I was reading one of the articles in one of the tabloids in our Zambian papers after the President’s visit recent to UK which alluded to the Zambians in attendance at the meeting to have come from Nursing Home jobs in a derogatory manner. This prompted me to shade some light on what a Nursing Home is and what is involved.
In the developed world,the unemployment rate is very small they are highly industrialised to an extent that even the 18 years olds are absorbed in the job sector.Because of the advance in medicine and good economies the life expectancy is very high for example UK -80.It is not uncommon to see 90 year olds walking the streets and going about life.People are living way into the 100s.Will not talk about our life expectancy.
Because of high industrialisation,whilst we are able to look after our elderly for reasons already explained it is not always possible for the elderly to be looked after in their own homes in the developed world.They are prone to be left alone incur falls,dehydrate as they may not drink or cook for themselves etc.
[pullquote]Do we know were our senior citizens are in Zambia and under what conditions they live in? Who regulates their care? Do we have a prominent social services for the elderly? That is the bigger picture.[/pullquote]
Reluctantly the families take them into Nursing Homes to be looked after so that they can be able to go about lives with the peace of mind that their Grand parent or father is being looked after by trained and qualified people.Regularly they come in to check on them and spend time with them.They love their people just as much as we do.It is something they do not enjoy doing.Do we know were our senior citizens are in Zambia and under what conditions they live in? Who regulates their care? Do we have a prominent social services for the elderly? That is the bigger picture.
The biggest problem in the health sector today in the developed world is care for the elderly as they live longer.The longer they live the more ailments they incur.Dementia or mental illness being the commonest.The more medication they take the more Nurses they will need to care for them.
The Nursing Home is therefore a well designed home for people who could as well be young e.g the disabled people whose needs cannot be cared for at home or the elderly who may have other ailments that entail 24 hours care.
I have worked for 15 years old disabled people in a nursing home in England. Don’t we have Disabled people in Zambia? How do we look after them? Another Bigger Picture. A Nursing Home has en-suite rooms for occupants,clean environment.Medical equipment that are to a standard of a clinic or hospital for managing the residents. It’s not a dumping place as it is insinuated.
[pullquote]I have worked for 15 years old disabled people in a nursing home in England. Don’t we have Disabled people in Zambia? How do we look after them? Another Bigger Picture.[/pullquote]
Maybe because we do not grow old in Zambia, old age is oftenly ensnared at and those that care after the elderly are looked down upon.Time catches up with all,in a flush of the pan we grow old and we depend on other people to look after us and this is what it is.To mock anybody working in a Nursing Home looking after the elderly is missing the tangent and being cheap to the lowest core. We all do have our Grand parents our own fathers and mothers,we need to respect and set a good example to the young ones.For tomorrow our turn comes.
Reminds me of an old adage of a man who had a son 12 years old and kept his 90 year old Father.Every day the man quarrelled with his wife who complained of how dirty the old man, her in-law was,mucus from his nostrils,defaecating and urinating in his pants etc making his house smell.
The wife gave the man an ultimatum to chose between him and his 90 year old father.The man decided to do away with his father,he got a wheelbarrow put the old man on it and asked his son to escort him to the River which was crocodile infested. He took the man there and tipped him into the river.After he had done that he said now we will have peace in the House. He is gone, no more arguments and no more bad smells.The Son agreed with him but asked him just one more favour, to keep the wheelbarrow so that when he grows old too he can tip him in the same river.
The Nursing Home oftenly employs a Nurse and a Health Care Assistant.The Nurse gives medication to the residents and sometimes a Health Care Assistant does as well if trained. Washing and cleaning someone vulnerable is a responsibility we all undertake even in our own homes,for a Nurse that is the reality, that is part of the job we gladly do and swore to do even in Zambia.Nursing does not change just because it’s being practised in England or Newzealand,it has never been a white colour job and will never be.Hence sticking our hands in the mud is part of the game whether on planet mars or pluto.Nurses and Carers are respectable people in the western world who cannot be ensnared at by any ignoramus.
