Food For Thought

Kennedy Chanda stumbled back home, reeking of something that could only be combination of Kachasu, Chibuku and tujilijili. He was humming a beat of Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal only that he would become inaudible when singing the vocals. Whatever he remembered in his grey matter, he burst out laughing in the midst of the song. 

His brain brain was clearly multitasking as it also needed to coordinate and balance the walking despite the alcohol affects on the cerebellum. Sometimes he would stand still for what seemed like days, swaying from side to side like a reed in the Kafue River, as he waited for the brain to reconfigure the movements and the tempo in his steps. 

It was clear he had a great time out with friends: drinking, clowning and jiving. 

When he reached home, his wife, greeted him with a warm smile and a steaming hot plate of nshima, Zambia's most sacred dish. He devoured the meal like he was about to die, savoring every bite. Especially the flavorful relish made from dried pumpkin leaves and what he thought was small fresh fish.

"Ah, you've outdone yourself, my dear!" Mr. Chanda exclaimed amidst his gulps of water as he washed down the meal.

"This relish is just like my mother used to make on the shore of Lake Mweru in Kashikishi. You've added the perfect touch with the small fresh fish!"

Mrs. Chanda's expression which started with smiles changed to confusion. 

"Small fish? I don't remember adding any fish to the relish. I only recall using pumpkin leaves and small pumpkins."

She de-strung a pile of pumpkin leaves, and cook them by simmering them with small tomatoes just for a few minutes until the leaves are tender and sumptuous. 

At least that’s what she remembered doing.

As they stood in stunned silence, the sound of crickets and the creaking of the old house seemed to provide a soundtrack to the suspense.

The couple exchanged skeptical glances. Mr. Chanda insisted he had tasted fish, while Mrs. Chanda swore she hadn't added any. 

Determined to resolve the dispute, Mrs Chanda rummaged through the house for some papers, pushed them on the fire which was almost going out, too a deep breath and blew it out on the papers that were now smoldering. 

Once lit, she carefully approached the pot, now empty except for a few lingering leaves. Peered inside whilst tilting it at about 45 degrees so that Mr Chanda can also see what was in the pot.

They gasped simultaneously.

Mr. Chanda shrieked. Huffed. Puffed. Covered his mouth. 

He felt the entire booze leaving his body instantly. "Oh no, I’ve just eaten a lizard!"

The small fresh fish was, in fact, a lizard – cooked to perfection – that had fallen into the pot from the eaves of their grass-thatched house. With his his inebriated antics now dissipated, Mr Chanda's thoughts were on the food he had just eaten.

Religion Matter

Out of boredom, I recently found myself watching a documentary titled “What Is A Woman” by Matt Welsh. If the content of this film has any truth to it, then civilization is hurtling towards a self-destructive trajectory. I urge you to watch it and draw your own conclusions. For me, this all stems from efforts to remove religion from the significant role it has played since the dawn of time.

You see, many people derive their sense of control and motivation from external sources. Fear of the law, societal judgment, or family opinions often dictate their behaviors and belief systems. Left unchecked, our inherent nature can manifest negatively. This is where religion plays a crucial role in taming our primal instincts and encouraging humane behaviour. 

Unfortunately, many individuals require the threat of eternal punishment to act with compassion, decency and integrity. This dependence on external controls highlights a sobering reality: without these constraints, the average person may struggle to demonstrate truly humane qualities.

Throughout recorded history, religion has played a vital role in every major, sustainable civilization. Most people have relied on the guiding principles religion provides. Interestingly, some individuals now turn to "science" as a substitute, yet struggle to define fundamental aspects of humanity like what a woman is. Organized religion, especially when taken literally, may seem illogical or even exploitative, particularly to skeptical minds. However, its primary function isn't to explain the universe or creation. Instead, religion serves as a moral framework to prevent unchecked human free will from descending into self-destructive behavior.

While other human laws address criminal acts, they often fall short in navigating moral gray areas due to political correctness. This is where religion steps in, providing essential guidance. The collapse of religious influence typically leads to societal implosion, highlighting the crucial role it plays in maintaining social cohesion and moral stability.

I shudder to think of the world which will bequeath to our children. So if you have beef with religion, do not - I repeat - do not pass on that beef to your kids. Introduce religion to your kids, they have more to gain than lose once they are from that position.

I will conclude by stating what should be the obvious. These so-called "free thinkers" are merely attempting to swing the ideological pendulum from the far right to the far left. This shift seems retaliatory, and religion is collateral damage. I wish that the proponents and constructors of the new definitions of gender and sexuality would listen to and analyze perspectives that do not align with their narrative. I hope they stop shifting the burden of proof and labeling the request for due diligence as harassment. 

