One sunny Saturday morning Chileshe was very discouraged. From his seat upon the low wall surrounding his property, he gazed sadly at his simple home, the one he had just finished building in Chilenje .His wife frequently appeared at the open door. Her furtive glances in his direction reminded him that the Mealie Meal bag was almost empty and he should be at work finishing of the website he was designing for a local company.
Nevertheless, his well built muscular body sat stolidly on the wall. His slow mind was struggling patiently with a problem for which he could find no answer. The hot, Zambian sun beat down upon him mercilessly. Beads of perspiration formed on his brow and trickled down unnoticed to lose themselves in the hairy jungle on his chest.
Chileshe was too engrossed in his thoughts to notice the white Toyota corolla that had pulled up into his driveway.
“Shani boyi,â€the smiling face of Kabwe, his best friend, said as he approached him.
“Mwalila?†Kabwe went on to say.
“Panono,†Chileshe replied barely looking up.
“How can you say panono? You have just finished building your own house. Though the painting and the finishings leave much to be desired but at least it’s yours. You are an Unza graduate, one of the best engineers around. You have even taught yourself how to design websites. You have a beautiful wife. Boyi I think God has blessed you. Now lend me K100 000 from that bulging wallet of yours. I will return it next week. You won’t even miss it,†said Kabwe.
“If I did have K100 000,†Chileshe responded gloomily, “I would not even lend it to you, for it would be all I have.â€
“What!†exclaimed Kabwe with genuine surprise. You don’t have any money, yet you sit like a statue on the wall. Why not design some websites or do some PJs?
Where is your energy my friend? Is there something bothering you?â€
“Yes, there is something bothering me,†agreed Chileshe. “It began in a dream, a senseless dream in which I thought I was a man of means. I owned massive houses. The most beautiful houses I’d ever seen. I had my own private jet, parked right here in Chilenje. I dined with people like Bill Gates. The politicians here trembled in my presence. My wallet was full of $100 notes. It must have been $100 000.I was freely giving beggars $100 notes. I had enough money to buy my wife fine clothes and jewelry and whatever I desired. My wife would go shopping in Paris, New York and London. Only when she needed things like Chibwabwa would she shop in Lusaka. It was such a glorious feeling of contentment. You would not have known me as that hard working friend. Nor would you have known my wife, she was so free from stress and her face was shining with happiness. She was the smiling bride of our early married days.â€
“Yes, that was a pleasant and senseless dream indeed†commented Kabwe , “but why should such pleasant feelings turn you into a miserable statue on the wall?â€
“Why indeed!†lamented Chileshe. “It’s because when I woke up and remembered how empty my bank account was, a feeling of rebellion swept over me. Lets discuss this Kabwe. As youngsters we were both top students and even got ZCCM scholarships. As young men, we played hard but still graduated from Unza with distinctions. As grown men we have been satisfied to work long hours and spend our money freely. We have earned millions of kwacha in the years that have passed, yet to know the joy that comes from wealth we must dream! After half a lifetime of labor, you my close friend comes to ask me for K100 000.Why can’t we acquire wealth more than enough for food, clothes, cars and these substandard houses we are building.â€
“Think of our sons,†Chileshe continued, “are they not following our footsteps? They will also go to school, get more degrees than a thermometer and still struggle with money like we do.â€
“I have never heard you talk this way in all the years of our friendship Chileshe,†a puzzled Kabwe said.
“Never in all those years did I think like this before. From morning till night I work hard as an engineer, hoping some day God would recognize my deeds and reward me with great prosperity. That is just not happening. So my heart is sad. I wish to be a wealthy man, a man of means. I wish to own lots of land, lots of houses and wear the finest clothes. I’m willing to work for these things with all the strength in my back, with all the skill in my hands and with all the intellect in my mind, but I wish my labor will also be fairly rewarded,†cried Chileshe.
good piece of work.
Perhaps the lesson should be look after the ‘ngwees’ if you want to reap a ‘Bill Gate’ of your own in future.
For most people money will never be enough notwithstanding the millions of kwacha they’ve handled in their lifetime.
A prominent Kapiri Mposhi asian businessman once told me what it took to be where his. Always save something from whatever you earn. In the 60’s he started selling ‘chai’ (tea) to travellers and saved a ngwee everyday. Over time (a long time for that matter) he achieved his goal.