[pullquote]Washing and cleaning someone vulnerable is a responsibility we all undertake even in our own homes,for a Nurse that is the reality, that is part of the job we gladly do and swore to do even in Zambia[/pullquote]
The community is well vested in what they do even if they do not attract a footballers wage.Their job is very very important.
A Nurse in England earns a minimum wage of £12 per hour whether in a Nursing Home or Hospital whilst could even go up to £50 or £150 per hour on Agency or locum shift depending on day of the month,area of work etc.A Health care assistant earns minimum of £6.50 per hour but could earn up to £15 per hour on Agency or locum.Varying Nurses with varying experiences and specialisations are on varying salary scale.Would however not surprise me that they are Nurses who earn as much as £70,000 per annum.Now I know this is pocket money for sweets for a lot of people back home with farms and loads of building investments to show off for,but the point is these are British,Australian,Canadian or wherever developed country tax payers whose money is sent back to our country Zambia in the form of aid or donor funds and goes to enrich a few people’s pockets in the form of all manner of corruption.Seminars,workshops,programmes and projects etc
Working in a Nursing Home does not mean one is poor or impoverished. It’s a misconception which needs to be cleared.My Sister visiting me from home was of the view that only Zambians and other foreigners do these jobs,some form of slavery-another myth,the owners of the country do these jobs too and they are in the majority and the pattern of shifts and work hours are the same.What I can get out of this is that as Zambians we are not so entrenched into hard work,we are quick money orientated .We need a cultural re-orientation,to respect work no matter what type of work it is.A Kamalasha (man who burns charcoal) deserves respect it’s a job as well.
[pullquote]My Sister visiting me from home was of the view that only Zambians and other foreigners do these jobs,some form of slavery-another myth,the owners of the country do these jobs too and they are in the majority and the pattern of shifts and work hours are the same[/pullquote]
The bulk of Zambian nurses practising in UK or other developed countries have got dealings with Nursing Homes including myself writing the article.My most fulfilling role as a Nurse in my 21 years of nursing has been caring for the elderly,they are such a wonderful lot.The level of appreciation you get from caring for the elderly is so addictive.I work in hospitals in the United Kingdom and In Nursing Homes and I do not find any of the two inferior to the other.The care staff as well do an insurmountable job.The amount of ignorance is what boggles my mind and the perspective of what a job should be.Just as the old adage goes the richest place is the Grave yard as thus were a lot of unfinished plans lie;the Nursing Home for the elderly is the other.
It is always important to discuss the core issues of a subject matter without being derogatory.The developed world respects any job done by anybody.It is a world were a plumber gets married to a medical Doctor.Were a man who unblocks sewer pipes comes in a Mercedes Benz to work.A security guard is respected.If we respect every job in Zambia some of these un progressive utterances will phase out of our mouths and we will focus on what builds the country.
[pullquote]What I can get out of this is that as Zambians we are not so entrenched into hard work,we are quick money orientated .We need a cultural re-orientation,to respect work no matter what type of work it is. A Kamalasha (man who burns charcoal) deserves respect it’s a job as well.[/pullquote]
I remember in 2001 Doctors were loaded on a truck in Lusaka and locked up in cells for striking and requesting for an increased supply in Medical and surgical supplies. Today most of those Doctors are abroad, they left, were they are they are treated like celebrities.Some people, who are in Government today, were in Government then when that was happening and a more reconciliatory approach and apologetic approach would be expected in dealing with the Diaspora issues.
Being derogatory does not help:and as PK Chishala sung “Ichalo lifupa bakolokotakofye bwasha.” We seem stuck in the past approach to issues. Who loses out? Not the people we target but the vulnerable people.The world is like a bone enjoyed after a meal you cannot swallow a bone but only pick out the meat and the sinews,the bone is left and true we will all leave the bone in what state God knows.
KALEBALIKA!
Written by Sakala Jacob Registered Nurse Working in the United Kingdom.
Trush
kayaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree, this is not trash but the truth with a lot of facts. # 1, did u mean trash or trush?
we r still stone age backwardness we will develop and hopefully evolve in the years to come, jst roll zed. joking its our primitive president dont worry.
