Statement by Mr. Chibamba Kanyama over assertions that he is a fake Economist
Many thanks Prof. We have spoken. I know there has been a continued narrative about my academic credentials in economics, generated by one person who knew little about me many years ago and some people have continued to rub it in albeit unsuccessfully.
For those who want to have a bit of context and do care about me, I went to UNZA as a direct entry student in Mass Communication (which was then treated as a school despite being in School Of Humanities).During registration, I decided to switch to economics as major, a decision that was rejected.
On appeal, Dr Caleb Fundanga, then Head of Economics department, escalated my application to Senate (cannot remember on this one) but was allowed to take an overload of courses every year; the only student at the time allowed to do an overload of five courses per year instead of four; implying I had to carry as many Mass Comm courses as I did for economics. Interestingly, from 1st to 4th year, I performed far better in economics courses than I did in Mass Comm (I submitted my academic transcripts everywhere I worked, including the IMF). I was classmate to many colleagues who are still alive, among them former Secretary to Treasury Fredson Yamba, former Maths teacher at Libala boys. I am citing him because we did economics together at UNZA, and the current Minister of Finance Dr. Musokotwani, lectured us in Banking, Finance and Public expenditure. Mr Yamba and I later studied for an MSc Development Finance programme at University of Reading.
I do not need to belabour any of these issues but the fact still remains today that Economics has remained my favourite subject: I love it to the extent I have lectured in the region and I lecture EXMBA at UNILUS five years now (implying the student rating is very good). My investment book expanded from my dissertation ‘Determinants of FDI in the Southern African Development Community- Risks and Opportunities’ has continued to enjoy citations from the academic world (people are free to google it).
I am not disturbed by the social media commentary.. As long as you are engaged in some activity, people will always talk about you, and it’s tolerable so long it does not change the facts. I value my life goals and what I have done to myself, wife and children (my first born son is an economist and he is Head of Projects and Research at my company Bridges Limited, the company that crafted strategic plans for ZRA, NHIMA, LUSE, ZAMRA, LMMU, ZACL, MFZlimited currently PIA, WARMA, CHAZ etc . Above all this, I value the people of Zambia, both those who have interacted with me in person and not. When I read the musing, I knew it had nothing to do with me because it does not speak about me.
Besides, Prof Mwenda was my distant academic mentor when studying for my MSc and has remained close to me ever since. I value everyone and compliments of the season.
Zambians have become something, you have to be careful with whatever you say nowadays.
Why do eminent people play these social media wars?
Why do you even need to defend yourself!?
Why do you need to defend yourself?
I personally have listened to Prof. Mwenda speak. He never inspires. Not at all. Chibamba is more grounded than this so called professor who has never been in the field.
One of my friends failed grade seven. He started using a carrier bicycle ( njinga ya ma order) delivering mealie meal for clients. Today he is one of the most prominent businessmen in my town. Naturally people have attributed his success to rituals. Mr Kanyama that’s what life is like.
Ba Chibamba, people talk and mostly small minds.
The social media comment from the ‘profesor’ must have really stung the man. Why even bother to waste your time defending yourself from a social media posting? He didn’t even say your name, but your own insecurity makes you come out to social media.
Prof Mwenda is an educated Man who should not say such things. No wonder the saying ‘ We have educated illerates’ is true.
If they don’t talk about you then you are dead
Its sad that Prof Kenneth K Mwenda chose the wrong soide by being pro PF, because if had chosen UPND he could have been Chief Justice now.
I remember Professor Chirwa being called a fraud..that’s Zambia for you.
Kenneth Mweenda should not be called a Professor. In education, there are no failures, but slow learners. Chibamba Kanyama did not fail the so called Economics course at this third rate University. He is a slow learner and now he is better than the time at unza. Mweenda is a disgrace to the teaching profession.
Let them say what they want you you continue to be my role model. I have been following you since your business review days at ZNBC courtesy of finance bank in the early 90s. I was in primary school then now am an Accountant and pursuing MSc Financial Services at ZCAS because of your indirect influence on my life
Zambians… even in engineering on the mines people used to look down on each other.. How can he become a Sectional Engineer instead of me… I did my course at the Imperial College UK, him went to Kalingalinga (Unza). Oh me I went to Unza and that chap went to ZIT (CBU) so I deserve promotion not him. And time went on and wasted on frivolous things.
