This year’s Independence Anniversary is commemorated under the theme: Zambia @ 58: Promoting Inclusiveness towards a Sustainable Social and Economic Recovery. However, a selected and anointed few will be invited to State functions where cakes decorated in the Green, Black, Orange and Red – bought using taxpayers’ money – will be cut and eaten live on TV so that the majority of Zambians can watch and just whet their appetites. Drooling over these cakes will be their patriotic contribution. Zambia is 58 years old. 58 years of self-rule and what do we have to show for it? In the immortal words of one famous politician: not much, not much. why? Because of our own failures to seize opportunities that are littered around our yard. And also because of the fact that we are just a single household in the global village, many of failures to realize the returns on independence are absolutely due to our neighbors' orientation.
Can I leave
for another country? Maybe yes. Maybe not. I think I’m in love with this
country. Despite the dirty, dust, diseases and poverty marinated in corruption,
lack of opportunities and bad politics. I am in an abusive relationship with my
country and my body, emotions and socioeconomic status have plenty of scars to
show for it.
My seemingly irrational attachment to Zambia can be perplexing to the uninitiated. Psychiatrists have a name for this kind of behavior. They compare it to the wartime shell shock exhibited by soldiers and explained that the hostages became emotionally indebted to their abductors, and not the police, for being spared death, and dubbed the strange phenomenon “Stockholm Syndrome,” which became part of the popular lexicon in 1974. Is there something wrong with me?
The answers are that there’s absolutely nothing
wrong with me and even if I had a choice of hating this country, my umbilical cord
was buried here. Forever attached to this country. In the words of Eric
Donaldson, this is the Land of My Birth.
We need to develop a generation of patriots who will not just work for self-aggrandizement, but also realign the country on the development path. Patriots that will work to eradicate the vices that have confounded our beautiful country for the past 58 years. Friends, being Zambians has meant always that we need to perpetually navigate varying frontiers. Marking territories of successes, living in the present known and hoping for the better unknown tomorrow.
Patriotism is important
for the protection of a country’s culture and historical heritage. It is to
take pride in representing one’s nation. Patriotism decides the fate of the
nation and is critical building block for development and growth. Patriotism is
self-reinforcing: if those who are in leadership were patriotic, they would be
prioritizing Zambia and Zambians in all they do. In turn, we would all be proud
to Zambian. But there is always a law of diminishing return in the application
of patriotism.
Though patriotism has been eroding since 1964, it still smoulders.
Granted, we still have a lot to do to improve the lives of all Zambians. We should celebrate the progress made whilst at the same time incessantly work on the existing gaps. They are not mutually exclusive. Let us count our blessings. When the entire Southern Africa was in flames during the liberation movements, Zambia was a haven for South Africans, Zimbabweans, Mozambicans, Angolans including Namibians. And in almost 31 years, we have peacefully changed presidents 7 times and allowed ourselves to be superintended on by 4 political parties.
My Zambia is a beautiful country, she is the
crown jewel of the SADC and our people are free, no oppression here apart from
the self-inflicted by politicians we choose to put in power. We have our valorous
women who are as pretty as they are hardworking. The men with an immutable responsibility of providing protection
and livelihoods. The vigilant youths who will not hum and haw to kick out any acrimonious politician
from power if they are deemed to have forgotten their mandate. With minor vicissitudes,
this is homogeneous from Muyombe to Shang’ombo and Livingstone to Chiengi. From
the top of the Mafinga Hills at 2329m above sea level to the bottom of the Zambezi river
at 329m above sea level and the Liuwa plains, from the Kobompo river to the valleys of Chama and
beaches of Samfya.
For me Zambia, is like the Eagle’s hotel California:
I can check out any time I like but I (think) can never leave.
Today we cherish the ones who made our
independence possible. We salute those who work tirelessly to perfect the
Zambian dream.
Thanks Chainga for the independence article. For a long time now policy makers have been confronted with the question of the underdevelopment of developing countries like Zambia. While it’s good thing to learn from other models elsewhere, it is important to note that growth is not a linear process. A number of factors need to be taken into account that are unique to Zambia, I am glad you have pointed out some of them in your article.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the feedback. Growth is never linear. More reasons why we should continue scouting for the perfect development model that can work for us. We have tried socialism and capitalism. We have tried democracy and one party system. We shouldn't end here. One day, we will hit the right chords and achieve the harmonic balance between development and growth.
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