by Henry Kyambalesa
I wish to comment on the article which appeared in the Times of Zambia of April 4, 2010 under the title “How MMD Government [Has] Improved Education” by George Chisanga.
It is shameful that both Mr. Chisanga and the Times of Zambia can publish such trash in a newspaper. Firstly, the title of the article should have been about teachers because there is nothing in it that addresses the issue of education in Zambia during the 19 years the MMD has been in power.
Secondly, Mr. Chisanga is most probably not a journalist because all the verbiage he has published in the newspaper is based on his own opinions rather than a sampling of teachers’ views about the adequacy of their conditions of service with respect to their salaries and allowances.
Thirdly, he has alleged that funding to Kabwe Trades, Lusaka Trades, Nortec, and Lukashya Trades has been superb. Would students, faculty and administrators in these institutions honestly agree with him? [pullquote]“Imiti ikula e mpanga,” [/pullquote]
And, among other empty claims, he has cited schools which have been constructed or being constructed from the scratch as one of the highlights of MMD’s quest to improve education in the country. Well, many of these schools have been constructed with funding from donor countries!
My soul bleeds to read such trash being peddled in government-controlled news media. Does Mr. Chisanga think that Zambians are fools who cannot notice the rot in Zambia’s educational system? If his article represents MMD’s view about education in Zambia, then I do not see why any Zambian would want to vote for MMD candidates in 2011 because MMD’s failure to deliver anything of substance in all important areas of human endeavor actually affects every citizen irrespective of their political affiliation.
During the UNIP era, I do not remember seeing school-age children begging on the streets, or selling all kinds of wares in town centers around the country. The blame for this phenomenon falls squarely on the shoulders of the MMD government for its failure to provide adequately for the educational needs of our children.
Since the MMD came to power, we have seen tens of thousands of Grade 7 and Grade 9 students being spilled onto the streets every year. We need to seriously consider the prospect of extending educational opportunities to all Zambia’s children because they are the jewels of our Motherland. “Imiti ikula e mpanga,” a Bemba maxim tells us. It is, therefore, surprising that we have continued to pay lip-service to the educational needs of our country’s youth.
But even in the face of such obvious failure, President Rupiah Banda and Vice President George Kunda are on the campaign trail for re-election in 2011 without any shame!
There is a lot MMD leaders need to do in this endeavor between now and September 2011 in order to improve their chances of winning. Among other things, they need to abolish examination fees and Grades 7 and 9 elimination examinations, and to provide for free education through Grade 12 as an initial step in making education more accessible to all Zambians.
Besides, high-school graduates who would obtain a Division 1 should be automatically awarded scholarships upon being accepted at any Zambian college or university. All other high-school graduates and working Zambian men and women wishing to pursue further studies should be granted with low-interest loans upon being accepted into classroom-based or correspondence-based programs of study offered within Zambia.
Loan recipients who would graduate with “Distinction” should be excused of 75% of their debt obligations, while those who would graduate with “Merit” should be absolved of 50% of their debt obligations. And all college and university graduates who would sign contracts to work in the teaching, healthcare or agricultural professions within Zambia for at least 4 years should be absolved of 100% of their debt obligations.Apart from government loans, they should encourage commercial banks and other financial institutions operating in Zambia to consider lending for education as part of their business. The Indo-Zambia Bank students’ loan scheme launched at Mulungushi University in April 2009 is a good start in this endeavor.
To accommodate primary school leavers in secondary schools, as well as continuing Grade 9 students, they need to take the following measures: (a) provide for immediate expansion of facilities at secondary schools which do not currently have extra space for Grades 8 and 10 classes; (b) allow interested secondary school teachers destined for retirement to delay their retirements, as well as hire more of the trained teachers who are currently unemployed; and (c) step up enrolments in training programs for secondary school teachers by at least 5%.