I am struggling to process this. I know friends who have first degrees in Law but have gone on to do a Masters in Business and a PhD in Optics. What does it make such a person if his passion lies in the Optics and aesthetics of design features? Should he be sequestered to his start point as a lawyer? Evidently Chibamba’s beginnings showed his propensity and leaning towards economics. And who said knowledge must be a straight-jacket of specialty? Awe mwe. It is fine for Chibamba to explain himself only because that is a Zambian trait. In the scheme of things … not so much. Continue doing what you do Chibamba. Forget the critics.
Appears this is a PF propaganda ,PF a natural loser against UPND a natural winner.
I think Prof Mwenda has psychological problems and all his Facebook followers enable his behavior. Everyone praises him and are entertained by his musings and then laugh at him behind his back. The learned man should be advising the country on matters of the Law instead of being hung up on academic credentials ,achievements ,underwear and sex. Being entertained by a man who may be crying out for help has to stop. He needs an intervention.
Educated people are very childish. That is why the upnd govt which is full of educated f00Is has failed to govern
I read various online newspapers from across Africa and to be honest I am finding your paper The Lusaka times and The Zambian Observer to be filled with pettiness, back biting and ignorance. In many instances your paper and theirs feature people call “prophet” who speak a lot of “mumbo jumbo” and their writings are treated as fact. Your papers also allow blatant propaganda and some instances untruths. You should not be having such things.
I am getting bored with your papers and I am seriously considering stopping reading them.
As #9 says, “We have educated illiterates’”
Nice one @Kaalok
Academia has its own snobs, and Kenneth is among them. It is no surprise to learn he is a back-stabber as well. Chibamba Kanyama also exhibits flashes of snobbery and know-it-all ideosyncrasies. No doubt he is a likeable fellow among his peers. Here is the problem: First, his mentor Kenneth found Chibamba wanting. It is possible he saw gapping economics knowledge in Chibamba enough to go public. Don’t forget, IMF that employed him on an open contract, relieved him after two years. Employers like IMF exercise diplomacy when they are about to send one packing. It is clear in the rational mind that he underperformed. His micro and macro economics knowledge was inadequate. It is from here you begin debating Chibamba’s credentials. He is not an economist but a media practitioner.
Well, I still remember State Counsel John Sangwa. Getting into UNZA was by direct entry into Bachelor of Mass Communications. But because of his passion for law, Sangwa applied for change of schools and later found himself in Law School. He is an accomplished lawyer with not only an LLB, but an LLM as well and no one doubts his law credentials. That is how straight Counsel Sangwa’s credentials are.
Kalijo – Jealousy – PHD (Pull Him/Her Down) syndrome are things Zambians (whether educated or not) are good at. Listening to negative expressions of such people can make you miss a stair on your up and tumble down. Keep on moving. Move on! Ignore them!
I don’t have letters after my name but I held positions that only some of you can dream of hahaha
If Zambians are so picky over academic qualifications then we know why the country is so under-developed. People pay more attention to certificates than to what they can contribute to their society. The country has citizens without electricity, and no running water and no one is boasting about having brought these kinds of development to these poor people. So called successful citizens are busy quarrelling about who failed what at university when they should be boasting about having built a school of motor mechanics in Maramba or Kabushi or Chief Mapanza’s village. What is success if it is only to amass your own wealth?
For some reason, nowadays in Zambia people want to be addressed by profession. One reads, Engineer A, Prof B, Legal Counsel C, Dr. Many, Minister Z, Presidents X, and so on. Is this a sudden appreciation of education or simply an inferiority complex syndrome? Why question one’s education before asking for credentials? And having failed at any stage of one’s life to attain whatever metric set, does not mean it is impossible for someone to attain that metric at some point in life. Anyone can an economist, doctor, plumber, mechanic, etc at whatever stage of their careers or life. Period! This Mwenda fellow may have missed something during his school, and maybe is just finding out that straight As in college do not translate to a successful career in real life. And now seeing someone excel…
@ 26 ‘what is success if it’s just amassing wealth’?
You honestly call it wealth? I only see amassing of money in troubled kwachas, few are rich in genuinely earned forex, $ £
We haven’t a simple contraption to talk of as our own and you want to be wealthy? No ways !
@jo In such a poor country how come we see so many engineers, economists, doctors, lawyers. Why doesnt this reflect in our environment like it does in Singapore? We are getting the wrong education