a Civil Servant who thinks he is a PF Party official !!
Did you bring us to Diaspora? We can say what we want
BR MUMBA
” If your opinions are in the majority, how come those opinions of yours are not running the country now??..”
have you seen the brutality and harassment meted out on the opposition or any who protests , or is that normal government practice to you , sir ??
Larry Mweetwa the TONGA mafia in UK at the little devil worshippers who want to DIVIDE our nation through TRIBALISM perpetuated by their CHILDISH god.
The work of a demon is to demonise.
Zambians in diaspora are not disparaging Zambia. It’s you PF thieves who are damaging the image of the country. If you want Zambians in diaspora to have nice things to say about the country, then stop stealing and do the right thing. We refuse to be your propaganda agents, saying nice things about your leadership, when there is so much corruption going on in the country. Countries with good leadership, such as Botswana and Tanzania, don’t have to worry much about their citizens always criticizing their leaders. So stop stealing and you’ll not even have to remind us to say nice things about you. We’ll be proud of you, only if you start doing the right thing. Same thing with corrupt Lungu. Once he gets serious and begins to truly fight corruption, and repents of his personal…
… corruption, we’ll be proud of him and even support his efforts.
If it looks like a duck ,Walks like a duck and quacks like a duck it is a duck.
PF and all of you subordinates are a disgrace to the nation.
Lets call a spade a spade !!
All stories of SCANDLES we comment on are written from Zambia.
-We didn’t leak exams
– We had nothing to do with Social Cash
– We told them that we can get them Firetrucks for $100,000 each, NOT $1million.
– We sold Kaizer and Miles Sampa guns they fire at people? Diaspora?
Diaspora writes about:
“How a Woman made me Love Zambia”: by Prof.Mizenge
“Women and their V@@#a Power”: by Princess Nubian
etc What is NEGATIVE about that?
Awe Bakalamba Ba Lazarous don’t demonize us, you know we respect you a lot.
@Nostra
Thank you very much. You nailed it boyi. I couldnt have put it any better.
Its the people lungu cheats out of corrupt money that spill the beans. Obvisiously any one who sees corruption and is not benefiting will expose the illegality.
These bunch of thieves must stop patronising us.
When you whip your child its not “demonizing” your offspring but its called correcting them. Likewise we don’t demonize Zambia we just want to straighten her out.
We told lungu and pf that denying UPND their day in court to hear what they had in their petition and the continued harassment of opponents will divide the country…….now look , corruption, political violence, tribalisim, misrule are what defines PF.
Our memories are still fresh about the video in which UPND Kalulushi candidate Evaristo Mwalilino’s driver revealed how HH and GBM’s Kalulushi Constituency votes where concealed has went viral after it was aired on Prime TV.
Wanna Chiyanga is said to have confessed that his boss Mwalilino was given K21000, K360 000 for 21,966 votes and dropping the election petition respectively.
He disclosed Rupiah Banda, Kapamba Mulenga and Kelvin Fube Bwalya (KBF) and Mwalilino were heavily involved in the scheme of things.
Stealing of votes is supposed to be treasonable, because you think we are foolish you pretend as though they just fell off a van. Would this have been allowed in Afghanistan or Pakistan.
Yes Mr. Minister we got a lot of demons demonising Zambia out here. They love to worship CHILDISH god.
The only one project HH has succeeded in doing is scandalizing the nation. HH and Dipak Patel have deliberately sponsored these activities of disgruntled foreign citizens. But I want to say that even this dent is short lived because it is based on falsehood. Organizations like World Bank would not fall for the falsehood but individual organizations like African Confidential or even the Mo Ibrahim foundation have no much capacity to verify information and much of their work is based on perceptions driven by these negative sentiments created by sponsored unpatriotic citizens in diaspora like Larry Mweetwa. If I was in the position of Authority, I will think twin renewing passports for some these nationals when they need it because they are actually enemies from within. Complaining of wrong…
!mbecile has spoken!!!
Iwe ka Ken
Its Lungu s corruption and stealing of money meant for the poor old and disabled that caused donors to fire warning shots.
Unfortunately only PF supporting Zambians are too dull to see that Lungu is busy stealing and tarnishing the name of our lovely country.
I have not heard or seen any foreign envoy mention HH as the source of their info about Lungu’s stealing.
