Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
The long-awaited rehabilitation works on the 87.3 kilometres section of the Lusaka-Mongu Road from Tateyoyo Gate-Katunda Junction in Western Province is set to be commissioned.
Kaoma District Commissioner, Sheba Muyambango says the construction works are expected to be commissioned this week on August 7th 2024.
In an interview with ZANIS Ms Muyambango has shown gratitude to the government on behalf of Kaoma and Western Province for a speedy answer in ensuring that the bad road is restored to bituminous standards.
“Within two and a half years, the government is responding to the people’s extensive cry. It has been over 5 years that we have been crying for this road,” she noted.
Ms Muyambango brought to light that preparations for the ground-breaking ceremony are currently on course.
“The road has been in a very bad state. Instead of taking 30 minutes from Nkeyema to Kaoma people are taking two hours,”
She highlighted that the road is so bad such that motorists are now opting to use the longest Livingstone route instead of the Lusaka-Mongu road.
Kaoma District residents have shown happiness with the news of works to be carried out on the dilapidated Lusaka-Mongu stretch, an important trade route to the Western Province.
Kenny Kanyanga has expressed thanks to President Hakainde Hichilema for such a long awaited but dream come true road rehabilitation.
“I am so excited about these works. I can’t wait for the ground breaking, maybe we can also get some jobs along-side the construction workers,” he highlighted.
Senior academic, Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa, has once again put on display his penchant for deeply troubling personal attacks on those he happens to disagree with.
So, Sishuwa criticises UNZA lecturer and former ACC Board Member, Dr O’Brien Kaaba, for entering a consent judgement in the matter in which Solicitor General, Marshal Muchende, had sued him for suggesting that he is corrupt.It is Sishuwa’s view that, in appending his signature to the judgement, Dr Kaaba gave in to pressure from power holders. He labels him a coward who wants to remain on the right side of job opportunities. Vicious claim, but hey.
The point is Sishuwa is a commentator on public interest issues and, therefore, well within his right to express his unhappiness with the way a matter of public interest has played out. It is his role to contribute to the public discourse and ignite debate.Where things become problematic is where he himself seriously accuses O’Brien of supporting the withdrawal of the case for tribal reasons. With no justification, other than that Dr Kaaba, Solicitor Muchende and President Hichilema are all Tonga, he makes that very insulting assertion.
Again, I ask why? Why go there? Why suggest your colleague, your academic and professional equal has made a major decision based on such an unthinking consideration like tribe. Why want to be in the company of base loudmouths like Chishimba Kambwili by advancing uncalled for hateful speech?This slur, unfortunately, comes not long after Sishuwa termed O’Brien a praise singer.
Now, it can’t be that Sishuwa is bereft of substantive arguments against the decision O’Brien has made. It is that the Stellenbosch lecturer has this inexplicable way of articulating himself in ways that go against what one would expect from an individual with his expansive intellect, education and exposure. One whose whole profession is predicated on evidenced, substantiated and objective argument.
So, yes, these personal attacks, as well as Sishuwa’s taste for huge unevidenced claims that he does not apologise for, when proved unfounded, is something he needs to work on.
I will end with a small amusing fact. When Sishuwa sued Emmanuel Mwamba for defamation, he entered a consent judgement with him, rather than let the case play out in court.
Sishuwa Sishuwa Responds To Laura Miti
Sishuwa Sishuwa
Hello Laura!
I have read your response to my criticism of O’Brien Kaaba’s strange consent judgement with the man he only days ago called corrupt, Solicitor General Marsal Muchende. I welcome your response because, for me, the idea behind writing in the public domain is to encourage open engagement. In fact, I am disappointed that more people do not criticise what I put out. Readers should freely question my views and positions on any given subject. Their feedback may either broaden my perspectives or cause me to counter in a manner that both raises the quality of public debate and promotes wider understanding of the issues being discussed.
I believe that those who welcome praise must also accept criticism. Having claimed and exercised my freedom of expression, I am only all too aware of the right of others to exercise the same free speech on any matter, including when commenting on my public commentaries. Being human, it is natural that we will have varying lines of thought. I do believe, however, that it is only through many conversations that we can reconsider our positions, challenge our assumptions, question our convictions, and come to appreciate our own ignorance. Of course, the notion of content-based discussion seems like a tall order in today’s polarised Zambia, where any criticism of the government is deemed as support for the opposition, and vice-versa. We must get rid of this binary divide. It is unproductive, curtails meaningful interactions, and draws attention away from the real issues.
Now to the issues. I will ignore the ad hominem attacks in your response and focus on two subjects that I think deserve proper discussion. The first is your attempt to conflate Kaaba’s consent judgement with the one that I entered into with Emmanuel Mwamba in 2022. I find this comparison to be a crime against reason. I just do not see how any informed person can compare the two judgements because they are so demonstrably different: One involved admission of liability (mine) while the other (the one involving Kaaba against the government official he has branded corrupt) involved no such thing. Let me simplify this explanation for easy understanding by providing context to how mine came about.
In March 2021, I wrote an opinion piece that discussed the lack of freedoms in Zambia in the lead up to upcoming 2021 elections. The article was published initially in News Diggers in Zambia and subsequently in the Mail & Guardian newspaper in South Africa. Here is the article.
In response to the Mail and Guardian version of the article, Emmanuel Mwamba, at the time Zambia’s High Commissioner to Ethiopia and formerly Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, alleged that my article was a “paid for opinion” and said “I can even guess who paid for that Op-Ed article in the Mail & Guardian”. He also accused me of being a hired gun, sponsored by then opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema and his opposition United Party for National Development. Here is a link to Mwamba’s article.
Because I have never ever sought nor claimed monetary benefits from anyone, dead or alive, for my public commentaries, I found Mwamba’s assertions injurious to my professional reputation. I also found malicious his insinuations that I supported Hichilema, even as this was and remains my democratic and constitutional right. As a result, I wrote to Mwamba, stating that neither the Mail & Guardian nor I had received any payment for publishing the article. I therefore requested him to retract his “defamatory and false” claims and apologise within 48 hours or face legal action. I have attached the letter of demand as evidence.
After Mwamba neglected to retract and apologise for what I felt were malicious assertions, I sued him in the Lusaka High Court, in April 2021, explaining why I felt defamed and attaching documentary evidence in support of my suit, including a letter from the Mail & Guardian newspaper which explained that I have never asked or received money from the publication for my activism.
Like other general cases, defamation suits in Zambia’s court system take long to be heard. By the end of 2021, four months after the ruling party to which Mwamba belonged lost power to Hichilema, the matter had not yet taken off. In January 2022, Mwamba, through his lawyers Makebi Zulu Advocates, wrote to my lawyers, Mwenye and Mwitwa Advocates, effectively admitting that he could not substantiate the assertions he had made against me and expressing his “willingness to sit on the negotiating table and settle this matter ex-curia.”
In response, and through my lawyers, I accepted the proposal for an out of court settlement on three conditions: that he apologises for making malicious claims against me, pays a nominal fee as admission of guilt, and settles the legal fees to my lawyers. See attached for evidence. It was on this basis that the consent judgement between Mwamba and I was entered into in June 2022, and he subsequently proceeded to implement the contents of the said judgement.