I agree with some of the points, in developed nations any JOB one does is respected. In Zambia people judge you on what you do. In the USA each individual is respected for the fact that they got a job. Now with regards to the elderly as Africans we do this all the time, we take care of our own so that when out time comes, our nephews and other relatives will take care of us. In the US, people or relatives have no time for the old and that is one of the reasons the old have to be sent in nursing homes but in what ever way nursing homes creats employment to the citizens
Thanks for the article. Our people back home need to be told the truth. What surprises me is that some of the cabinet ministers have their wives working in the UK. Honestly they should know the truth about all this. People should learn to tame their tongues especially those in leadership. Can the working conditions and environment in the so called Care homes be compared to UTH, Nchanga North hospital,Chipata General hospital or Ndola Central Hospital? I would challenge the current health Minister to go to Ndola Central Hospital so called Nurses Quarters and see the living conditions of the same. Pitani bwana minister mukaone,do not just seat in the office planning to build hotels and mansions from donor funds! Respect,trust and honour your people do not politicise issues.
Jacob you forgot to mention some of these nurses have managed to send their children to universities to become doctors.
If it pays the bills who cares?
Amen its funny why people cant see this very point you have made…and it is not our jobs that determine what we end up in life .. not at all.
I was there at the ZHC’s home when Sata addressed the UKZambians. Much as the people (UKZambians) can conclude Sata words in different ways… one way that km out during the meeting (question and answers) session was that Sata respects the work that Zambians in the UK do however, if they hav gud qualifications they kn come to Zambia nd find Gud work then just working in caring homes. In addition Sata gav a best example of himself that he worked in the UK but came back to Zambia nd now his a president. And next time UKZambians pls ask real questions not those uless questions.
What were you doing there then?
what is good work and bad work?
Where are these jobs Sata is talkin about?
I was there at the ZHC’s home when Sata addressed the UKZambians. Much as the people (UKZambians) can conclude Sata words in different ways… one way that km out during the meeting (question and answers) session was that Sata respects the work that Zambians in the UK do however, SATA said that if they hav gud qualifications they kn come to Zambia nd find Gud work then just working in caring homes. In addition Sata gav a best example of himself that he worked in the UK but came back to Zambia nd now his a president. And next time UKZambians pls ask real questions not those uless questions…
There is no job in the world that is derogatory. Only illiterate people think that being a doctor is such a big thing and that marrying one is a very big achievement. In the UK there are many very highly qualified doctors married to unemployed men and some of lowly professions!
Whether cleaner, plumber or kapipa amafyi ya bakote, there is no disgrace in that as long as one is appreciated.
Let Him know that being president is not job but a call to provide leadership and guidance to the nation. Many of our old parents live in misery and poverty. You cannot bath or clean your parents. Its good to know that others are able to do that. Keep it up writer
This is a good article Jacob for you have siphoned the truth from the gabbage being thrown by people whose salaries are not even a quarter of what nurses in developed nations make. Just to be minimal, 15 pounds an hour by 40 hours per week (600 pounds) by K8000 (exchange rate) would peg the amount at almost K5 million per week. Now multiply that by 4 weeks tell me how many Zambian nurses or even doctors make K20 million per month and this is without bonuses and overtime. It’s wishful thinking to cast aspersions on people in diaspora especially for one who has either not been there, let alone live there. A security guard in the USA makes at least US$18000 per month which is K9 million. Not even a teacher makes a third of that in Zambia. Keep dreaming.
US$18000 =K9 million?
Ba Sak Mushondo, please check my correction below. It was a slip of the tongwe.
Thanks Jacob! I am a nurse working in Texas and I should say I have no regrets with being one. I started as a nurse aide doing the ‘dirty work’ and went to school to become a nurse. I hope many read this so they can be more informed of what exacly we do in nursing homes. Thanks for pointing out also that even nationals of these countries do the exact same jobs. These jobs are not left for Africans…please people. In a lot of cases Zambians even lead better lives than American/Europeans because the laws of hardwork and focus apply to us all.