Saving something…isn’t that our biggest problem in Zed?
I would like to agree with MK (Windhoek) but only to an extent. The culture of saving works very well in countries where almost everyone meets the basic needs of life.
It is very difficult if at all possible to save if you cannot even meet the basic needs like shelter and food. Look at our bank systems in Zambia. How much interest doest your money earn in a year? Its a mockery. But look at how much a bank like stanbic will charge you on a savings account as bank charges.
That is why even the levels of corruption are so high. A common trend in Zambian corruption is that first people start to steal so they can buy food and other basic neccesities but become engulffed in this corruption that it reaches unprecidented levels where they even want to secure their future because of the poverty they have undergone.
I therefore feel that it is premature to talk about saving before we can address people’s basic needs.
I live in one of the richest countries in the world where even those who dont work get paid some kind of a salary at the end of the month. This is to meet their day to day needs like shelter, clothing, food, medication etc. Those who are rich face the most problems for they are not happy because they dont have someone around be it a kid or a wife. They are lonely and worried thing when they will go to sleep whether the stock exchange will still maintain the plus trend.They can not move freely not freedom of movement for they to be kidnapped. So where is happiness of a rich man? Chileshe should be happy that God gave you a beautiful wife and a son and you have been able to use the materials that God gave you. Remember the one is real rich is the one who has people around.Try to save so that when you are sick you be able to see a doctor. Money is not everything there other things that can make you happy.
You see Easy, Those are better problems. I wouldnt be surprised if most poor Zambians would chose to have the kind of problems you are narrating to us if given a choice.
Poverty is a real problem because it takes away your dignity and confidence.
The problem with poor countries like Zambia is food on the table is still an issue.
We would love one day to have your kind of problems.
Welfare system that (Easy)#5 is talking about are so real. Problem that countries like the USA are always contending with.Welfare is not meant to be permanent and should teach work and self reliance to people. The problem is so huge that has been abused by lazy citizens. All what the Zambian people need are viable and effective policy implimentaion to provide opportunities for the people. I know that Zambian are not lazy what they lack are opportunities. For further help visit http://www.providentliving.org hopefully you can learn some lessons.
Easy #4, your submissions explain why you live in one of the richest countries,but you are still suffering.
Do you know what the welfare system is and whom it is intended for?
Think twice about it and you’ll discover that the majority are some of your relatives”african-american” and “blacks” who are lazy and know nothin but dancing and running the street combined with crime.
The welfare system is intended for those who have disabilities and are not able to work due to some illness and not for those who just want to be “robin hoods”.
The issue of MONEY and HAPPINESS is one that has been a subject of much debate in every generation since the dawn of civilization.
It would be absurd to deny the importance of money in a civilized society. someone has said that “nothing can take place of money in the arena in which it is used”.
The importance of money stems from what it represents and what one can get in exchange for it. Speaking of money, King Solomon said “money answers all things”. Money is the ultimate service and therefore its influence on peoples lives cannot be denied!
So, to just say that “money is not everything” and then end at that is to give a “half truth” which is NO truth at all. Money may not be everything at all times but i assure you it is something.
Kayata I didnt see your comments earlier I would have commented there and then. I am surprised of your ingorancy concerning this issue. An Africa has not be lazy or a robber less alone he is not given same opportunities like colourless brothers and sisters of yours. Give an Black person to do something he will do it even much far better than anyone you would think. I wish I knew which side you belong because I see that you a lost sheep who doesnt know the reality of life. This wlefare system you are talking about its there to contact the same problems you have mentioned. Crime is very low even unhead of.
If you dont know dancing is a talent and if you do it at the right place it can bring you income. Dont be blind forded see take the bull by its horns. Money is nothing you need ideas to use it. Knowledge can be transformed in money. Woke up !!!!
This story actually depicts the typical scenario a majority of us find ourselves in.We work our butts off at school get degrees,work our butts off for some company and still struggle.To add salt to the wound those guys who used to come last in class sometimes make more money than us “clever” ones.I have a cousin who failed grade 12,you should see the house he lives in.My whole house would fit his living room.Please someone out there any solutions for us frustrated graduates!