There is a need to make a sustained effort to cater for the basic needs of the educational system, including: (a) schools and classrooms that are adequately equipped for both teaching and learning; (b) qualified, self-motivated and well-paid teachers or lecturers in every classroom; and (c) competent school administrators on competitive conditions of service, and adequate office supplies and fixtures.
Funding for education and other essential public sectors can be sourced partly from abolishing some of the top level sinecures in government and retire the holders of such sinecures early with full benefits. A lot of material and financial resources can be saved in the long run by taking such a measure, including salaries and allowances, office furniture and fixtures, buildings, automobiles, gasoline, utilities, telephone expenses, and so forth.
Also, there is a need to go through government expenditures line by line, program by program, agency by agency, department by department, and ministry by ministry in order to eliminate unnecessary application of public funds.
Moreover, the government needs to reduce taxes and interest rates so that individuals and businesses can keep more of their earnings for investment and consumption and, in the process, stimulate economic activities and job creation. The new businesses and employees would eventually expand the tax base by contributing to tax revenues.
The people are tired of government leaders who talk the talk without making any tangible or serious effort to walk the walk, so to speak.
Kyambalesa’s trashing of the said Times of Zambia article is vindicated by an article in The Post newspaper titled “Chipata Teacher Unions Vow Not to Accept 25% Salary Rise” by Christopher Miti.
=d> tell them, Mr. K. I too am totally amazed and appalled that educational standards in Zambia have dropped so low. The 21st century has come and left us behind in this and other crucial areas. Chisanga’s kids are probably in private schools or abroad like so many people in his position, so why should he care about the average Zambian kid?
Mr. Kyambalesa, thie article is very factual and I hope epeople will take it as a message pointing them in the right direction. I agree with you on all these points. Well done!!
Good Morning
Thumbs up to Henry once again for telling it as it is. In times of boot-licking press and media clowns, objective journalism like the one at hand is much appreciated.
To me, the most disheartening part about it all is that even though there are a lot who still manage to attain good qualifications in Zambia despite the educational malfunction in the country, most of them will still end up without a decent pay roll. I think those educational adjustments mentioned above must go hand in hand with a general improvement in income.
Couldn`t agree more Henry. Why stu p id Zambians have accepted that education has to be paid for no one knows.
Because Zambians fipumbu, they have started competing on who pays more for private tuition/education. Those that ste al have obviously gone a step further in sending their children abroad to Unis.
Try talking to Zambians, they will all tell you my child goes to a private school. How foolish can Africans be!
F*ck ’em up Henry..Seems everthin is bout bootlickin,a.s.s lickin and the latest one loyal dogz.Its wonder these dumb a.s.s bootlickers will end up a.s.s lickin their own kids.Some press,some pastors,cabinet,plunderes,hired chibuku thugz,whores(U.S.A Dollar $),some NGO’s,some MP’s(rebelz),some students,job seekerz,selela kwakaba’s (kafupi),some chiefs gotta do anythin to bootlick and a.s.s lick no mater how the a.s.s stinks as long they fill their empty stomachs and engage the room.Lets pray for this country.
lusakatimes.com/?p=23023
When i read this column,first thing that came to mind is a picture that was published by LT showing Gunstone Sichilima entering a rumshackle that looked like an animal shelter,with a caption saying Deputy Minister in the Vice President’s office Gunston Sichilima checking on one of the classroom blocks at Muchindushi basic school in Lukanga North resettlement scheme during his tour of government developmental projects in Mpongwe
A federal grand jury charged a West Mifflin man with using other people’s names and Social Security numbers to file false tax returns and get tax refund anticipation loans.
Eric Sinyangwe, 37, is charged with 28 counts of false claims, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to court documents unsealed Tuesday.