Mean’t US$1800 which multiplied by K5000 amounts to K9 million.
noted
Well articulated article, full of facts and very enlightening. The fact remains we are 50 years apart with the western world the way we look after our aged people. Indeed it gives me alot of pleasure to see the over 70 years of age walking the streets of UK wwithout much ado. My granny gave up hope at the age of 72 because she considered herself too old to be bothering us to care for her. If the utterance came from the head of state, then chances are that we will never get there. He has no vision for the aged in terms of health and social care. Who ever happens to have a chance to settle here in UK or US, please do come and be assured to live for about 80 years or 70 if you infected with HIV….
I’m sure some of these chaps here in diaspora know the inside information on this topic
Would you be willing to do such a job in Zambia? Is it really the core of the job you were trained for? If you were offered a job as a Nurse in the NHS, would u rather work in a nursing home?
Can do any job anywhere at the right price………… partriotism doesn’t pay my bills.
there is more shit in zambia from incontinent HIV patients, whose main symptom may be diarrhoea, and yes handling shit stools amafi is part of the nursing curricular, you are actually trained how to identify normal stools, and if you must know normal feaces have a characteristic non offensive smell!! tha is nursing and I love it. J ust pray you willnever be too sick to need this sort of help!
There is no problem with working in a nursing home.The problem is zambians take this job because the west does not want to take care of there own.As a matter of fact the same Zambians would not clean the asses of there Grand Fathers and Mothers.These jobs are popular becauase the tipicle Zambian is very lazy,they can not do a job which has specific perfomance numbers attached to it.If you can not compete you will eat the left overs.Most Zambians can not compete,most of them can not express themselves.I mean they can not communicate.So they look for jobs like cleaning old peoples asses and cleaning floors.The lowest level jobs.You can not say you love the smell of ass.If we had Nursing homes in Zambia you would not be working in there because you would be above that job.
this african pride’ will always draw africans backwards and thus no development. a nursing home is well organised and safest place for the elderly. they are in good care and under a registered nurse for 24 hours.theres
too much talk and pointing fingers with no action, big mouthed leaders who have no respect for anyone wake up zedians!
The most important thing is that you have expressed your pride and satisfaction in your nursing profession and consequently raised the profile of the nursing job
On the other hand there are cultural norms that dictate how we look after our elderly. We cant copy anything that the westerners do regardless. We have our own cultural identities that define who we are and nursing homes are not a part of our culture.
Hence you will agree that most Zambians in the diaspora have not warmed up to the idea of being relegated to nursing homes when they grow old.
Light well shed in those dark minds brother Sakala. People who are successful have done all sorts jobs but at the same time were going to school. I love the fact that Zambia is a peace loving country that hasn’t been to war. We have opened up for almost every country that has been to war to come to our safe country. The conflicts in our neighboring countries are over and if you take a look at South Africa,Angola and Rwanda/Burundu,these countries have gone to work an literally rebuilding their countries. If you look at Angola’s capital city there’s about 64 cranes in the skyline meaning they are building. Kenya have a Vision 2030 plan going on and Tanzania is building a new city to be completed in 2030. What have we done? Oh we built Manda Hill. Oh come on now,give me a break.
Continuation>>>
War or no war the number of people dying due poverty is almost the same numbers of people who died in other countries that have been to war. Our politics are so dangerous that in some sense are just like a civil war without a gun of course. The government cant see beyond their fat noses. Our life expectancy is only 38 old because the government is so powerful and do not care for the common man. So for the common man to reach 40,he will have been through every hardship and in his mind believes that he has seen it all and ready to die.
Shame on you politicians.
JS great article mudala, I am sure ku Zed nomba baishiba ifishinka.
#20 Nshi Sunda Chisunde Sunde.. you know that culture is dynamic. A few years ago it used to be our culture (I am a victim on one hand and a beneficiary on the other) for a man to look after his sister’s children at the expense of his own!! It is no longer the case. How many of your ( assuming u have some) sisters’ children are u looking after ba Nshi sunda??
Just another JS……..most of Zed journalists lack investigative skills and have cadre mentality, so what do u expect?? No objectivity in reporting otherwise they wont be included on the next Presidential trip!!!!
