By Dr. Charles Ngoma
One good thing that one can have in life, is optimism. It is optimism that helped our fathers to fight colonialism and expect to be able to wrest power from the United Kingdom and set on a path to self determination and universal sufferage. By midnight, 23rd October 1964, Zambians were poised to face the future with joyous optimism that the country would be better off being ruled by its own native peoples and of their choice. The promises of free education, free health care and ‘an egg a day for breakfast’ elevated the spirits of our people. I was young then but I can well remember with what enthusiasm independence from Britain was greeted in 1964. From that day onwards, as school children, we looked forward to independence day more than to Christmas. We were all one Zambia and one nation. Our football fields hosted various celebrations on each successive independence day and we were treated to buns, biscuits and soft drinks to quench our thirst in the seering heat of the October sun. We watched traditional dances, military bands and several different competitions with football being the climax of the events in the late afternoon. It was always a joy to celebrate independence!
Shortly after independence, there was something else to look forward to, the public ownership of the means of production. The state took over the mines, the super stores, the public transport system and many other areas of economic activity. Private nursing homes were outlawed and we all went to the state or Church owned hospitals and schools. Things were looking good. We sung ‘Dziko la Zambia ndilapamwamba (the land of Zambia is rich)’ ‘Onani nsomba mu Kariba… kopa mumigodi…(look at the fish in Kariba… copper in the mines)’ Inspite of the attacks from a vastly superior military force from the south, we were proud of our military men and women in uniform. Our own crop of pop stars sung ‘tiyeni tiyamike masoja athu; Smith walephera kulowa mu Zambia (let us extol our soldiers; Smith has failed to enter Zambia) and that in spite of the fact that the Selous scouts were walking into Zambia at will!
[pullquote]We sung ‘Dziko la Zambia ndilapamwamba (the land of Zambia is rich)’ ‘Onani nsomba mu Kariba… kopa mumigodi…(look at the fish in Kariba… copper in the mines)[/pullquote]
20 years after independence, discontentment began to set in. Few of our people decided to take up arms to overthrow the government and bring in a new system, but they did not succeed because the majority of the Zambian people were happy with the status quo. I do not understand how we all generally appeared so happy and content with the diminishing returns from our investment in UNIP in general and Dr Kaunda in particular. There may have been the fear of the invisible force of the secret intelligence unit. There were rumours of people disappearing, but I have no personal knowledge of anyone. The only trouble spot was the University of Zambia. Every now and then students got into cock-fights with the State. The State would close the institution, send the students packing and while everyone was away, round up the student leaders and read the riot act to them. When UNZA reopened, everything was quiet and back to normal.
In general, there was optimism among the public that things would get better. We genuinely loved Dr Kaunda and whether forced to or not, we lined up the streets to have a glimpse of the man or even perhaps shake his hand. There was that aura of authority about him that just endeared him to us. Dr Kaunda is charming and however you look at the man, he has a way of having his own way without you feeling he has wronged you.
Late 1980’s, the Emperor was found to have no clothes and the optimism of over two decades temporarily melted away and Zambians opened their eyes to reality. It was not entirely Dr Kaunda’s fault, but we had austerity programs thrust upon us from the financial oligarchs that it was clear to survive we needed to ditch the captain. That we did in 1991. A former Trade Unionist standing at less than 5 feet brought a new optimism into the country. Indeed, there was so much goodwill world wide that we could expect things to get better, and get better they did but not after much more suffering of the people.
The last 20 years have seen lives getting better for Zambians in many ways. Notwithstanding the high death rate and child mortality, the population has continued to grow at one of the highest rates in the world. For the first time, Zambia has a growing economy at about 6%, inflation in single digits and numerous jobs are and have been created over the last 10 years. There is money everywhere, going by the infrastructure developments taking place in the cities. The only difference this time round is that there is a dearth of optimism among the people. This is what happens in a capitalist economy. The rich get richer while the poor get poorer. The only way that Zambians can begin to benefit from the economic boom, is the creation of a welfare state.
I am one totally against feeding lazy and good for nothing people, but for Zambia the time has come to tax the ‘haves’ in order to provide for the ‘haves not.’ This welfare state may take many forms but in general, it must provide for the vulnerable in our society. I cannot accept that we have $2.5 billion in surplus and yet thousands of street children are sleeping on rough and dusty pavements and going hungry night after night. The Zambian people have never violently risen up in arms to overthrow their rulers, but have borne with fortitude and dignity all the austerity measures that were thrust upon them, barring a few riots here and there. The Zambian worker has been called all sorts of names as being lazy and sometimes corrupt, but our workers still trawl to their desks on empty stomachs, our teachers still teach in dilapidated classrooms, our nurses still serve their patients in hospitals without drugs and facilities and our police officers still fight crime with very limited resources. Most Zambians take home a pay package that can hardly take them through the month and they come to the end of the salary before the month ends.
[pullquote]I cannot accept that we have $2.5 billion in surplus and yet thousands of street children are sleeping on rough and dusty pavements and going hungry night after night.[/pullquote]
Usually it is people who enter public office who are praised as serving the country, but this is not the case at all. So far, it looks like many enter public service to enrich themselves and to set themselves above the law and above every one else. Members of Parliament are the only employees who determine their own remuneration without regard to production and efficiency. Then there is the ‘do you know who I am’ syndrome that they want to use to get away with murder! The politicians who travel out of the country and bring in personal goods without paying duty must be named and shamed by our hard working Customs officers. It is the ordinary Zambian worker who is serving the country and it is this worker who must be praised. When he comes to retirement he must be allowed to spend the rest of his life on a decent pension and live his life in pride and dignity. Many are forced to scrounge and depend on their offspring to provide for them. For God’s sake, these men and women built our country, taught our leaders and is this the way to reward them? Meanwhile, politicians are given a hefty gratuity and at retirement some are provided with all the creature comforts they need, though some were even responsible for bringing us to this pretty pass!
‘Tukaba bwino kuntanshi’ so the saying goes. We have been and we still are a very optimistic people. Many a foreign visitor to Zambia has testified about the warmth and smiles of Zambians. Zambians are not grumpy and ill tempered and we should not be made to change simply because someone wants us to wake up one morning and be angry people that we are not. As we go to the polls in just a few weeks time, let the people who want to lead us cultivate but not abuse the optimism of Zambians by fulfilling their promises, serving diligently and in national interest. Do not take the optimism for granted. It is time that Zambians were rewarded for what they have endured all these years and receive a good return from their investment deposited in 1964.
I can only reiterate the words spoken to Abraham Lincoln after the civil war, ‘these men served the nation and now the nation must serve them.’