He used the business name Oubani Taxes to get the names and Social Security numbers in 2008, prosecutors say. If convicted of all counts, Sinyangwe faces up to 200 years in prison.
i can’t believe im in canada ppl
ok let me try this lets see
oh shit am back in texas
am back in these united states of america
hell no i cnt believe this
Kane
its neither your fault or LT’s,its your ISP(Internet Service provider),could be that their router is down or is not in the priority list to route your packets (data) throught to LT’s website,could be that its overwhelmed,so the next priority and faster route is through a canadian ISP,hence the flag,all ISP’s are interconnected,they take over the burden of other ISP’s to route information (packet switching using the fastes route)
Eric Sinyangwe umu Yoruba. Let him rot in jail.
really MMD needs accept its share of the blame for the education situation…but again we must avoid politicising this issue and turning it into zambian politricks. when campaigns come everyone promises free education from grade zero to grade twelve but why when elections are through these people don’t forward the ideas to government???????????????
MMD’s incompetence is getting exposed every day. Where is Senior Citizen, MMD’s chief Booticker Capitalist and Smooth Criminal, ? They have all developed cold feet to this truth. 2011 Kuya Bebele!
#17 RED CARD-Free at last
How dare you put Smooth Criminal in the same context with nincompoops,im the worst critic of MMD DOGS and you….OMG!!!!!! Im so so upset with you,worst insult ever,the people you mentioned there are spineless,ass licking, self confessed cretinious imbeciles who are what they are because of their bootlicking antics aaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
msthhhhhhh
#14 RED CARD-Smoothcriminal,
I’m very impressed with your problem-solving techniques, you are a computer wizard.
firstly MMD inspite of all the funding to the education sector and all the donor built schools in Zambia Education standards just keep getting lower. How many GOOD GOVERNMENT high schools have been established? one that can compare with say DAVID KAUNDA OR HILCREST TECH, none need i say more its not just about building schools what about the standards of education being provided by the schools
FIRST HOLD YOUR FIRE OPPOSITION. Why s Henry always looking at things in a bad way despite him having A masters or a PHD in something.
Why produce Children when you can take care of them
In the last days of the UNIP era, Kaunda was under sanctions from the west, everybody know how it was sitting on the floor during classes. I was in a government school and the issue of desks was a big things.
When Chiluba took over power he was ORDERED to take SAP. SAP was a big thing for any third wild country to refuse, its conditions included NO FREE EDUCATION, WAGE FREE, NO FREE MEDICATION ETC, REDUCTION IN CIVIL SERVICE INCLUDING EDUCATION. In exchange schools were well furnished and ONLY THOSE who had money can afford school.
Only those wise enough will know what i am taking about…
#8 kane,
I am interested in Eric Sinyangwe’s story on federal grand jury charges, can you please provide the source or online link where I can read more on this case?
#21 Betters
I agree with you on one point-Why have children when you can`t provide for them? I have to say I am very much against the idea of ukufyala when your pocket can`t allow. Zambians let alone Africans are going to have 4 children despite the fact that they have four dependants between them. That is eight “children” batata.
Now, the question we should be asking ourselves is, why would one have four dependants? The answer is simple. Brothers and sisters! This is where government comes in. Batata there are places in this world where governments looks after citizens. Chances are you have cousins. nephews, nieces, uncles you can look after. Unless you are a mug because they are a lot now in Zambia, there is always going to be a relative out there who has lost their parents.
The article is factual, mature and positive. but i beg to defer on free medical care and free education, it is a wrong conceipt which is extermely costly to the goverment and the taxpayers. The crazy thing about this article again is that it also proposes tax reduction and on the other hand improving conditions of service for teachers. You are dull like Micheal Sata. All goverment can do is subsidise and provide better avenues for icome generation.and responsible citizens should work hard.
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#18, my bad! I didnt aim you buddy. You were just found in the firing range. Appologies for attacking a comrade. #21, you have no soul, no heart and little logic. Things change in life. Today you may be living on $100 per day and in position to support your family. Wait until you are deported. Then go home and leave on less than a dollar per day. will you afford your kids? Untll then, you will not understand the ups and downs of life. Not every one how can afford their lifes are lazzy. Sometimes its just bad omen and spells.
Nevers Mumba and Ben Kangwa ndwiiii! Where are these foul mouthed MMD bootlicking Fother Muckers?