Given the abbreviated context that I have just outlined, I believe you will note significant differences between these two unrelated cases that you are trying to connect in an uninformed way that makes the cases appear harmonious. In my view, there are two critical differences in the two cases. The first difference is that in my case, the consent judgement arose from the recognition by the sued party that they could not substantiate the defamatory assertions they had made about me, and the realisation that they stood to lose the case in court and suffer high costs in both compensation and legal fees.
On this basis, and before the case had even commenced, the sued party reached out to my lawyers to seek out the person whose reputation they had injured and request for a settlement. This, in my view, was a rational and wise move. If you sue me because I have said something malicious against you and I discover that I was wrong, it is my responsibility to cut my costs and run. That is what Mwamba did. It was then entirely up to me, the injured party, to accept or not to accept the olive branch. I accepted the proposal for a settlement on the conditions that were clearly outlined, and which became the public contents of the consent judgement itself. I made it clear that if Mwamba was not amenable to all the conditions I set, then the matter should proceed to trial. He was amenable to all of them, and this is a matter of public record.
I should mention that for me, my interest in suing Mwamba was not money, but the need to (i) unearth the truth behind what was alleged and defend my professional integrity, (ii) promote content-based discussion, (iii) have civility and decency in our public exchanges, and (iv) raise both the level and quality of public debate. This explains why I instructed my lawyers to charge Mwamba the LOWEST amount possible under damages for civil defamation. Even after he paid the money, through my lawyers, I never touched it. Instead, I donated the whole amount to charity. For me, it was about principle. Again, this is a matter of public record.
https://x.com/ssishuwa/status/1550003221220958209
The second fundamental difference between the cases you are conflating is that in my case against Mwamba, the terms of settlement were transparently made clear and included in the consent judgement. The judgement had specific details of what needed to be done. The consent judgement between Kaaba and Marshal has neither content nor details of what motivated this settlement and the next steps. The fact that the case Marshal v Kaaba case was discontinued through a vague consent judgement rather than the plaintiff filing a notice of discontinuance raises many questions which, unfortunately, have implications on the reputations of both parties.
In my originating post, I asked why Kaaba consented to the withdrawal of the case when he told us he had evidence of Marshal’s corruption. If you know the answer, please share it I am sure there are many people who are as keen as I am to understand his reasons. If you do not know the answer, may you please ask Kaaba, since he is a board member of your civic outfit Alliance for Community Action, to publicly explain why he particularly consented to the withdrawal of the matter when he had evidence of Marshal’s corruption? We members of the public are interested in learning the reasons behind his strange decision to formally go to bed with the same person he had called corrupt.
This is an important point when one considers the fact that what is at stake is not a family dispute between Kaaba and Marshal – assuming they are related! It is high-level corruption, one that Kaaba openly told us that a public officer in the name of Marshal was perpetuating, an assertion that he was looking forward to proving in the courts of law. The public therefore is an interested party and has legitimate reason to seek explanations for what motivated this consent judgement that conceals its origins. If Kaaba has evidence of Marshal’s corruption, as he claimed only days ago, why did he sign a consent to discontinue the case? Please ask him for us since he is a board member of your NGO, which among other things, fights for the promotion of public accountability.
Why did Kaaba agree to the judgement without getting Marshal to formally acknowledge that he is indeed corrupt, as alleged by Kaaba, and, for this reason, was discontinuing the suit as an acknowledgement of guilt? Was it because any indication of guilt on Marshal’s part would have increased public pressure on Hichilema to dismiss him from his government position? Do you see the basis for the four implications that I outlined in my main post? If Kaaba, who had no need to consent to the judgement, realised that he cannot defend the claims he made against Marshal and risks losing the case if it went to trial, then this should have been part of the details of the consent so that we, members of the public, are in the know about what led to this consent judgement. This way, the public would know that Marshal is innocent, and that Kaaba was simply making malicious accusations against an innocent person or relative.
It is fair to say that many Zambians are not expecting much from Marshal in the way of showing respect for the office he occupies by way of stepping down on his own. We know that Marshal has said he won’t resign. We know that Hichilema won’t, for whatever reason, dismiss him. If Marshal refused to admit to Kaaba’s allegation that he is corrupt, why then didn’t Kaaba stand his ground and refuse to be part of the consent judgement so that Marshal could have discontinued the case on his own? Was Kaaba intimidated? And if he was, by who and why? And if he chickened out, then what does this say about Kaaba?
In my view, true, authentic leadership is not the illusions of political power or the positions that one holds in any formal structure; it is the courageous pursuit of the truth in the face of grave dangers posed to those who pursue such truth. True leaders are those individuals who hold steadfast to their principles in the face of all opposition and personal dangers, who hoist and proclaim virtue. These, in my view, are true leaders. History always vindicates them, just as it always undresses liars, cowards, and those, especially in civil society and academia, who collaborate with political leaders who nurture injustice, undermine democracy and human rights, and oppress, loot, divide, and impoverish the people.
Rather than picking up useless side quarrels with me, or attempting to deflect attention from the real issues at hand (in this case the grand corruption of the Hichilema administration, the president’s refusal to dismiss Marshal, and Kaaba’s unacceptable capitulation), any sane person must be concerned that Hichilema has sustained Marshal in his position despite confirmation from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) that they have been investigating the Solicitor General for corruption over the last one year. By signing a consent deal with the man he has called corrupt, your board member, Kaaba, is taking the side of Marshal and Hichilema, not the side of public interest. WHY?
The Marshal case has clearly shown that Hichilema has no spine to deal with corruption if those accused of involvement in it are officials close to him. The real test about Hichilema’s commitment to fighting corruption was always never going to be the games he is playing against former officials but the attitude and decisive leadership that he demonstrates to the fight when members of his inner circle – such as one or two presidential aides at State House, three cabinet ministers, four permanent secretaries, or indeed the senior government officials named by Kaaba – are accused of involvement in corruption.
And as you yourself have stated publicly, Hichilema has lamentably failed the test on several occasions including when it comes to how he has dealt with the Marshal issue. Hichilema has not invited Marshal to resign the way he reportedly did with ACC Director General Thom Shamakamba. Hichilema has disbanded the entire board of the ACC. At the heart of these development is Kaaba, the person who told us that there is blatant corruption at the highest level of the state and that he has evidence to back these assertions. Yet the same Kaaba is now willing to strike a content-free deal with the official he branded corrupt and consequently helping him, as Hichilema has done, to remain in his post. I ask: WHY? Please ask him to explain.
The second issue that deserves brief discussion is your statement that I should not have referred to Kaaba’s ethnic identity, one that he shares with Marshal and Hichilema, as a possible explanation behind his strange decision to go to bed with the man he has branded corrupt. I have two points to make here. The first point is that I raised the issue of ethnic identity within the context of possibilities that may explain why Kaaba made that odd decision with Marshal. I cited the book written by Michela Wrong titled Our Turn to Eat, provided the context behind that specific possibility of ethnic considerations as a possible motivation, and expressed my view in a disjunctive rather than conjunctive sense.
If this particular possibility is wrong, it is for Kaaba – not you or any other third party to the consent judgement– to tell us by explaining which of the possibilities I stated, or any other beyond them, informed his decision making. It is a fact that Kaaba and his newly consented partner, Marshal, are both ethnic Tongas, as is Hichilema who appears to be so protective of Marshal. If Kaaba did not enter into this strange consent judgement with the man he says is corrupt on the basis of ethnic considerations or because he was encouraged to strike the deal by Tonga elders, it is his responsibility, not yours, to make this clear and explain what motivated him to consent to the discontinuance of the case.