MONEY IS NEVER ENOUGH NO WONDER BILL GATES IS STILL WORKING FOR HIS COMPANY.THE BEST THING IS TO AVOID AN EXCESSIVE LOVE OF MONEY FOR IT IS THE ROOT TO ALL EVIL.NEVER THE LESS IT IS. A NICE PIECE OF WORK
“The race is not for the fast nor the swift but time and chance happens to them all” my bible says.Firstly,
i believe every human being on earth was meant to have
a fruitful life on earth in all aspects, be it financial,family,Academics & professional.It would be totally unrealistic to conclude that we can be happy
without money because a POOR church,a POOR man,a POOR
Nation has no regard.God’s will is not for any of us to be BROKE…(POOR).The church itself puts emphasis on financial independence.I must make it clear that Geographical location is no excuse for any one of us to sit back and play the BLAME GAME.Blame the government for their Economic mismanagement,corruption etc,yes these things are retrogressive to our National economy but let it be known that You as an individual has the capacity of
designing your own PERSONAL ECONOMY and live a life
you so desire to live when you work at it prayerfuly and consistently.God bless you all
Its not easy to get rich in Zambia, but its possible. One need vision, discipline and determination. Corruption is a vice which will always draw us backwards. We need to fight it in Zambia. Levy is a product of corruption as a result he cant do much to stop the vice. His hands are tired. They smell corrution too. Our Zed has all it needs to improve the lives of its people. The money our leaders have abuse or misused or stolen is enough to improve millions of lives. Foreigner wont develop Zed. They may help but we have to lead the way. Our people needs to be impowered economically. We need to use our resources wisely to the benefits of Zed. Our current crop of leaders seem not to have any ideas on how to improve the welfare of Zambian. They are so controlled by IMF/World bank and the Donor community. Lets wake up Zambians and take the lead. If we fail, well at least we will say we tried. Unlike now, we have left everythings in the hands of foriegners. God bless you peace loving people
I don’t see any reference about where this was copied from. You should encourage your readers to read the book which is titled “The richest man in Babylon”. If we all followed the advice in the book Zambians would be in a much better situation financially. If you can get this book and read it!
The Chileshe case study highlights the need for self-sufficiency through self enterpreneurial engagements. Work for yourself and earn money from your own initiatives. Don’t always think of work as an employee of GRZ,KCM,NGO, or some one out there. As Zambians, we are not enterprising enough to take on risks and create wealth for ourselves as individuals. We always want to live on a Salary from somewhere….which of course has never been enough. There’s boundless satisfaction and a sense of self-fulfilment that comes from that little money earned from your own little business initiative. You are your own employer and Master of your destiny. Start small yes, but start somewhere. The first nascent years may be turbulent but certainly circumscribed and just like the pangs of pre-natal labour; all feels hell to the point of despondency, but once delivered (and good Midwives are abundant)it’s all an indescribable feeling of pleasure, pure ecstacy as the new born baby yells out the first cry!
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I am extremely offended. I am an African American female and Kayata, there is so much for you to learn. These blacks that you deem to be “robin hoods” are YOUR relatives. I do not understand when Africans speak vile words against AFRICAN Americans. Most of the people in the United States that are on Medicaid, Welfare, TANF, and other government programs are CAUCASIAN! And that is a fact. Please do research before you speak ignorantly. Do research on how punishment for crime is not given accordingly and justifiably. Your black brothers and sisters will do more time for petty crimes than will caucasians. More white men commit rapes on women, than black men. Sorry to ramble on, but you really pissed me off.
guys is it right to call ourselves black? When did the colour black become the spokescolour for brown. black is usually associated with evil,why have we continued to perpetuate what some racist person decided to call us years ago? I have never seen a black skinned person on this planet.if you have please let us know where.
Eko baba iwe Jimmy. Haven’t you seen the guys from Sudan? And those from Sri-Lanka, Bangladesh and India? However, your argument still stands. If there are black people on many continents why give the label to those in Africa only? Is this out of contempt? Who is Black? It may be racist or it may be innocuous.
Graduates wait for a white color job hence will continue to languish. i remeber when i used to sell maize on trucks. This is after i completed my degree! a year down the line i got a good job , but for sure i was maikng more than i am making now. I started working to fufill my school and number of years i spent in school but for sure the informal sector provides more than the Office jobs we cry for.
Maybe enterprenuership should be incoparated in all university programmes so the grads. emergy out as job creator rather than job seekers…