Kyambalesa again. For the umpteenth time I ask: somebody please tell me who will be the alternative leader on offer in 2011 and what they have to offer, I beg you. I need to prepare myself for the voting day by studying the candidates. I am sure other Zambians yearn for the same information.
I think it’s cold to make comments like “why have children when you can’t afford it”. This world is inhabited by people who reproduce, never mind if they can afford to feed and educate their offspring or not. The issue here is allowing for progress and advancement of all communities. China was for a long time trimming it’s baby girls to the point where now they don’t have enough women to marry. Consequences of trying to mess with nature!
Good show Kyambalesa, i thnk the time has come to remember, in the time of UNIP there was no street kids, education was though we where payin schl fees, but it was good, so many things has been spoiled by mmd, Airlines, Mines nd infrastructure is very bad~X( take a look in Kitwe, is Kitwe suppose to like that with those minerals it is holding, roads are very bad, the ndola -kitwe highway since ba KK was there nothin has improved, awe tufwile tulebatasha ba KK he did alot, he cant be goog 4 everything (Mr. Chisanga and the Times of Zambia can publish such trash) I thnk this Guy %-( has been given something to publish this rubish on the news, plse tell them, to write reasonable articles?
Ok very good flag me bantu twa totela :((:((:((
The only way we will get out of this mess is by stopping borrowing from the WORLD BANK and IMF these guys are a good example of SHYLOCKS, to every cent they give you they table a long list of conditions, sometimes even asking for your wife on weekends. For a start maybe we befriend the Chinese and the Indians, What do you Think
I agree with Henry, UNIP era hard some issues, but at list a lot of people were able to go to school. I was a kabudo during UNIP ear, but I am able to see the difference between back than and now.
I only hope and pray that we Zambians will seek God first before the elections in 2011.
God Bless
🙂
Yes we have failed Zambians in Education. We dont even know what to do with the colleges we have turned into universities. The problem is that I have a big responsibility to defend MMD a a spokes person. Teachers in Zambia are useless, what is important for now is my salary, Life is cool. MMD is now ours in the East
Betters #21 and Ululumbi Lwamulanda … if only citizens who can afford to feed their children and pay for their education should have children, then Levy Mwanawasa, Frederick Chiluba, Barck Obama, etc. would not have been there to lead their countries as presidents. There are a few sectors which the government needs to concentrate on if resources are not adequate: education, health care, food security, national security, and safety and security in local communities. It is not too much to expect a government to provide for free education up to Grade 12 at least.
I want to check Kyiambalesa on one point where he declares that there were no street kids in the Kaunda era. This is false. I was in Luska from 1984 up to 1988. Ask any one who was at Unza then if there were not any kids who were coming to the dining halls especially the new one we fondly called the Makumbi. A lot of them used to come to scavange and this was carried over into the MMD time.Or are you saying you have been abroad without visiting zambia? A lot of your wrings proposing what you think is your ideal state sounds so utopian to me. If things were that easier as the way you chew bread the entire world was going to be developed.In America hwere you are students protested against the education financung.America is your standard. What do you say?
Mr Kyambalesa is a very learned person knowing that he had gone to America for further studies,but he surprises me how he poorly traces the origins of street kids. These kids started appearing on the streets in the 1980s [Kaunda’s time] and progressively spilled over into the MMD era.I recall vividly how kids used to flock ceaselessly to the Unza DH we fondly called The Makumbi to pick up leftovers.The problem worsened with the falling economy and this was pronounced more in the MMD period.The issue of AIDS has its own effects on this problem which isn’t unique to Zambia.In America recently students protested over the problem of bursary what do you say?.Your solution to zambia’s economic ills are so superfluous and so utopian with no relevance to reality.Be practical and real,Mr…
I still do not supports the idea of people over producing and having children carelessly knowing that there pockets cant even support themselves and expecting us the TAX payers to pay for their children health care and education. The government spends so much Tax on people who have never even pain Tax other than VAT on boom.