The second point is that we must get used to discussing uncomfortable subjects such as those bordering on ethnic identity. I have noted, with sympathy, the chorus of some in our country who insist that I should not have included the issue of tribe in what I said. I reject any prescriptions from anyone, human or divine, about what I should discuss in relation to issues of public concern. I am aware that there are many in our country, perhaps including you and Hichilema, who are very uncomfortable with any discussion that touches on ethnic considerations, but that is their problem, not mine. I refuse to be recruited into their brackets. We must discuss anything and anyone fearlessly, especially if the subject relates to public interest or concerns.
In my view, what the uncomfortables should deal with is the source of their discomfort, not my drawing attention to the need to discuss even uncomfortable truths or subjects. I have noted a growing attempt by some in our country to limit any discussion that touches on ethnic issues, and to condemn and discredit those drawing attention to the reality and dangers of ‘tribalism’ or regionalism, whatever the merit of their views, rather than those practising it. Some elements of this orchestrated campaign of condemnation worry me very deeply.
It is suggested, for instance, that those who criticise Hichilema’s leadership actions do so because they either hate him as an individual, or hate his ethnic identity, or hate the province or region where he comes from. As a result, such critics should be rounded up and arrested for the expanded crime of ‘hate speech’! Some in our own country agitate for these extraordinary propositions with a degree of fanaticism that is truly frightening. It is most strange that you too seem ready to serve the cause of such fanatics by insinuating that we must freeze any discussion on ethnic issues.
Not long ago, before the 2021 election, both the leadership of the then ruling party and the supporters insisted that I should not discuss any issue bordering on ethnic matters whenever I criticised the marginalisation of other ethnic groups such as the Tongas in Edgar Lungu’s Zambia. See the links below for examples.
I am now being asked to do precisely the same thing that the PF and its supporters did, which is to ask me to participate in censoring myself when it comes to any discussions bordering on ethnic issues. I reject this invitation with the contempt it deserves, as I did under the PF. I consider any issues affecting public interest as ripe for discussion. The only way I can be persuaded on any given subject is to demonstrate the weakness in my point of view on that subject, not to tell me that there exists a particular view on it that is supported by the majority, against which dissent is prohibited.
I know that I do say things that make some people feel uncomfortable. I insist that it is not my role to say things that make anyone comfortable. On matters of public concern, I will not be bullied into silence by anyone. I have the right to think and express my opinions.
Although it should ordinarily not matter, I would like to mention that while I have the academic tools, I do not speak out on issues of public interest because I am an academic. I speak out because it is my responsibility as a citizen – my primary identity – to hold public leaders and the government to account, and to promote the ideals and objectives of Zambia’s constitution. I insist that every citizen needs to take these duties seriously. To be silent in the face of abuse, injustice, inequality, corruption and attacks on democracy and human rights is to actively participate in sustaining the status quo.
“But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?”
Luke 18:8, MSG
What Kind of Faith?
Friend, if God showed up at your house today, what kind of faith would He find? Is it a little faith, weak faith, complaining faith, average faith, or great faith? The enemy would love for you to go through life barely believing, full of doubt, getting talked out of your dreams, giving up on what God put in your heart. “It’s never going to happen. Look at how big these problems are.” That kind of thinking is limiting what God can do. That kind of faith will never overcome the forces that are trying to hold you back from becoming all God created you to be.
God wants to do something new in your life, something uncommon, out of the ordinary, but if you’re going to see great favor, you have to awaken your great faith. It’s going to happen when you dare to believe that God is all-powerful despite what circumstances look like. You believe that God is not limited, and you start to believe for bigger things. You believe that what God promises in His Word will come to pass.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You are looking for faith in my life, that You desire that I believe and trust You more and more. Thank You that You are all-powerful and that You are always working what is best for my life. I declare that I am going to believe for bigger things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
Barrick Lumwana Mine has donated 50 Thousand United States Dollars towards drought programmes.
Barrick Lumwana Mine Country Manager Anthony Malenga says the funds are meant to cushion families affected by the drought.
Mr Malenga expressed optimism that the donation will go a long way in helping alleviate the challenges faced by families impacted by the drought.
ZANIS reports that Barrick Lumwana Country Manage announced this during the Presidential Luncheon hosted in honour of the Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye who graced this year’s show.
“We have today made a donation of 50 thousand dollars to drought programmes to cushion the impact of the drought.”
“This donation will go a long way in helping vulnerable families in this difficult time,” He said.
Meanwhile Barrick Lumwana has commended the government for creating a conducive environment that attracts investment in the mining sector.
Mr Malenga said the approach taken by the government to unlock investment potential in the sector is pleasing.
He noted that the mining industry plays a critical role in Zambia’s economic growth and development.
“We commend your government’s approach creating a conducive environment thereby attracting more investment in the industry.”
Mr Malenga further commended the government for the remarkable efforts it made in unlocking and resolving issues surrounding the Mopani Copper Mines and Konkola Copper Mines.
“We recommend your government for the remarkable efforts it has made to unlock and resolve issues at both Mopani Copper Mines and Konkola Copper Mines.”
He disclosed that the two-mining firms are long standing partners to Barrick Lumwana.
Mr Malenga indicated that the resolving of the issues surrounding Konkola and Mopani mines is a testimony of the government’s commitment to transform the mining industry in the country.
“The two mines have been long standing partners to Lumwana and this development is testimony to your commitment to transform the mining industry in the country.”
Commenting on the Lumwana expansion project, Malenga said it has excreted the project with production expected to start in 2028.
He explained that once operational Lumwana will produce 240 thousand tons per annum.
And Stanbic Bank Zambia Chief Executive, Mwindwa Siakalima said they will continue innovating and coming up with new products aimed at making the farming community thrive in the wake of the drought.
President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia and his Burundian counterpart, President Evariste Ndayishimiye, have lauded their strong bilateral relations, emphasizing the success of Ndayishimiye’s state visit to Lusaka. This visit underscores the mutual desire to enhance cooperation between the two nations.
The state visit followed the Fifth Session of the Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation (JPCC), held in Lusaka from June 12 to 14, 2024. According to a joint communique issued at the conclusion of the visit, both leaders expressed satisfaction with the progress made since the JPCC meeting. Key developments include the implementation of agreements on general cooperation, diplomatic and political consultations, and a MoU on visa waivers and travel procedures for holders of diplomatic passports.
Both Presidents instructed their respective services to negotiate the extension of visa waivers to other passport types, facilitating freer movement between the two countries. Their high-level talks on August 1, 2024, addressed various bilateral, regional, and international issues, highlighting a shared history of struggle for independence from colonial rule.
At the bilateral level, Presidents Hichilema and Ndayishimiye reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation in multiple sectors, including transport, infrastructure, trade, investment, education, fisheries, livestock, environment, agriculture, and mining. President Hichilema noted Burundi’s significance as an export destination for Zambia, with an average export volume of USD 25.05 million over the past five years.
President Ndayishimiye emphasized the potential to increase trade volumes by developing the Lake Tanganyika Corridor and respective port infrastructure. The leaders recognized the importance of the MoU on improving port and maritime infrastructure, particularly the development of the Lake Tanganyika Corridor, connecting Mpulungu port and Nseluka via road and the TAZARA railway line.
