For obvious reasons, it has become a ritual for us to get ourselves a copy of our favorite tabloid, News Diggers and keep ourselves abreast with news and current affairs before we start our day.
Recently, we were rather flabbergasted to be greeted by the following screaming headline in the newspaper; “Dolika set to challenge HH!”
As it definitely wasn’t April Fool’s day, we took it upon ourselves to switch to social media for further confirmation. The story was indeed trending on several platforms.
Was this some kind of a joke? Who the heck is this Dolika Banda? We don’t know her in Chibolya! Her name doesn’t ring a bell for those in Chipulukusu….. And she’s definitely a stranger to those in Kashinakazhi! Ever imbued with the curiosity of the cat, we reached out to our mothers and grand mothers plying their trade in places such as Kamulomo, Kabuchende and Chisokone markets…..they don’t know her!
What’s motivating Ruphia Banda’s niece to take this route apart from perhaps name recognition, one is tempted to ask.
It appears Dolika has an impressive CV according to what we’ve gathered so far: she sat on the board of Standard Chartered Bank where she obviously got to enjoy copius amounts of tea and countless cookies; she served as non executive director at CDC, she had a stint at African Risk Capacity Insurance as CEO and of course held senior positions at Barclays Bank and Citibank, among others.
But wait a minute…..are these sufficient credentials to impregnate someone with a desire to gun for State House? This is where we get it wrong as Africans.
Barak Obama went on to emerge as one of the best US Presidents, not because he came along with an array of qualifications from the Ivy league or indeed a stint at Wall Street. He had an impeccable track record to his name as a community mobiliser – fighting tooth and nail for decent housing and social services for marginalised folks in the slam areas of Chicago, Illinois!
Think again ba Dolika before those people wrongly advising you chew your money. Do you have a heart for the people? Have you ever done community work? How many orphans and vulnerable children have you rescued from their quagmire?
Until next time….
Prince Bill M. Kaping’a
Political/Social Analyst
Zambezi.
This is a missed call
Barack Obama is a graduate of Harvard University and it’s part of the Ivy League. It’s correct to say that Obama didn’t just rely on his Ivy League education. He had a long history of community engagement in Chicago. His name was therefore not an unknown quantity in the politics of one of America’s biggest cities. As for Dolika Banda, she’s eligible and qualified to stand for office. I cannot take issue with the right of every citizen to show interest in being President of Zambia. Yes, it will be rough for Dolika Banda but she should be ready for it.
She could turn out to be a credible and articulate contender with no political skeletons for opponents to attack
She was also a Director at the World Bank. This woman has credentials and it really is time for a woman to run this show.
The menfolk are too much in their egos…..
Indeed this is a missed call. A terrible missed call!
Would you write about a man like this? Tea and cookies. It is “slums” not slams.
Welcome to the league and hot seat mama, however, for 2026 to 2041 the battle outcome is already known let us not pretend as if we do not know.
Zambia currently needs people who can be in the forefront in invention, innovation and manufacturing, and so the writing is very clear having education is just 20% of what is needed 80% Zambia need a person who can lead with examples in invention and innovation not boardroom officers or corporate governance educators, those are just theorists not required at all they are just time waisters full stop. Can you imagine Zambia @ 61 years old we are still failing to manufacture our own paracetamol or a needle and now here we busy clapping for a boardroom person joining politics what kind of thinking is this sure?
Utter rot! This is the kind of stupidity that has led to duds running and ruining this country and continent. Your Satas, Lungus, Chilubas and ilk weren´t really theoristis now, were they? To diminish the importance and role of education is just madness. You need this base but it is not the only prerequisite.
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