By Gerald Nkisu Katayi
Christmas time is visitation time! Zambians living abroad take time to visit with families back home. This author was not an exception. After many visits and sight seeing, I decided to grab a book at the Lusaka City Library. It was somehow scary to walk directly to the library; Katondo Street where the library is located was occupied by illegal money changers. I was thinking; if I walked through this road to the library, bystanders will think, I am a “dealer.” Or what will bypasses think I was doing in the notorious Katondo Street?
I amassed some strength, took a deep breathe and walked past the illegal money changers, ignoring their winks and their “talking eyes” to the Library entrance. Just as I entered, I could not believe what I saw. The Library was in a deplorable state; the chairs were broken, the paint on the walls was pealing off, instead of it being a place to house a collection of books, magazines etc, the whole inside looked like an archive, a place where public records or other historical documents are kept. Only one reader was inside, reading a news paper, I think.
I moved from shelf to shelf, all the books that I saw were old, pages falling away just as I touched the books.It was as though the books had been eaten by termites. The books were torn, dilapidated, and “over read.” The books just looked finished. I began to wonder what useful information can be obtained from the materials in the library. The materials are outdated. Can anyone benefit by doing a research using these 20 plus years old books that are stacked here and his or her work be relevant? I went to the front desk for some inquiry. I asked the two ladies I found there how frequent they receive new consignments of books or any other reading materials? The answer was, “just at random, books just come in.” My second question was, when did you last get your delivery? No one could remember, probably before they were even employed.
Zambia is a developing country.We are talking of eradicating illiteracy among the citizenry, how can this be possible when places they are supposed to get information is not updated? The reading culture is being killed when in other countries it is being nurtured.
What has gone wrong with todays’ leaders? What do the Librarian and other mangers? They are paid every month for doing what? What is their daily routine? Any check lists? Do they submit reports to their superiors on matters of the library? And do these superiors visit the library for a spot-check?
Lusaka City Library is now a museum. The City Council, politicians, even embassies should come in and help the situation at the library. For the Zambians abroad, this is time to work together and get some books donated from different universities, churches, schools and printing companies. Ways and means of shipping these reading materials to Zambia must be revisited as well; this way, the library will receive new life and our country men and women will benefit from the knowledge they will acquire.
For the illegal money changers, let the government find a lasting solution to this problem. The police post is few meters away from where these criminals change their money. Why are they being entertained? Let the entrance to the library, the door to knowledge be clear, so that those who seek may find understanding.
Mr. Gerald Nkisu Katayi should not blame any one for deplorable state of LCC library its guys like you who ve opted to stay abroad in comfort. Did Mr. Katayi ever think of even donating the old magazines and other materials he has broad. Its simple as that things have fallen apart here. Those charged with public responsibilities are busy thinking of how they can line their pockets. LCC needs to relocate the library to Civic Centre coz the curent location is very noisy and small. I guess this Gerald Nkisu Katayi is kalunda from Mwinilunga. I remember a father Gerald of 1970’s. In any case I thank you by making this subject known to the public otherwise the guys at Civic centre have never thought of buying books etc for the city libraries in compounds other than buying cars for the top guys
this is so true..the illegal money changers or thieves should be moved from that street..the library has to be empowered and renovated..knowledge is power..
Iyo ba mayo, you have shown true insansa…
Angela Chifire welldone my girl.. that’s the spirit.
Education is the key to success, always, ehh almost always…
PF 2 – MMD 0. Both PF Goals scored by GBM. He He He He
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) says it will not prosecute PF president Michael Sata and Kasama Central Member of Parliament Geoffrey Mwamba concerning the US$100,000 transaction at Finance Bank.
DEC spokesperson John Nyawali said this Wednesday morning that DEC will instead hand over the matter to Zambia Revenue Authority and Bank of Zambia for consideration and possible prosecution.
Nyawali said this follows extensive consultations with the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
He also disclosed that Sata through his lawyers has been given back two of his motor vehicles which were seized from him as part of the investigations.
He said DEC has concluded investigations into the matter
#1, why are you speaking like that? The person is highlighting the situation there. You could also go into the City Library and share your findings with us.
It is not the author’s responsibility to donate to the Library. Central/Local Government has/have the responsibility of planning, sourcing and funding the Library.
Living abroad is not a crime, or is it?
At your worst, did you have to mention anyone’s tribe? You must be ashamed of yourself.
Nubera 1! what are you trying to say kanshi? Gerald in his own term wnet to the library and gave us this piture of our countr and has even proded us to help out and yet you go and call him names. come on my man! the guys has done what a true Zambia can do to highlight a problem and offer some solution. The question he has asked too need answers and it is people like you who just leave a problem the way it is. Lets learn to read and understand instead of jumping the gun and name calling.
# 1 The problem is we are in denial about the status of our country. I don not think that place is even fit to be called a Library.And why bring in personal issues?
Research from our university has indicated that library facilities like the one described in the article have contributed to the poor reading culture in our country.
I agree with the author,the central/local government can renovate and computerize the library and even introcude e-facilities including internet. So many books are avalable out there from developed countries which are not used and could prove useful to us. Government can also procure computers for the libraries at a subsidized rate.This is something which can easily be done, it simply needs the will power!