Before Lungu’s corruption was openly exposed. I said it in my youtube video entitled “LUNGU AND KAISER ARE THIEVES ” just watch it. Instead of Lungu taking my message seriously and act to stop corruption he ignored it until the donors carried out their own audits and discovered how much had been stolen by Lungu.
Stop blaming others and take responsibility.
I miss KK.
Corrupt money launderer QUEEN needs to be at MUKOBEKO.
If you you dont vote dont complain
No No you are wrong. Zambians do like their country, but what they don’t like is a political system which fails them to embetter their life. Roads and Malls are good, but the majority of the people can’t benefit from this. Sad but true.
The right to express opinions about one’s country or any idea is sacrosanct. It is not restricted by one’s location. It is protected under the domestic laws and also under international law. It is necessary to listen to factual criticism and to draw some lessons from that. When criticism is missing, then that must be a source of concern for Government. It is wrong to discourage or forbid crying about national problems and international problems. Patriotism is founded on factual understanding and desire to solve national problems in a manner that is acceptable to the vast majority of compatriots. Cheating must be discouraged and forbidden, regardless of location.
@Makasa
I totally agree with you on this one for first time. Your objectivity on this matter is absolutely clear.
Unfortunately our PF supporters will differ with you because they have succeeded in stiffling dissent at home and now thinking of extenting their crackdown abroad.
Bachepa sana ba PF
Due this article I m calling for this UN rep to be recalled as he is not there to serve the interest of the country but to serve Lungu his master.
What`s there to talk about positively, corruption, 42 wheel barrows, 50 million dollar jet, ambulances that never arrived, pastors that are arrested for discussing the budget, cancelled exams, 8-9% inflation every quarter, DFID funds, mukula trees or must we advocate for a president who said he has no vision for the country, choose a topic I don’t see anything positive. Maybe our topic should be how the president was debarred because of theft, that should be interesting as well. give me some thing positive to talk about.
We told lungu and pf that denying UPND their day in court to hear what they had in their petition and the continued harassment of opponents will divide the country…….now look , corruption, political violence, tribalisim, misrule are what defines PF.
If PF and lungu followed the rule of law and won presidential elections fair and square , every citizen would be behind lungu..
Iwe Spaka can you forget about hearing the petition issue. Learn from Zimbabwe petition or Mwakatwe petition. Kangaroo courts……………..
If you are abroad leave us alone. We dont need your in put because you dont vote. Just making noise as if you have nothing Better to do
Another cadre or cadre wanna be…..
I am sure he was one of those singing about Kabwili the other day just to get paid, cadres ….0IQ chikulu he drinks mosi at the end of the day…. they call that achievement
Do you know that part of your foreign exchange is derived from our remmitances? Some of our citizens would not be able to survive if it was not due to the assistance provided. So shut up you nearrdthall of a human being.
Us outside of the country love the country with all our hearts. Reprimanding your child does not mean you don’t love your child.
We know in your head you think PF is Zambia…well its not!!
We condemn the rubb!sh of the PF government. The pathetic way our country is being run and the pathetic leadership we have. Buying Jets when the country is crippling in debt type of nonsens3.
I wish we could recall Lungu already, we are in a desperate need for a clean up.
We need more pipo like u
Stop stealing
Shut down ministry of religion including stopping national prayer day. Your cadres are busy insulting opposition , corruption very high…….stop it
We are very busy making money and we should have no time talking about Zambian abroad
And Zambian abroad get busy. Make your money. Dont talk about us because you left.
Find a plot in uk or usa or china and build a house.
Dont come back
Why are you lying? You and your fellow PARASITES are very busy STEALING and not making money?
How much did your preferred can steal and took to panama
He will never rule. His support will forever fall short of 50+1 unless we change the constitution of Zambia to simple majority.
No person with his tribe will rule Zambia again
Uncle Daddy
“..No person with his tribe will rule Zambia again..”
Let each province rule its self, some tribes all they know is stealing., all major thefts in grz by people from this tribe, Take your useless mines and join your brothers in DRC ….
Muka siya kuba ndiye petizayamba kumu yimbilani. Mange apa ndimwe Baka bolala boyipa ngako! Stop stealing and start to work and we will praise you and sing about your good work. To say you are thieves is a compliment, you are bandits and looters you children of the devil.