Ba shushuushu can easily be identified here
You don’t have to justify yourself because when people are being malicious its not facts they seek but twisted stories to justify their feelings. You must know that most zambians will always frown and say bad things about other peoples success its just the way zambians are. You can explain yourself til your voice goes and that will never change the salty outlook most people have on you. Truth is its kills them deep down because they know how much you earn but their only response is to tell themselves these stories. You just work hard and make your money because at the end of the day you probably make more than these ministers or govt officials in their temporary cadre jobs. A zambian will laugh at another just to bring you down even though you yourself are better than him,
Is this article suggesting that Sata should leave his job to go and work in a nursing home?
So u mean Zambian abroad they work in Nursing homes,eh,nappies,etc…kukosa bakaamba
Batata mulichipuba imwe!
#20. Nshisunda. It’s money we don’t have in Zambia/Africa. My granny was abused by her own children (two uncles) before she died. I bet you know abuse comes in many forms.
She ended up having money being stolen from her, most of her stuff were sold on the cheap by these thugs.
I am a Disabled and I appreciate your article Sir, it s true -our people are still backwards I pray that God will open their mind and their hearts to see what it means to develop. A person who care and nurse is not less than the Accountant or minister of food and beverages ( some of our minister are gluttons) , this is the reason the don’t see that they were voted to nurse and c
are for the people of Zambia. Anyway, I have to stop here -we all know how blind our people are !!!!
Only a fool will demean the efforts of these hard working people. Who like any other zambia have significately been part of anything back home. I see these you and old people buying equipment, sending their children to school and paying bills which probably they couldn’t have managed if they were home without work actually. I have no idea why this gvt can appreciate efforts made by its people living diaspora? Is it jealous envy or share stupidity? I don’t knw? whats the freaken deal?
JS!!! VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT & ARTICULATED ARTICLE!!!!! Keep the Spirit & Stay well!!!!
Chifubu, Matero, Lilanda, George, Chilenje or Canada? Hmmmmmmmm?????????
Kudos Jacob-keep up
That’s UKWA for you making senseless noise all the time.
I would rather work in a nursing home like mwana wa kwitu Sakala Jacob looking after the elderly than husling all corners of Victoria Station with a broom or worse still work as a train shunter sput on by skinheads all day at night long. No wonder Sata is so bitter about the Brits, his low life status exposed him to the worst of that society and he thinks all other Zambians working there today are in the gutters like he was. The thing too about black people with shaven foreheads resembling ex-convicts or widowers is freakish, let CNP repeat this before Zuma Mshini Wami and he will be taught a lesson he will never forget. By the way, why are Sata’s teeth so rotten? He’s like an act right out of MJ’s blockbuster “Thriller”
How does one become a nurse, social worker, sociologist or social carer ?? Please help! or What is the difference if any between these social entities?…
I’m a Nurse and make $28 an hour X 40hours a week! and yeah, I am a guy and I love my job. suck on that backward Zambians.
Peace bro!
Hold your fire mwana wesu for we have all tried to educate our fellow Zambians.
As a person who has been taken care of by these Zambian nurses in the diaspora, I have a deep respect for the work they do. I only wish the government would fix things instead of insulting people. Caring for the elderly is a noble job and shouldn’t be looked down upon.
I never thought for a moment that someone else besides my mother, wife or sibling would bath me or take care of me in a detailed manner. But time has told me that there are people better qualified than those that love me the most to do certain jobs. Even if it means going beyond dispensing medicine, they are willing to clean you and shave you and there is no way of thanking them enough. I do not think Mr. President asked that only his relatives took care of him when he went to South Africa for an op.
#18 The Truth,
there’s not much sense in what u are saying. Notwithstanding the well written article, u choose to be deliberately ignorant and arrogant. do u really think a nursing job is a lazy person’s job?? think again
Very honest and thought provoking article but kudos to writer for bringing to light a different picture about a very vital aspect of old age! The bible tells us to leave a legacy for our children but in Zambia, our parents extend beyond parental relationships, they extend to cousins, aunties, uncles, grandfathers not forgetting nephews or nieces who may be orphans!