That is the MMD for you – when they came into power they thought everything KK was doing was evil which they needed to get rid off – imagine if they could sale the mines for a song and daring close a long list of companies, Zambia Airs, Kapiri Glass, Mwinulunga Pineapple, Mansa batterries etc they could care about libraries? These are people who have refused to collect more tax from the mines. Do you really think they could care to repair and refurbish libraries? They are building more schools for campaigns but they want to sale them when done! They have opted to increase borrowing than have fiscal discipline. The MMD are tired. You can’t squeeze water from a dry clothe. Whether it is roads, play parks, health, education – just so many things going wrong. Time to GO for MMD
That is a PF/Kaponya run library.
The PF/kaponyas have failed to utilise all those books in their library to run LCC effectively.
The author did well to bring this issue to light and his suggested solution. It is a pity that things have deteriorated in this manner. Lusaka MPs and councilors are preoccupied with sharing land instead of looking into isses such as this one. PF councilor in Mtendere allocated land which belongs to the library to someone who wants to put up a tavern/bar and you saw on Muvi TV how people in this area were protesting against this move but I don’t think this has worked because when the councilor was interviewed he insisted that this was agreed upon in the council meeting. I wonder if this is how PF values libraries if they can take such a move to sale land to build a bar where the library is. Please those who have the means donate those books and magazines our children need them badly.
First thank u for comparing the dilapidated Zambian library in Katondo to those u see abroad. I also visited Ndola library where they charge K500 per day. I wondered how they can afford to pay salaries and new books if that library is to be self sustaining?
We need new insights on how we should update our libraries in Zed.
#1,Gerald is a thousand times better than you.Here is a concerned Zambian who brings to light the plight of the public library in Lusaka, and you react by insulting him?So what if he comes from Mwinilunga? Isn’t he a Zambian? Am a Northerner myself and the few people(less than ten) I have met from that part of Zambia,I haven’t seen anything wrong with them.This is the kind of attitude that always keeps us Africans down.There’s nothing wrong with living abroad.Please be progressive.
MY MASTER”S VOICE. I think you need to upgrade your thinking. We can not all live in Zambia, even when we are pround Zambians. People leave their villages for the city, our grandparents went to South Africa, I think for Wenela or something like that. So whats wrong with living abroad? You are mentioning the 1970’s, you are an old soul and yet your reasoning can not match your age. I am from Mwinilunga myself, so tell me the matter with that. I am also Lunda, am I not Zambian? is Zambia for more for other people than us from Mwinilunga?
Anyway, thank you Mr. Nkisu for the article, let us work hard to develop our country.
This is really sad, I used to read from that library when I was a kid and it’s heart-wrenching to learn this is how bad it is.
Can someone please give us contact details of people to send books to. I have been trying to send tonnes of books that are donated to me by libraries because I told them about libraries in Zambia and I got so many books but every time I try to contact people so I can arrange shipping them I get to a dead end but I will not give up till we can start shipping them. We need physicall addresses, landline contact numbers, email addresses and then we will begin sending the books. All it takes is organisation, unity in vision and determination. Lets share ideas of how we can do this. I think we are smart enough to be able to do. Most libraries in the developed world are overs-tocked and it costs them money to recycle books so offer to take them for free and they will be glad to give them to you.
What we need are privately run libraries.. period
ba #1 kwena you are a very dull chap…
You are talking of a library in Lusaka, at the Zambian High Commission in London, the leaflets on Zambia, marjority were outdated.
Its so sad, when you read the zambian papers, the politicians are so focused on politics only, they have no clue on governing the country, most of the times they are quarelling amongst themselves. Do the Council exist? even if the books are donated there is no proper organisation?
Many minister do not work. they became MPs because they are popular where they come from. Given responsibilities they fail to perform. The Minister responsible for Libraries does not even know that they Exist.
I was born in Luanshya but grew up in Fort Jmeson and have spent most of my life in Zambia.
I was horrified when a friend who had recently moved to Lusaka told me that there were no library facilities.
I left when Kaunda was still the president and he and his gang of UNIP hooligans had destroyed a beautiful, prosperous country.
What I remember most about Kaunda was when he ranted and raved about the evils of colonialism and his success in ruining most of what the colonialists left behind, with libraries being only one casualty.
I also remember the Mukuyu tree in Ndola where the Arab slave traders held their markets. The elimination of the Arab slave trade (which had plagued the whole of east and central Africa for a thousand years) is something that was responsible for.
Hi Gerald, I hope you remember me. I’m Ellis’ wife. Ellis has been concerned about you. Is there a way he can contact you. He’d love to know that you are doing okay. I’ve enjoyed reading your articles.
THANKS GERALD FOR BRINGING FORWARD THE MATER, WITH THIS REVOLUTION WORLD WE ARE LIVING TODAY INFORMATION HAS BECOME INDISPENSABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS INEVITABLE SO ITS ALL OUR DUTY ESPECIALY THE COUNCIL AND GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS INFORMATION IN LIBRARIES IN ALL FORMATS THAT MEET THE USERS NEEDS AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME AS THIS PROMOTES A READING CULTURE AND ERADICATE ILLITERACY.