I am almost 30 and I have no child, not till a time i will be sure that I can support that child fully,
It always irks me when people say there are there are too many people. Zambia is going to need a lot of people if it is going to develop. And there is a strength in have a large family. The problem is with the shortsightedness and corruption of the present leadership, which will not make money available for development and investment in capital goods and productive businesses, by taxing the mines.
The mines are not paying taxes ($50 million from a $4 billion industry is a joke), and that is the problem.
Zambia should right now be building irrigation works to make arable land available, as well as prevent flooding. It should be creating support networks for the agricultural industry – transportation, infrastructure, storage, marketing and sales support.
Surpluses should be used for manufacturing. Surplus maize should not unimaginatively be sold off (as the ZNFU wants the ZRA to do), but turned into value added goods – boxed cornflakes, bourbon (US bourbon is made from maize – Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, etc.). That would add value and create jobs. The government should start such an operation, and if desired, it can privatize it after it becomes successful, or keep it as desired.
And I hate it when this government goes abroad to ask for advice. If they need any, I’m right here. 🙂 And I am sure there are lots of Zambians with ideas for development and businesses.
🙂 number 38 better ways, yours are wise words. Why indeed should Africans have children when they ones that can support theirs only have a manageable number. Kaunda and his parliament should have initiated the education of people only having children they can afford. At the time they could have small villages as Zambia needed repopulation after the colonial rulers had committed a genocide spanning centuries depleting our continent by over 100 million. Provide health care and education for the masses but wisen them up.
Zambians should lay off the bottle aswell. We are approaching critical level now. As a generation X product, people born in Obama’s generation until 85 or 87, we know and remember a time women held moral concepts in droves. Now I am sorry to say, heffers are a dime a dozen; a ngwee for twelve is my term. If we could change our ways and impart knowledge on our younger siblings before their generation takes overweight shall sort this mess out. Jesus is the way and the truth always though. Always put Christ first then work hard my people.
Josef P (#s 36 and 37): I was at UNZA during the years you have cited. We probably know each other: what program of study were you pursuing then? Kyambalesa is right; there were no street kids when UNIP was in power. The kids you saw scavenging at UNZA were from the shanties surrounding the campus, but this has nothing to do with what Henry is referring to. Tell me if you ever went into downtown Lusaka and saw kids begging and selling mishanga and other things during the UNIP days. There was not a single child I remember seeing who made dark corners of streets in the Bamba Zonke town their sleeping quarters. The fact that you are citing kids who visited UNZA to scavenge for food as street kids tells me that you don’t know that the kids were coming from their houses in the shanties.
Pepekale @ 43. Street kids arein threeways:[a] there are those who actually have parents and it’s their parents who send them to beg and scavenge.[b] those that run away from homes-good or bad.These do so because they have become delinquents and also due to drug addiction.[c] The orphaned.Of course those with no relatives to adopt them.It is up to you to place those kids who used to visit Unza for leftovers.I studied social sciences. And mishanga business for your own information started in the 1970s. I grew up in town and a stick cost 2 ngwee then….ask those who were in town like me….no malice.
Josef P (#44): UNZA is not a street; and the fact that the selling of mishanga started in the 1970s is not proof that school-age kids were involved in selling mishanga. I don’t know the kind of social studies research you did, but it is embarrassing to learn that you were at UNZA but your contribution doesn’t make any sense; you are just beating around the bush.
Pepe kale @ 45 One good thing about education is that it enables people to reason scientifically. This means thinking logically or reasoning without listening to inclinations.According to your thinking since Unza is not a street therefore,street kids cannot be found there.What kind of thinking is this from a graduate? And you missed my point.What I meant was that the problem of street kids started with failing or falling economy.Our econonmy started shaking in the mid 70s degenerating through the 80s and became worse in the 90s about which time MMD came into power.So they inherited dead economy and even the street kids.Education,health,social services etc had already been bad.This subject does not seem to be in your domain thus you are not the right one to comment on it.