Eishhhhh! washing old peoples butocks and asses! No matter how you can justify such useless jobs it wont make a difference! Mind you these jobs are mostly done by desperate people who come from Africa and other poor countries like India, Bangladesh and Haiti! I have seen this with my own naked eyes and at one time i had an opportunity to ask one of these chaps from Bangladesh and she confirmed and confessed that there is no pride in such jobs! The only justification is that you get a little bit of money more than a nurse back home otherwise fyabupuba muchita in the so called diaspora where we take our girlfriends and wives for shopping and holidays!
Somebody’s got to do that job because can you imagine what societies will be like if such people were not there to do those jobs that you consider “dirty”? e.g People that pick/collect cabbage keep the environment clean for both you and me, and if it wasn’t for that maid you would be going with bamba ya mashinsha around smelling. We are all connected in every way possible and we should learn to appreciate each other period.
Munyelo ulichipuba chamwana iwe. Kaili uli wamulunsonga. Bawiso bar tombele chi no call mulunsonga. Walishama kapuli kobe.
No need to demonise Munyelo… he has an opinion and it must be respected. We shouldn’t always only like people who agree with us. Education is the key here, like what Kelvin has done above. And kelvin makes a very good point indeed
ba munyelo, nimwe mukalafwaika nokupipwa sana, and you dont even have plans for for the aged in your family including yourself. and i can tell akalisukulu tesana, mubomba nokwiba and think oh this is it. life is more than shopping mafi yenu. elo mwikala ku kwa, language speaks for itself. Because you are so stupid, you dont even know that you will also grow old with a dirt ass because the girlfriends you are taking for holidays will have abandoned you by then. sit down for half an hour in a sober mood and think of what is coming from your foul mouth and listen to the intellectuals speaking.
@Munyelo #41.
I bet your whole clan is rich. Do you know why African Americans are more racist towards their own fellow blacks like you? You ,must be Sata’s child!
Lusaka is a conglomerate mainly comprised of shanty compounds which have become hotbeds of crime and lawlessness. Instead of Mr Sata denigrating Zambians in the Diaspora, he must ask himself and government colleagues on why Zambia is in such a mess with high infant mortality rate, high youth unemployment, high interest rates, high HIV infection rates, and high gun crime rates, high mealie meal prices etc. By the way a nurse in the UK can afford 7 meals a day, plus a good holiday to the south of France or new York. Can a nurse in Zambia afford these things? Mr Sata should not trivialize the career prospects of people in the diaspora.
#41, U are wrong. A nurse’s job would involve washing and cleaning patients regardless of where one is. The ones that say theres no pride(your sources), are not nurses, they came to these countries expecting heaven on earth.
Wait until you are very sick, your girlfriends desert you because you can no longer take them on holidays and shopping because you are nunkaring too much. Then, you will realise how important the nurses are.
Mind your language, lest you call a curse upon yuwaself.
Well researched article, keep up the good work you are doing. Some of our colleagues in Zambia won’t understand what it means to live in the diaspora. They will just condemn for the sake of it without engaging their brains. There is a lot that needs overhauling back home.
Munyelo wait until you start hichiaving shiki wa HIV/AIDS. Lets see how ichi liule chobe copes with that makaka kambongolo iwe.
Until we start respecting every job we’ll continue crying about joblessness for a very very long time. Nurses are trained to give medication, help and clean patients full stop regardless of the color of bums. Good job nurses.
@ Mukame and other people who ‘enjoy washing old peoples’ backs’
Ba Mukame believe you me no reasonable person would enjoy doing such dirty and low jobs unless that person is driven by despration and an instinct for survival! The only justification for praising such dirty jobs is that there is a bit of money but its only for your personal survival! Last week my company donated some foodstuff and cloths at Chibolya Old Peoples Home in Mufulira and i didnt see any caregiver who was proud of that job and majority of other workers have left for ‘greener’ pastures’ like you people who are in the ‘diaspora’ So spare us with your nonsense!
I bet your company even donated to those in Cahdiza. Do you come from Mufulira? Tell you what there are thousands out there in Zambia needing your help. Go and donate dimwit!
So friends what should be done to change our attitude towards ‘not so’ clean jobs? Our cities are filth because not too many sane people would like to work with brooms, wards at the hospitals stink like hell because some nurses dont want to do what they signed up for. Instead of trying to catch up with the normal world we’re drifting even further. Lesa twafweni.