Additionally, they discussed the creation of a Multilateral Water Transport Agreement and Sister Port Agreements among Lake Tanganyika riparian states. On trade and economic cooperation, the Presidents pledged to remove trade barriers in line with international trade rules, enhancing bilateral trade volumes. They tasked their Ministers of Transport, Commerce, and Infrastructure with exploring ways to improve trade, leveraging the opportunities provided by the AfCFTA and COMESA Treaties.
To bolster bilateral cooperation, the Presidents presided over the signing of several agreements and MoUs, including those on commercial cooperation, social protection, child welfare, agricultural research, fisheries, livestock, and university collaboration. They also signed an MoU on the extradition of fugitive criminals.
At the regional, continental, and international levels, both leaders committed to implementing the 2063 African Union Agenda and maintaining global peace, security, and stability. They emphasized respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, opposing unlawful governmental transitions.
The Presidents stressed the need for reforming the UN and other multilateral institutions to improve their effectiveness and responsiveness to geopolitical realities. They reaffirmed commitments to sustainable natural resource management, climate change agreements, and global environmental governance.
President Hichilema declared a National Disaster and Emergency due to severe drought exacerbated by climate change. In solidarity, President Ndayishimiye donated 5,000 tons of food, including rice, beans, and maize, to the affected people of Zambia. President Hichilema expressed profound gratitude for Burundi’s support during this challenging time.
The two leaders also pledged to support each other’s candidatures at continental and international levels. President Hichilema committed to supporting President Ndayishimiye when he assumes the COMESA chairmanship later this year. During his visit, President Ndayishimiye addressed the Zambian parliament and served as the Guest of Honour at the 96th Agricultural and Commercial Show.
At the conclusion of his visit, President Ndayishimiye thanked President Hichilema, the government, and the people of Zambia for their warm reception and hospitality. He extended an invitation to President Hichilema to visit Burundi, which was graciously accepted.
President Hichilema praised President Ndayishimiye for his state visit and participation as the Guest of Honour at the Agricultural and Commercial Show, themed “Creating a Competitive Future.” The Burundian delegation included senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Development Cooperation, Environment, Agriculture, Livestock, Trade, Transport, Industry, and Tourism.
From the outset, we must confess we’re proud praise-singers…..we’ve actually had a soft spot for UPND since its inception when it wasn’t even fashionable to do so for the simple reason that we firmly believed and subscribed to the aspirations and principles of its founding leader, Anderson Kambela Mazoka aka mwana mubotu!
This explains why we’ve always been quick to scale the mountain top and sing praises of President Hakainde Hichilema each time the New Dawn Administration has scored mammoth milestones such as breathing a new sigh of relief in our critical mining sector; taking great strides in reuniting our otherwise polarized nation by assembling a cabinet that represents a national character; activating jobs galore for our highly expectant youths in the civil service and security wings; nipping the ugly spectre of cadrerism in its bud; reintroducing free education and of course, restoring meal allowances for our ‘starving’ University students, including old man Prof. Nason Ngoma who has seen it fit to go back to the Copperbelt University as a law student even if they’re only a handful of them in the classroom……the list goes on and on, of course.
In case some in the ruling party have forgotten, one of the many reasons why ba 2.8 million elected to wake up wee hours of the day in August 2021 and endure punishing hours of standing in winding queues to kick out the previous administration from office was undoubtedly the overpowering stench of corruption in government! Citizens were obviously aghast and livid at government and party officials flaunting their ill-gotten wealth in public when many of them were actually paupers before they assumed power! They became multi millionaires overnight – boasting of countless fleets of impressive SUVs and breathtaking mansions in secluded neighbourhoods to their names, sending their children to exclusive schools abroad, not forgetting splurging colossal sums of cash on alcoholic beverages and call girls!
But lo and behold………..to read the heartbreaking news of some of the officials in the current administration – cabinet ministers, permanent secretaries and director generals etc are actually engaging in acts of corruption defeats the very essence of logic. Last time we checked, the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) was breathing heavily on their necks! In an interview with Joy FM, UPND National Youth deputy chairman, Trevor Mwiinde seems to confirm the problem of corruption amongst some government officials. We’re at a loss to come to terms with this. This is obviously not the change we voted for! Where’s this unquenchable appetite to accumulate massive wealth while the majority of our people continue wallowing in abject poverty coming from? Are you in a race against time to catch up with the former PF leaders in terms of asset portfolios?
It seems President Hichilema is after all “on his own” in the fight against graft. It’s quite interesting that while a few of us continue putting our necks on the chopping board defending government from the barrage of incessant and vicious attacks and criticism from the opposition on Social media as well as electronic and print media, most cabinet ministers and party officials choose to conviniently remain mute. What are they afraid of? Are they probably preparing for “safe landing” just in case their is a sudden change of government in the foreseeable future in order to escape punishment?
One influential and fearless UK based blogger puts it more succinctly; “As you defend them and earn yourself enemies, they are heaping money for their children. You insult PF on their behalf but they are sharing deals with the same PF guys…”
Mr. President, this may not be dismissed as mere gossip as this is what exactly happened at the infamous Black Mountain in Kitwe. Some named cabinet ministers and senior party officials went into cahoots with PF members who had tipper trucks and excavators to ‘devour’ the same in record time! They shameless shared the proceeds to the exclusion of ordinary members of the public after which they went on rampage acquiring properties everywhere…….some of them even became ranchers overnight!
You have the good will of the public on your side Mr. President; do not even be dissuaded or distracted by insinuations from some traditional leaders that the fight against corruption is targeted at specific ethnic groups. We expect you to crack the whip and show suspected Judas Iscariots in your team, the door! We are eager to see you tackle both the previous and current cases of corruption tooth and nail until all our jails are filled up with corrupt individuals!
In our next offering, we take a look at transpired in Mwansabombwe, Luapula province.
Former President Lungu has alleged gross misconduct and urgent health concerns for Hon JJ Banda. In a facebook message Former President Lungu said Hon JJ Banda, MP for Petauke Central, is currently undergoing or about to undergo a surgical procedure at Chipata General Hospital following a severe deterioration in his health.
Former President Lungu said he along with Hon Banda’s family had earlier feared that the parliamentarians health and life were quickly declining every day with no signs of improvement under state captivity.
“We remain doubly and immensely saddened that our MP has never been given any chance to mentally heal and physically recover from the brutal abduction and torture he suffered between May and June 2024.From the day of abduction to date, the life of Hon. Banda has been under arbitrary state siege, as well as consistent and present danger, as the state keeps him captive in chains, disregarding his health and human rights—a strange situation in the 21st century. Hon Banda’s life is at high risk as we speak today because his political tormentors are determined to crush and decimate it. Should Hon. Banda die, we shall place the entire blame on President Hichilema. His blood will be on President Hichilema’s hands,” Former President Lungu said
The former President went on to say it broke his heart to see the people Hon. Banda mentioned in his abduction walking freely without any warrant or caution statement or indeed arrest! Among the alleged named suspects are President Hichilema’s State House aides, Mr. Clayson Hamasaka, Mr. Levy Ngoma, as well as UPND Deputy National Youth Chairperson, Trevor Mwiinde.
