By Pezzy Kudakwashe
A Boston based human rights activist says the solution to Zambia’s poverty lies in massive investment in the educational sector and promotion of private entrepreneurship.
Universal Human Rights International, executive director, Torli Krua said political success and attainment of independence are not enough to end poverty in Zambia or Africa but access to higher education and empowering citizens to own businesses.
Mr krua said the fact that many African countries have attained independence and changed political leaders but failed to reduce poverty, was enough proof that africa’s problems were economic than political.
Mr Krua who was speaking on Zambia Blog Talk Radio said if independence and change of political leaders would end all of Africa’s problems related to poverty, Liberia could have been the most prosperous country on the continent considering its 165 years of independence and 24 presidents.
Liberia holds the dubious distinction of being one of the poorest countries in the world. In fact, only one country ranks below Liberia, which is the democratic republic of Congo.
Mr Krua, a native of Liberia said education was a critical necessity because it gave ordinary citizens the tools to monitor the performance of political leaders.
Quoting words of scripture, Mr Krua said no servant was greater than his master as taught by Jesus but added that african politicians always want to be greater than their masters, the people who put them into office.
Change of political leaderrship is a necessity as some leaders lack the will to invest in education.Most African leaders are too corrupt to hold the presidency as was the case with the mmd even though now we ve political comedians in power.
Africa is like a ripe peach left in a cold dark place to rot.
Wisdom. A blessed continent with dunderhead leaders in most cases.
Who can one educate others when such does not appreciate education. Pf needs to be taken to task on Educatioon. Their manifesto is not very clear on Education,
How….
With due respect to the “Human Rights Activists”, Change of political Leadership is a necessary evil in Africa and anywhere in the world. Firstly it is not true of the assertion of comparing Liberia with the rest of the African States because Liberia was created on and for different reasons that we cannot be discussing here. Here in Zambia there is this Political adage that says ” When a rat over stays in in the house, thinks is part of the family and even watch TV and argues to participate even in changing the channels” So it is inevitable to have political leadership change in Africa or elsewhere to avoid some leaders making the country as their backyard farms
He is implying our current leadership lack education
we just don’t need leaders but educated ones unlike Zambia.hahaha
It takes a political regime that appreciates the value of education to invest in education
YES WE NEED SERVANTLEADERSHIP.NOT THESE MASTERS OF EVERYTHING IN THEIR PARTY AND IN THE OPPOSITION.
Let’s all come to an understanding that education plays an important role of equiping people with a broad knowledge base with which to function logically. An example I have for you is that of free trade in which there are no restrictions on the consumers on what to buy or not buy. If people are not properly educated in the area of economics, they will shy away from buying locally manufactured goods by virtue of the assertion that they are inferior even when they are not. They will not logically and economically arrive at an understanding that by not purchasing locally made goods, they are causing harm to the local industries. As it is now, this is the problem we have in Zambia where people are complaining about the Chinese. What we have to do is buy Zambian goods. One Zambia One Nation.
I think that work ethic is as important as Education. The World that we live in is becoming obsessed with Education and is forgetting about ability to work manually.Â
Change of Political, civic, or government leadership is constitutional and democratic process and exercise that should be adhered to. The activist may have mis-spoken on this matter. He is point on Education is head on. We have massive high school graduates or school leavers in Zambia would prefer. But the majority of the high grads lack life skills due to poor curriculum implementation and also lack of technical subjects in school. Previously, schools such as Hill Crest, DK and other were known to be technical high schools to nurture future technocrats but now it is a thing of the past.
Human rights activists means gay activist these days. They don’t even look out for the little ones anymore. 15 million hungry kids in the USA alone.
Sir, we have alot of educated people in Zambia. What will serve Zambia is a political leadership that will respect the constitution.