This makes very interesting reading indeed.Thanks for the courage and boldness Jacob.This story had to be told as a lot of lies have been told about people in the Diaspora.People deliberately ignore the truth they want to hear what interest their ears.What has been written is factual.What Zambian Nurse do in the Diaspora the Zambian Nurses in Zambia do.Why do people have an issue with the Nurses in the Diaspora and not the Nurse in Zambia??????A nurse is usually in charge of a shift of 4 to 10 care staff,where as it is not an issue to wash and clean somebody as a nurse oftenly the supervise the Carers to do these tasks.Every Nurse is trained to do basic care and that includes changing an incontinent patient,making beds,tidying up etc so nothing strange.
During her Diamond Jubilee celebrations, the Queen hosted a luncheon for Commonwealth leaders at Marlborough House on Pall Mall. She was greeting the new Malawian president Joyce Banda when the president to Joyce’s left let rip a stinking scorcher, it was so enormous it reverberated through the entire Marlborough House rattling all the guests. Fanning her hat vigorously to dissipate CNP’s stench, the Queen asked: “Michael, why in God’s name would you fart like that?” To Which CNP retorted: “Pamberi e Jongwe!”
@Munyelo
Your screen name says it all. Pa Munyelo!
Why did your company have to donate then?
@Munyelo
Did you even bother reading the article? I bet you are a “businessman”. Aha ha ha ha!
Lets not play around. Working as an aid in a nursing home is shunned in the west, at least I can speak for the US. No citizen wants to do the job as it’s degrading.It involves you bathing and cleaning after the residents. As a result these jobs are taken up by a number of undocumented residents. The majority of Zambians doing these jobs are undocumented. The other reason these jobs are done too is that they can make some good money from it. Per hour these jobs pay below minimum wage and alot of these people are ripped off but the thing is they put in long hours, working 24/7 for up to 2 weeks so come out with quiet a decent pay. It’s untrue however to think those people who do these jobs are lazy as they are sought after by the agencies due to their work ethics.
I am a Social Worker and I work with people. Its so great to work with people and its a blessing. I also did Primary Health Care in South Africa. I am currently working in North Africa as a Social Worker but I come from Ndola. In Ndola we have the Mitanda Home for the aged run by the Salvation Army. I worked there as a Voluntary Worker and what a blessing it was to work and serve the senior citizens. Ask everyone who works at some Home Based Care in Zambia and they will tell what joy they have in doing what they are doing. As Africans we really have to change the way we think.
I ve read all the comments. Munyelo is too personal!
Overall a well written article, however the salary scales mentioned are a little bit towards the optimistic/higher side.
Good stuff indeed! It’s difficult to even write anything to add to this, other than to offer support and solidarity.
I have always argued that the so called development that we talk about in Zambia should start with our mindset. Once we fix our mindset then we can talk about infrastructure development. Zambia being the country where the majority are poor and the rich become rich instantly without having to sweat for it, people’s thinking is very stone-age period.
Everyone wants to be a boss or manager in Zambia. No one wants to do menial jobs. Yes here, people do work because they love what they do; because they offer care and help and it makes them happy inside.
In Zambia, people get jobs to get paid and that’s why we have heard of some nurses abusing their patients, verbally and physically.
Indeed people here respect you for having a job and paying your rent or mortgage, not being on a dole (free government handouts). I have seen very beautiful women picking up their boyfriends/husbands from restaurants where they work as dish cleaners or garbage collectors. Speaking of garbage collectors, it’s very highly paid job where I live and to get it is even harder than finding an accountant job.
And you are right, kids here as young as 14 work in Maccas, KFC; Nandos; etc to get paid to support their lifestyles like buying an iPhone or iPad.
In Zambia, someone as old as 30 are still dependent on their parents and still live with their parents. Students in schools or colleges in Zambia don’t want to go and look for casual jobs – people would look down on them and they want to finish school and become managers. I recall a dude at university always boasting of receiving phone calls from his uncles; cousins from US, UK; Australia; etc… just to show off.