He questioned why the named abductors fare free while the victim is imprisoned, now with his life threatened?
Former President Lungu demanded fpr justice and the rule of law for all, and called upon the state to arrest and detain the named abductors immediately. He also called upon all Zambians and cooperating partners including SADC, AU, EU, UK, US, SA, UNDP, and other Ambassadors in Zambia to stand up for Hon JJ Banda and his family, as well as put him in prayers during these difficult times.
It is ironic that University of Zambia law lecturer O’Brien Kaaba, who had claimed that Solicitor General Marshal Muchende is corrupt and had evidence of this corruption that he was looking forward to presenting in court, has now joined President Hichilema in protecting the very person Kaaba had told Zambians was corrupt. Why has Kaaba struck a deal with someone he branded corrupt? Having criticized consent judgments as a form of legal corruption, Kaaba has now signed one himself to protect someone he told Zambians was receiving kickbacks.
Moreover, the consent judgment was unnecessary. If Marshal wanted, for whatever reason, to discontinue the suit, he could have done so without Kaaba’s consent. Kaaba could have simply insisted that he had evidence to prove his assertions and left it to Muchende to discontinue the matter on his own volition. This way, the public would have concluded that the defamation case that Marshal brought against Kaaba was nothing more than an intimidation tactic. By agreeing to end the matter through a dubious consent judgment, Kaaba has called into question his own character.
The implication of what Kaaba has done is that he either (i) did not have evidence of corruption against Marshal and was simply being malicious; (ii) was talked out of the issue of exposing Marshal’s corruption by Marshal himself, Hichilema, or/and other senior leaders who may have felt that a court trial would expose the extent of the rot and embarrass the President, government, or the ruling party, (iii) has been intimidated by Hichilema who has shown extraordinary determination to protect the Solicitor General, or (iv) has finally been compromised and co-opted into the corrupt network so that he, too, can eat with the group. Whatever it is, neither reflects very well on Kaaba’s character. This outcome presents him as an unprincipled person and a coward who trembles in the face of intimidation or pressure.
It is fair to assume that we will not hear Kaaba strongly criticizing the government anytime soon. He is more likely to withdraw into silence to win the support of those he nearly estranged himself from by criticizing their wrongs. It is worth noting that the decision by Kaaba – who, like Marshal and Hichilema, is a Tonga speaker – to strike a consent judgment with an official he had only days earlier insisted was corrupt may also be interpreted by some people as motivated by ethnic considerations. In the book It’s Our Turn To Eat: The Story of a Kenyan Whistleblower, Michela Wrong shows that corruption, despite its destructive impact, is harder to eradicate in multi-ethnic African societies because many people, both in government and outside it, have found it easy to reduce decision-making to the self-serving calculation of which tribe gets to ‘eat’.
Set in Kenya, the book tells the story of John Githongo, a member of the Kikuyu ethnic group to which then-President Mwai Kibaki also belonged, who took on an official government position to fight corruption. When Githongo discovered that corruption under Kibaki was as rife as it was under his predecessor, Daniel Arap Moi who came from the Kalenjin group, he exposed it. Githongo’s anti-corruption efforts attracted outrage from (mainly the corrupt) Kikuyu government officials who felt disappointed that a member of their ethnic group was ‘betraying the tribe’ and effectively undermining the ruling party’s stay in power at a time when they (ethnic Kikuyus) should unite to eat, as those they had ousted from power, the Kalenjin, had done.
Considered from this perspective, it is reasonable to assume that Hichilema, Marshal, or other Tonga elders may have sat Kaaba down and reproached him for “betraying the tribe and effectively undermining the ruling party’s stay in power at a time when they…should unite to eat, as those they had ousted from power…had done.” For those who place narrow ethnic considerations above wider national interests, the pressure of ethnic-regional cabals is almost unbearable, and weak souls are more likely to bend to their will. In fact, I won’t be surprised to hear next that Kaaba has entered into another consent judgment with, or issued an apology to, ex-ACC Director General Thom Shamakamba and retracted the assertions he intentionally made to the Daily Revelation newspaper that Thom was also receiving kickbacks! Politics can reveal the truest character of people we had some respect for at a distance.
Here is my unsolicited advice to Kaaba. If you are not consistent in your beliefs; if you are not prepared to risk everything – including your very life – to live the dictates of your conscience and give full expression to the courage of your convictions, please stick to supporting Hichilema and the UPND or consider withdrawing from public commentary to lead a quiet life until Zambia has a different, non-ethnic Tonga, leadership. It is the easy way out, provided one is prepared to ignore the answer to this haunting question, which will likely be posed by future generations: ‘When these things were happening to Zambia, when those in power were destroying the country this way, what did you do?’ The price of dissenting, of challenging the government, of being in the minority, is very high. I know this from personal experience under this administration and previous governments. It is much easier to give up on Zambia than to fight for her.
Speaking truth to power is a lonely undertaking, but someone must take the mantle and sacrifice. If there is anything that I have learnt from this path, it is that sometimes, in acting on our beliefs and being loyal to principle or our convictions, we lose friends and end up lonely. I do understand though – and I am even sympathetic to – the primary impulses that are causing individuals, including those in civil society today, to betray the public interest and identify themselves with the ruling elite. In an impoverished country like Zambia, where the state is the dominant employer, the ability to stay alive requires association with the government of the moment.
I believe, however, that there must be others among us who should do what is right and work towards the promotion of the common good. Some among us must hold our leaders to account, irrespective of the consequences that may come our way. It would be nice to have more people, especially from the region where I come (since the leaders now dividing Zambia hail from there), who genuinely oppose corruption, defend democracy, speak truth to power, and campaign against the erosion of democratic institutions. But even if there are only one or two of us, we must find comfort in the fact that we are enough. We are enough because at its core, our job is very simple. It is to be the pinhead of the needle of justice and clean governance. Our job is to give courage to those who are scared. We do not have to be too many for that; we are enough. The cowards will join eventually; they always do.
This is a very historic and difficult period for Zambia we are witnessing and passing through. Many, including those we looked up to only yesterday, have now sold out and those in power have supporters that are so loud against the few remaining independent voices that it is very easy to feel overwhelmed, shattered, and to either break down or bow down to defeat. Mistakes are inevitable too, sometimes very grievous ones. It is vital to learn lessons from all of them, quickly and effectively, and to soldier on: because victory is certain for those who are steadfastly on the right side of history and consistently fight for justice: it truly is very dark before true dawn. As always, I choose to fight on, on all fronts, whatever the odds, till death or victory, whichever comes first.
We learn and grow every day, and our ability to fight never stops developing and growing. On the face of it, we appear to be in the minority. Actually, we are in the majority; it is just that many are cowards who know and understand the truth and the just path, but are prisoners of fear, fear of many things. When the time is right and their fear can be overcome by numbers, they will support the cause of justice. It has always been like this, historically. I am really worried about the health of Zambia’s democracy and the direction of political life. “Sometimes, democracy dies with a bang. But more often, democracies die slowly. In plain sight, at the hands of elected officials. Through the gradual erosion of political norms and institutions,” wrote Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt in their book, How Democracies Die. I see this process steadily playing out in Zambia, and I recently explained how in the article on the link below.
Gospel singer Matthew Ngosa has passed away after a short illness, according to his brother, Pastor Boyd Ngosa. The news has left a void in the hearts of many, as the nation mourns the loss of a beloved musician and faithful servant.