Zambia’s image abroad can only be tented by the way the government is handling economical and social issues domestically.If the economy is run on the line of corruption,it will be a grey area which will dent the country’s image abroad.If freedom of assembly and association is impeded,it will attract bad reputation of the country abroad.
People are not supposed to hide their faces in the ground,like proverbial ostrich bird,in the name of blowing a subtle trumpet for a nation whose governance style is pathetic.Leadership that is anchored on fairness and equity will not attract bad advertisement from diaspora.The national cake is not shared equally.The only people who are enjoying are crooked politicians.Citizens are in abject poverty.
Until recently, Zambians in the diaspora used to stand tall, as we had a country to be proud of. Now we don’t have much to be proud of, so we tend to keep quiet….we are yet to become critical because some of us are still hoping PF can redeem itself. In recent times all the news in international media about Zambia has been negative. This has not been the making of the Zambians in the diaspora but the PF government itself. A few examples….deportation of the likes of Prof Lumumba and Tendai Biti; contracting unsustainable debt from the Chinese, the cast transfer saga at ZamPost, the ill-fated re-launch of Zambia Airways and the associated suspect purchase of VVIP jets. What does the diaspora have to do with this? These are the media stories that have been making international news about…
We should never forget about hypocrites like this one when there is a change of government.Honestly what is there to talk positively about the PF government.We are suffering today not because we are victims of a drought,famine,typhoon,war or anything like that.We are suffering because of PF and their leaders so how do expect us to talk positively about them?
we don’t talk bad about Zambia we talk bad about a kleptomaniac PF government whose interests only lies in stealing from the Zambian people. Your time of reconing will come, please improve prison conditions because it will be the new home of many of you.Edgar Lungu will have immunity so he is safe but the likes of Kampyongo, Jean kapata, Chitotela will be in prisons
I’m tired of these PF sycophants who want to make every Zambian a PF cadre singing the praises of their corrupt godfather Lungu. Did it ever occur to them that the reason we are condemning their bad deeds and demanding better governance from them is because we love our motherland Zambia so much and want it to succeed and move up from the bottom of human development and progress? Did it ever occur to them? The alternative would be to look away and ignore. I have extended family and friends who I have to perpetually support financially because of these thieves, masholi kabwalalas who are not stealing the money that is supposed to support them.
Listen to me you minion, the only people who are scandalizing the country is Lungu and yourselves, his minions numskulls. Give that advice to him…
I’m tired of these PF syc0phants who want to make every Zambian a PF cadre singing the praises of their corrupt godfather Lungu. Did it ever occur to them that the reason we are condemning their bad deeds and demanding better governance from them is because we love our motherland Zambia so much and want it to succeed and move up from the bottom of human development and progress? Did it ever occur to them? The alternative would be to look away and ignore. I have extended family and friends who I have to perpetually support financially because of these th!eves, masholi kawalas who are not stealing the money that is supposed to support them.
Listen to me you mini0n, the only people who are sc@ndalizing the country is Lungu and yourselves, his mini0ns numsknlls. Give that advice to him…
meant to write “…who are stealing…… remove ‘NOT’ from the sentence.
Never in the history of zambia has tribalisim and corruption been so high as of now……lungu is the only president who allowed a senior minister ,CK , to go on air and peddle lies and loaded tribal attacks against the Tonga , he went on air and lied of how a bemba school teacher was killed in sinazongwe , lungu was applauding him.
Lungu is not fit to rule Zambia. By the time the illiterate kaponyas realise this, Zambia will be lost.
Here is a fact that may be unknown to most: most of us get negative news about Zambia from Zambians INSIDE the country. And so we pick up publications like Africa Confidential and badaboom!!! What do you call that? Still on diasporans? So we should fight the negatives coming from where we believe people know better than we do? I am sure my friends will also have questionsto pose… this time I am asking for myself.
It is always difficult for some of us to tell lies. We always strive to tell and say the truth about our country. I know many people in diaspora who equally think the same. Let their be good governance, law and order in Zambia and we shall surely market it because then it becomes easy to give good and befitting examples. To simply go out there and outrightly give praise for rhetotic is quite difficult and embarrassing altogether. Besides the information we get from Zambia comes from there and we do not create any news in the diaspora unfortunately. Politicians and leaders in Zambia must man up and show good leadership, the good image will come from there and there would be no need to worry about badmouthing the country.