This country needs to develop, mentally that is. I think S/Africans and Nigerians have probably passed that ‘slavery-master’ mindset we still have in Zambia.
Good point!
Just look even at the way we pretend with our misplaced priorities – one would be seen in expensive suits and expensive gadgets and yet they may as well be sleeping with hunger at home.
Speaking for myself, I’m very proud of myself and my past that I started working as a Kamalonda in SafeTech, manning some rich ZRA Commissioner in Roma without shame, as early as while I was waiting for my year 12 exams. Then I pass wed with flying colours to UNZA and now I’m an engineer, a good one that is. I look back at that first job of mine and I’m very proud and that’s why I would never look down on anyone’s job.
i love people who like talking too much without thinking on way forward. u have seen danger in front of u what is the way to get out of danger is to use intiative and act. Thx zambians its time of helping in restructuring Zambia. :-?
Moderator, yashani iyo? Be objective with your censorship…..kupusa baati!
#58 salary scales all depend on what you do and were you are.Those are some average scales.Remember minimum wage in the UK is £6.50 for anybody doing any job by law.Nurses is about £12 minimum wage anything lower is outside the law.However the skill levels and specialisation differ those who are highly skilled earn more.There is no fixed salary for nurses.Personal initiatives also come into play.Some Zambian Nurses are Managers,others work full time on locum or Agency,others are band 6,7 or 8 in Hospital whilst others have dug deeper and are Directors of own companies.Just as people in Zambia implore personal initiative it’s the same in UK and all over.I wish to add that a Nurse from Zambia may be inclined to do more shifts to send money to family in Zambia.
Another reminder Nurses come into England and most of the developed world as very highly skilled immigrants for those that may not know.It is a proper scrutiny.
There is a lot Zambian youths can do. In diaspora no body will laugh at you if you clean toilets or pick up the garbage. It is part of the job and someone gotta do it. In Zambia we like picking on people doing such kind of work. As a result, people have become so picky as far as work is concerned.
Mr President sir, do not take any of these comments personal. This is just to show you that you have a society of people with different opinions, suggestions. It is these same people who gave you the job that you claim to have found. And when you were put into power, everyone in zambia and in the diaspora celebrated because they thought you would bring something positive to the table which we are still waiting for. All these arguments with the people who put you in power just shows that everyone has already run out patience especially that 90days has passed and multiplied by a number. learn something from your people as you can also be taken off from that seat just like the other presidents through the ballot box.
I have a brother in zambia and it been over 10 years sicne he completed school, he cant do certain courses or jobs because of baseless pride like many other zambians who all want to be presidents, managers bosses. I like bus conductors and drivers in zambia as they always take pride in their job although it is rough, they will tell you, ama bosses, naifwe ino ni office yesu. take pride in what you. Avoid useless comments which will discourage people, some of you are very educated with the best jobs in zambia but your relatives are not. Dont be selfish, you want to be the one dishing out help to the whole family when everyone of them can do something to help themselves. Get a life and move on.
you should give this advice to your useless brother. he doesn’t represent the majority of the young Zambians. What makes him act like that is you keep sending him money, which u equate to contribute to developing country. cut the supply and u will see u quickly he will get off is *ss. I meet a lot of chaps in Zed who even boast as they buy beers that their brother abroad will send them more money. They do realise how much shit you have to wipe before u earn that money.
good one my brother, no more supply, good day
Is that you?
Thanks for the article, I hope it helps to shed some light on realities of life, and to some of you who think nursing homes are a culture,they are not, it is a consequence of development, and nucleation of families, an alternative to satisfactory elderly care, even in developed countries it not a wellcome choice by many families, but given the busy working lives and diminished extended family ties, it the best altenative for children to take care of their aging parents, and like it or not it is an altanative even zambia need to start thinking about.
No one has the right to laugh at another man’s means of survival, and no one needs to justify why they do any particular job to make ends meet.
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KUSHINDA TU NKOTE ZOONA?!@#. you lie when you say you’re doing it because you care for old people. The problem is you can’t work as professional in USA & UK besides working for old people’s home.
iam a nurse and I make £38 per hour