Matthew Ngosa’s passing was also confirmed by Dr. Nevers Mumba, who expressed his grief, saying, “I have lost a son, a gospel warrior whose only weapon was his God-given voice and his musical talent.”
The talented artist was celebrated for his melodious tunes and dedication to spreading the gospel. His music has inspired and uplifted countless souls across Zambia, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of many.
Socialist Party President Fred M’membe extended profound condolences to Ngosa’s family, friends, and fans. “In these difficult times, let us find solace in the legacy he leaves behind – a legacy of faith, hope, and love. We mourn his loss deeply and celebrate the extraordinary life he lived.”
As Zambia grieves the loss of a true compatriot, the memory of Matthew Ngosa’s faith, hope, and love through his music will continue to resonate. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
President Hakainde Hichilema says there is need to establish embassies in both Burundi and Zambia in order to accelerate economic trade and investments in the two countries.
President Hichilema underscores the significance of having embassies in both countries in a bid to do business directly aimed at fostering social and economic development that will uplift people’s livelihoods.
The Head of State reiterates his government’s commitment to continue partnering with Burundi in accelerating economic development in order to better people’s livelihoods in the two countries.
Speaking during the State Banquet in honour of the visiting President of Burundi Evariste Ndayishimiye at Intercontinental Hotel in Lusaka this evening, President Hichilema called for the speedy establishment of the project by finding space to construct the embassy in Zambia.
“The aim of establishing embassies in the two countries is expected to boost trade in many areas of cooperation such as mining and agriculture among others, for so long, we have been trading without having embassies but time has come to have them and conduct business directly,” he said.
President Hichilema observed that the initiative will deepen bilateral relations between the two countries, for COMESA, SADC and other regional blocks on the African Continent.
He explained that despite political challenges that Burundi had been experiencing, the two countries have continued to enhance trade in various sectors of the economy.
The Head of State stressed the need for the improvement of the Mpulungu Harbor to the international standard and that there is a need for Burundi to be part of the Lobito Corridor in a quest to bolster trade.
President Hichilema noted that the Lobito Corridor which is being supported by the United States of America among others will improve economic trade in Zambia, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo and that Burundi needs to be part of that.
The President also disclosed that Zambia and Burundi have signed the Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs) in sectors such as mining and agriculture among others aimed at deepening bilateral relations between the two countries.
He also underscored the importance of training students in entrepreneurship programmes for them to be able to contribute to the prosperity of the two countries.
“Indeed Burundi and Zambia are bonded together by sharing roots through Lake Tanganyika, for that reason trade must be scaled up, today Zambians are married to the people of Burundi and we have become brothers and sisters,” he said.
“Let me take this opportunity to commend you for accepting the invitation to undertake this state visit, this signifies true brotherhood, please feel at home,” he said.
And Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye thanked Zambia for hosting refugees from his country for a long time now.
President Ndayishimiye has since called for more trade between the two countries in order to improve people’s livelihoods.
He also commended Zambia for their hospitality and that he felt at home due to the warmth of the Zambian people.
“Let me take this opportunity to express my gratitude to you my brother Hichilema for inviting us to Zambia, me and my entourage are excited to be here in Zambia,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Government of Burundi has dispatched 5000 metric tons of relief food comprising beans, maize and rice to Zambia.
Transport and Communication Minister Frank Tayali made the announcement during the state banquet hosted by President Hakainde Hichilema in honour of Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye at the Intercontinental this evening.
Mr Tayali thanked the Burundi government for exhibiting the spirit of love and togetherness.
He said this was truly the spirit of Ubuntu and that the gesture will give relief to the Zambian people.
And Burundi Foreign Affairs Minister Albert Shingiro in response to the announcement made by Minister of Transport and Logistics Frank Tayali, said the donation, though small, was big as it was coming from the heart.
President Evariste Ndayishimiye is in the country at the invitation of President Hakainde Hichilema to officiate at the opening of the Agricultural and Commercial Show on 3rd August, 2024 in Lusaka.
ZANIS
Dozens of female rangers and community scouts were today feted at a major event to recognize for the first time their work in conserving the Kafue ecosystem. The event was hosted by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) as part of the celebrations of World Female Rangers.
Approximately 5,500 female rangers globally make up only 11 percent of the total, highlighting the significant gender imbalance in the sector. In Zambia’s Kafue ecosystem, a cohort of dozens of local women is challenging the status quo, joining up to train and deploy as female rangers alongside their male counterparts.
The event, held in Itezhi Tezhi District recently, featured a range of activities designed to honor and recognize the invaluable contributions of female rangers and community scouts. Highlights included a march past, remarks from invited dignitaries, and live demonstrations that offered a glimpse into the women’s daily routines and the rigorous training they undergo. These showcases not only celebrated the women’s achievements but also inspired the next generation of women to consider careers in wildlife conservation.
DNPW and TNC partners arranged the event with traditional leaders of the Namwala and Nkala Game Management Areas (GMAs), with partners including local Community Resource Boards and conservation NGO African Parks invited to attend.
Senior Wildlife Warden for DNPW Kafue Region Lewis Daka said: “For too long, the image of a park ranger has been dominated by a single perspective. Today, we celebrate the reality that women are a powerful force in conservation. Female rangers are leading anti-poaching patrols, tracking endangered species, educating communities, and playing a vital role in preserving the natural wonders we hold dear. Female rangers bring a unique perspective to conservation. Studies have shown that gender diversity in park management leads to more effective strategies and a deeper understanding of the complex issues facing our environment. They are key to building trust with local communities and fostering a sense of shared responsibility for the natural world.”
TNC and its partners are committed to extending their support to female rangers, including with leadership mentorship, community sensitization, and training on gender-based violence and human rights. TNC is working with partners so that more women are recruited as rangers and community scouts.
The number of female rangers in the Kafue ecosystem has increased by more than 50% in the last few years, from 24 to 37, along with 19 female community scouts. Across Zambia, the number of female rangers is also growing. By investing in female rangers, TNC aims to bolster conservation efforts and promote gender equality within the field of wildlife protection.
Partnership Manager for TNC Zambia Moses Nyoni said: “This event is a testament to the critical role that female rangers play in wildlife protection and community engagement in Zambia, highlighting their importance in the ongoing fight against poaching and habitat destruction. TNC is very proud to have the opportunity to support these activities, and underscore the need for continued support and investment in these courageous women who are making a profound impact on the ground.”
The expansive landscape of the wider Kafue ecosystem, including its environment and wildlife, presents an opportunity to boost Zambia’s tourism industry and deliver critically needed revenue for the area, providing employment and benefits to local communities. The ecosystem faces threats, including illegal grazing, poaching of wildlife and timber, and unsustainable farming. Female rangers in the Kafue ecosystem are at the forefront of conservation efforts to limit these destructive activities. Their work is not only physically demanding but also perilous.
Many of these women have faced and overcome significant adversity, including poverty and marginalization. Becoming a ranger has transformed their lives, empowering them to become breadwinners and property owners. This newfound status has also opened doors to higher education and much-needed healthcare, fundamentally altering their personal and professional trajectories.
