By Kapya Kaoma
South Africa must recognize that Zambia is not a source of free rands. It is unacceptable to see Zambian nationals humiliated amid South Africa’s Afrophobia while South African goods continue to flood our markets.
It is not true leadership to urge Zambians living in South Africa to return home. Many have built lives and acquired property there, yet some now face pressure to dispose of their assets without fair compensation. Neither should our leaders ignore the pain and frustrations that is driving young people to protest against South Africa. If the South African government expects fairness, then Zambia should respond with fairness as well.
We lose billions through South African companies operating in Zambia, yet many South Africans behave as though they are our superiors. It is time to say enough.
President Kaunda’s Pan-African philosophy has shaped our economic policies. Many of us do not even understand how badly that philosophy has conditioned us to overlook that African nations are economically competing with one another. Even our national anthem reflects this false ideal:
“Africa is our own motherland,
Fashioned with and blessed by God’s good hand,
Let us all her people join as one,
Brothers under the sun,
All one, strong and free.”
But independent South Africa has proved that this vision is not universal. If South Africans do not regard us as brothers and sisters, why should we insist on that narrative? The Southern African Development Community (SADC) was created to unite us, but South Africa has chosen to go it alone.
If South Africans do not want even small informal businesses run by African immigrants because they believe the profits are sent back to their home countries, why should Zambia allow multinational South African companies to extract billions from our economy? Why should we continue granting them tax incentives and other privileges?
With elections approaching, we should demand clarity from politicians on the dominance of South African companies in our economy. Of course, many politicians are reluctant to challenge South Africa. Some own property in that country; others have investments in South African businesses. Meanwhile, ordinary Zambians subsidize the South African economy through its countless companies operating in Zambia. As a nation, we lose billions.
Let’s face it. Why is MTN Group thriving in Zambia while Zamtel continues to struggle? Why should Zamtel keep losing customers and revenue to a foreign competitor? Are we incapable of operating a successful national telecommunications company? The same question applies to MultiChoice’s DStv service. Why should Zambia not strengthen its own broadcasting capacity through the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation?
The same applies to banks, supermarkets, and retail chains. Why should Shoprite Holdings and its subsidiaries dominate our grocery sector? What makes Pep stores so exceptional? Are Zambians incapable of running their own retail businesses?
The answer is clear–unless we make a political choice, we will remain enslaved to South Africa.
So if the government is serious about empowering Zambians, it should implement policies that prioritize local ownership. Zambians could invest in these sectors if they received the same incentives that governments have extended to South African investors for almost four decades. Indeed, many of these businesses could even be operated by the workers themselves if given the opportunity and political support.
Politicians must remember that Zambia made enormous sacrifices to support South Africa during apartheid. The economic cost was in billions of dollars then. Today, by purchasing South African products, with the profits flowing back to South Africa, we are still paying.
Yet South African companies will not build Zambia. We only provide the market. Consumers spend their money in Shoprite stores, but Shoprite does not clean our streets or solve our infrastructure challenges. Instead, the environmental costs—from plastic bags to other waste—are totally borne by our communities.
Enough of Zambia serving as a market for South African businesses. Zambians have the capacity to own and manage telecommunications companies, broadcasters, supermarkets, and retail chains. South Africa has chosen to prioritize South Africans. Zambia must also prioritize Zambians.
It is time to stop playing the role of the perpetual “good Pan-Africanist.” South Africa must bear the consequences of humiliating fellow Africans. But will it? No! Too many of our politicians understand the game. As long as money continues to flow in their personal accounts, they remain unwilling to defend Zambia’s national interest.