Senior Ranger for Kafue Anita Muleya said: “I was recruited as a ranger in 2005, when I was a teenager but also a mother, at a time when very few women showed interest in taking up the role due to cultural norms regarding female roles in our societies. I am proud of the decision I made to be a female ranger. Now I am a breadwinner, I can access much-needed healthcare, I can take my children to school and I own property. I am a role model that other women can look up to and get encouraged to join the journey of conservation.”
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has worked in Zambia since 2012, supporting the government, local communities, and their partners to implement innovative community-led conservation programs. TNC and its partners prioritize approaches that focus on strengthening the ability of communities to manage and derive sustainable livelihoods from the natural resources in their stewardship. These strategies include improving community rights over natural resources, developing and strengthening community-based conservation governance and management systems, and supporting the development of a nature-based economy.
Zambia Under-20 winger Chipyoka Songa has made a lateral move in the Israeli second-tier league. The attacking midfielder, who can play on the left and right wings, has joined Hapoel Petah Tikva on a season-long loan deal from ZESCO United. The Israeli club has an option to buy at the end of the season.
Songa spent the 2023-2024 season at Nes Tziona, where he scored nine goals and provided four assists. He joins compatriot Kelvin Kampumbu, who moved to Israel last month. Other Zambian players campaigning in The Promised Land include defender Gift Mphande, who plies his trade with Rishon LeZion, and Kings Kangwa, who joined Hapoel Be’er Sheva early this week. Kangwa, the Chipolopolo midfielder, is the only Zambian player in the Israeli Premier League.
The Israeli league has been a launch pad for several Zambian players. Speedy winger Lameck Banda, who plays for Serie A club Lecce, was on the books of Maccabi Petah Tikva. William Njobvu won the Israeli championship with Hapoel Kiryat Shmona, while Emmanuel Mwiinde was the only Zambian player to win the Israeli Under-19 league with Maccabi Petah Tikva. Nathan Sinkala played in the Israel U-19 league before moving to Grasshoppers in the Switzerland league. Ngosa Nsunzu also played in the Israel U-19 league, and Emmanuel Mayuka featured for Maccabi Tel Aviv prior to moving to BSC Young Boys, Switzerland, and later Southampton in the English Premier League.
Towering striker Rodgers Kola played for SC Ashdod, where KAA Genk of Belgium spotted him. Evans Kangwa impressed at Hapoel Ra’anana to earn a move to Gaziantepspor, Turkey. Others who had stints in Israel include Emmanuel Mbola, Justine Zulu, Bitwell Phiri, Francis Kasonde, Signs Chibambo, Fwayo Tembo, and Conlyde Luchanga.
Acceleration of food systems transformation with youth and women at the helm a key focus
Kigali, Rwanda – World leaders, innovators, academia, development agencies, farmers organizations, and the private sector from across Africa and beyond will convene in Rwanda to participate in the annual Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) from September 2 to 6, 2024.
This year’s summit themed “Innovate, Accelerate, and Scale: Delivering Food Systems Transformation in a Digital and Climate Era,” will spotlight innovations and technologies, policies and delivery mechanisms, best practices, business models, and investments to accelerate food systems transformation in Africa with youth and women at the helm.
“Innovate” focuses on harnessing technologies, innovative policies, and business models to revolutionize agricultural practices and food production systems. “Accelerate” emphasizes the urgency of collective action to expedite sustainable food system transformations through technological advancements and innovative solutions. “Scale” highlights the need to expand proven models, initiatives, and investments to achieve widespread impact and ensure food security for millions.
These pillars together provide a comprehensive framework for driving meaningful change in Africa’s food systems.
Leaders at this year’s convening will also examine the urgent need to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and meet the Malabo Declaration’s commitments by 2025.
The event will be graced by H.E. President Paul Kagame, along with several current and former presidents, ministers, and key players from government and the private sector. Their presence in the forum showcases the high-level commitment to addressing the critical issues facing Africa’s food systems.
Amath Pathé Sene, Managing Director of the AFS Forum, emphasized the importance of this year’s theme;
“Innovating, accelerating, and scaling are not just words, they are the pillars upon which the future of African food systems will be built. We are committed to leveraging the best of science, policy, and technology to drive this transformation. This year’s summit provides an unparalleled platform for stakeholders to come together, share insights, and forge partnerships that will lead to tangible actions. It is through such collective efforts that we can address the pressing challenges of climate change, food insecurity, and economic inclusivity.”
“Our goal is to create an environment where innovative ideas can flourish, leading to sustainable solutions that benefit all, especially our youth and women.” he added.
Rwanda Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente who officially launched the forum in March called for the transformation of agriculture and making it a powerful engine of the economy.
“To transform the agriculture sector into a powerful engine for economic development, our country is embracing innovation and making evidence-based-policy decisions. In this context, the Government has focused on de-risking the sector to ensure that it becomes more profitable and attractive for the youth and private sector actors,” said Dr Ngirente.
The summit will feature a rich program, including plenary sessions, thematic forums, side events, and leadership exchanges. It provides a unique, forward-looking platform for actionable dialogue and peer learning as stakeholders address the urgent need for innovative solutions to transform food systems in Africa.
In “Policy and Agenda Setting,” discussions will focus on highlighting progress towards transforming food systems while renewing political, policy, and investment commitments. The “Investment Facilitation & Finance” sessions will promote innovative financing models designed to unlock investments from both the public and private sectors. Knowledge sharing sessions will be dedicated to disseminating the latest research, data, and technological advancements in the field and “Technological Advancements” will showcase digital technologies and scalable solutions aimed at addressing both global and local food challenges.
In the 1960s and 70s, we were voracious readers who devoured books by authors black and white: Chinua Achebe, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Wole Soyinka, Mills and Boon, Jack Higgins, Frederick Forsyth, James Hadley Chase, Ian Fleming, Alan Paton, Wilbur Smith, Agatha Christie, David Copperfield, Shakespeare, and many more. We delved into a vicarious world, transitioning from reality to the world depicted within the pages of the book, embarking on a voyage of knowledge acquisition.
The willpower, determination, rage, courage, and unwavering spirit of the character Okonkwo in Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” gave us the strength and knowledge with which to confront British colonial masters. “The Eagle Has Landed” by Jack Higgins revealed how Nazi officer Oberst Radl, acting on Hitler’s orders, devised a plan to kidnap and kill Winston Churchill. Higgins provided a captivating peek into the clandestine operations in both the British and German governments and a glimpse into World War II.
My favorite, “In God’s Name” by David Yallop, uncovers the truth behind the murder of Pope John Paul I (Albino Luciani), just thirty-three days after his installation in 1978. Before, I had regarded the Holy See as the epitome of holiness on Earth. However, my perspective drastically changed upon learning how the Vatican Bank lost a quarter of a million US Dollars through corruption. It remains a riveting eye-opener.
Each well-crafted narrative like Yallop’s led us down various avenues of personal growth, enriching our writing abilities and refining our spoken English. It helped us to think rationally, act intelligently, and apply some of the knowledge in our daily pursuits. Diversifying our reading materials by exploring various genres such as fiction, non-fiction, and poetry broadened our knowledge of different subjects, cultures, and historical eras. This helped cultivate our intellectual curiosity and encouraged a continuous pursuit of learning.
Regrettably, the culture of reading has significantly diminished in Zambia. Many individuals, including graduates, are finding it hard to read and finish a book. Worse still, a good portion of the population will not finish a newspaper article. According to the World Culture Score Index (WCSI), Zambia ranks among the countries with the lowest levels of reading-focused culture on a global scale. The aversion to reading spans across various age groups and academic levels from primary school to university, leading to low levels of IQ (Intelligence Quotient).
As trivial as it may sound, reading serves as a crucial instrument for the advancement of a society and is indispensable for our development as a nation.
“It’s regrettable we are not a reading nation,” Kenneth Kaunda said when he officiated at the opening of the Lubuto Library in 2007. He continued, “yet vast amounts of knowledge, useful creative information that could change you and me are still in the print media, in black and white, in books and magazines.” He added, “If you read, you’ll come out of the darkness that blurs your vision and keeps you in the vice-grip of poverty.”
Why are we not a reading society? To address this question, it is important to first explore the history of reading. Ancient Egypt played a significant role in the development of reading, with the invention of a form of phonetic writing called hieroglyphics around 3250 BC and the subsequent creation of papyrus in 3000 BC. Phonetic reading was instrumental in enabling the Egyptians to record their past, the present, and use the records to shape the future. Reading also played a crucial role in the development of Ancient Egyptian technology, which ultimately led to significant progress in architecture, astronomy, mathematics, and medicine.
The Library of Alexandria, Egypt, was founded due to the skill of reading, making it one of the oldest libraries in the world. The City of Alexandria became the capital of knowledge, attracting scholars from around the globe and transforming the library into a prominent research institution. Reading at the Library of Alexandria led to the rise of scholars, among them, Apollonius of Rhodes, who composed the epic poem “Argonautica”; Eratosthenes of Cyrene, who calculated the circumference of the earth; and Hero of Alexandria, who invented the first recorded steam engine.
The establishment of the first universities in Europe was influenced by the culture of reading. The word “read” led to the founding of the University of Oxford in England in 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world. Oxford has since cultivated a culture of reading among its students who commonly refer to their studies as “reading Philosophy” instead of “majoring in Philosophy.”
Let me now address the question: “Why are we not a reading society?” The answer is to be found in the annals of history. For blacks, reading is a hard-earned culture raced with blood and death. In the 1500s, there was a belief in the white world that a black person was less human, inherently unable to read, and unintelligent. He was, therefore, held in contempt as racially inferior.
In Southern Africa, the phenomenon of denying Africans the right to read was orchestrated in the 1890s by the Prime Minister of the Cape Colony Cecil John Rhodes, who strove to ensure Africans remained illiterate and trapped in a system of indentured labor. “We have got to treat the natives, where they are in a state of barbarism, in a different way to ourselves,” Rhodes proclaimed in his Glen Grey Speech of 1894.
The British imperial government, influenced by the Rhodes racist doctrine, intentionally omitted Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) from the royal charter during the establishment of universities in tropical Africa between 1920 and 1948. The exclusion prevented the establishment of a University of Northern Rhodesia that would have created a reading society and by extension a knowledge-based society.
The queen’s consent would have meant the University of Northern Rhodesia aping the University of London in its admission criteria for students, course content, examination protocols, and academic affairs. At the time, the University of London was laying a foundational culture of reading in all the African universities under its wings to help first-year students build strong reading skills and a lifelong passion for books. The result was the rise of Africa’s early writers like Chinua Achebe (University of Ibadan), and (James) Ngugi wa Thiong’o (Makerere University), Joseph Coleman de Graft (University College of the Gold Coast), George Kofi Nyidevu Awoonor-Williams (University of Ghana), and Kwasi Wiredu (University of Ghana).
As for Zambia, the absence of a university at the time of independence resulted in Zambians missing out on a foundation in vigilant, rigorous, scholarly, and enjoyable reading essential for academic achievement and national development. Kenneth Kaunda, who needed a myriad of personnel for the labor market, was forced to rely on the racially-motivated Lockwood Committee that recommended subpar teaching methods and curricula that did not prioritize general reading essential for cognitive development. Instead, it emphasized the cramming type of reading for passing examinations. Consequently, the University of Zambia witnessed a significant decline in reading proficiency among its graduates, reflecting a catastrophic outcome that can be seen in most of the 40,000 graduates.
Since its establishment in 1966, the University of Zambia, left to its own devices by the British government, has failed to emerge as the source of the culture of reading in Zambia. Zambian education experts appointed to boards like the Higher Education Authority, and the Zambia Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ZSG-QA), have failed to adopt policies that can turn the University of Zambia into the cornerstone of Zambia’s education system in the manner of Harvard and Oxford. Consequently, the university has failed to achieve the goal of providing relevant and quality education crucial to the country’s human capital development. Without a culture of reading, UNZA will continue to produce graduates who are professionally incompetent and internationally ineffective.
The growing apprehension over the diminishing reading culture among Zambians is of grave concern. With the global economy having shifted towards a knowledge-based framework, Zambia’s future is at risk due to the reading crisis it faces. Unless immediate action is taken to address this decline, all aspects of the Zambian state, including its economic, political, and social components, which heavily rely on knowledge, will continue to deteriorate. Establishing a campus and national readership promotion initiative at the University of Zambia is essential in fostering a reading culture among students and the wider community. Without a culture of reading, the University of Zambia is an ivory tower which, when we go downstairs, we go straight into the sewer of knowledge.
The rights to this article belong to ZDI (Zambia Development Institute), a proposed US-based Zambian think tank. On May 19, 2022, a comprehensive proposal was delivered to President Hichilema through Principal Private Secretary Bradford Machila. Author Dr. Field Ruwe holds a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership. He is affiliated with Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
President Hakainde Hichilema expressed his pleasure in meeting with mayors and town council chairpersons from across the nation at State House. These elected representatives, as part of the government, share the supreme responsibility of delivering development to their respective areas and managing public resources prudently.
President Hichilema emphasized that achieving these goals requires embracing the sacrosanct concept of teamwork at all levels—between central and local government, and within the communities they serve. He highlighted the opportunities presented by the country’s debt restructuring, the rejuvenated mining sector, and the enhanced Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which will see a further increase in 2025.
“With the debt restructuring process behind us, the rejuvenated mining sector, and the enhanced Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which will be further increased in 2025, we expect to see significant development in our local council economies,” President Hichilema stated. He urged the officials to ensure development is delivered to every citizen without bureaucratic delays and discrimination.
Addressing the challenges posed by the drought, President Hichilema announced that he has directed the Finance Minister to increase the CDF allocation in the 2025 national budget. This measure aims to accelerate development across the country.
President Hichilema also reiterated his commitment to zero tolerance to corruption, challenging council chairpersons and mayors to lead the fight against corruption in their municipalities. “The government will fight past, present, and future corruption,” he emphasized, urging civic leaders to improve service delivery, a key reason why people voted for the UPND government.
Additionally, President Hichilema addressed the issue of illegal land occupation, warning that the government will not tolerate the culture of impunity and lawlessness in land management. He urged local authorities to tackle this issue head-on.
Speaking on behalf of the 63 civic leaders, Vincent Lilanda, President of the Local Government Association of Zambia, praised the impact of the CDF. “The CDF has changed the way development is delivered to the people,” Lilanda said.
This meeting and the directives from President Hichilema underscore the government’s commitment to enhancing service delivery, promoting accountability, and ensuring that development reaches all corners of Zambia.
This statement was issued to the media by State House Chief Communication Specialist Clayson Hamasaka.