Ancient Greece thrived as the center of civilization because they allowed debates in the Agora and Pnyx. These debates were not just about winning arguments; they were about fostering a well-informed and engaged citizenry for collective decision-making.

Luck, Privilege and the Limits of Hard Work

With a global value of $41.2 billion as at the end of 2023, the self-help industry, marshaled by motivational speakers and bestselling authors, often peddles a very simplistic formula for success: work hard, stay focused, and believe in yourself. While these principles are essential, they overlook the most important factors that significantly influence an individual's potential for success, like privilege and systemic inequalities. Economists call this inequality of opportunity. The lady who wakes up at 4:00 AM to go to Soweto Market to order vegetables for her corner stand doesn't need to read The 5AM Club to boost her mental focus and reach peak performance. The bus driver and conductor who wake up even earlier to pick her up with other passengers, do not need to read The 48 Laws of Power. The vegetable farmer who, despite the climate change, still travels all night from Shimabala to reach Soweto Market early enough for the vegetable lady does not need to read Who Moved My Cheese? The farm worker who picks vegetables to take her kids to school and cater for her livelihood doesn't need to read Rich Dad Poor Dad. Privileged people wrote these books, and they often claim that poor people are poor because they do not work hard or/and aren't smart enough. They overlook the immense effort and dedication that many individuals put into their daily lives just to make ends meet and exist.

The reality is that success is not a linear journey, it depends on a number of intrinsic and extrinsic factors usually outside a person’s control. Nothing in life is linear because our existence and success are contingent on how the ecosystem reacts to and supports our journeys. For instance, a person born into a low-income household may need both hard work and a kiss from Tyche, Fortuna or Lady Luck to access quality education, healthcare, and opportunities. In this article, I acknowledge what I term the social determinants of success.

One's background and the surname they carry play a significant role in determining their chances of success. In Zambia, we all know that certain names seems to open doors before the person carrying the name has even knocked. There are names which are found in every sector and everyone knows them. Unfortunately, I cannot help the uninitiated and list these names here because I can neither afford a lawyer nor food whilst in police cells. Having those names alone opens doors and gives you access to opportunities. This group has subsets: those that benefited from post-independence politics and loyalty, those born into royalty and, those who benefited from the privatization program that happened in the 1990s. The newest money group got its money between 2011 and 2021. And since life isn’t a movie and wealth doesn’t have the emotions of humans, all these families have created a great generational wealth, education standards and family values that are still standing today. These are names that have controlled pretty much everything in Zambia since independence. A familial backdrop, thus, can either provide a springboard or create obstacles to overcome. Working hard doesn’t sort out this problem.

The second issue is the enabling environment. The ecosystem or environment surrounding an individual can either foster or hinder their growth. While working in the Pondo area of Chama District, I encountered a boy (let’s call him John) who had been in Grade 7 for four consecutive years. This wasn't due to a lack of nearby secondary schools; in fact, Chikwa Boarding School was only about 10 to 20 kilometers away. However, his family lacked the resources to send him there. What made his situation particularly heartbreaking was that he was the best student in his class, consistently acing the Grade 7 exams each year. Still in Chama, in Sitwe under Chief Kambombo, a Grade 4 girl (let’s call her Jane) was married off to her community school teacher. When asked, she said she had wanted the respect of being called ‘Mrs Teacher’ and believed she was too dull for school. That a child could see marriage to her teacher as her best route to respect and dignity says everything about the environment she was growing up in. John worked as hard as any child could, and Jane never stood a chance. Neither environment was supportive; in fact, the environments were an anchor tied to their respective ankles, dragging them down to the abyssal plain. Even the great escapologist Harry Houdini would find it hard to escape such an environment. Things like access to quality community support and mentorship can provide the necessary tools and resources to help individuals thrive. Conversely, systemic barriers can stifle potential no matter how hard one works or how much exuberance one exhibits.fle potential no matter how hard one works or the exuberance they exhibit.

The last but not least, I want to talk about is network or connections. Who you know can be just as important as what you know because, in addition to doing everything already discussed above, it can enhance credibility and reputation. Motivational speakers will say building and leveraging a network requires intentional effort. But connections are influenced by factors outside one's control, such as socioeconomic status or geographic location. For instance, individuals from affluent backgrounds may have more opportunities to attend prestigious schools, join exclusive clubs, or participate in high-profile events where they can meet influential people. The digital age has introduced new dynamics to networking inequalities because digital networking still requires access to technology like a smartphone and internet even, a SoChe Bundle. That is a barrier to most Zambians since 60% of us are poor.

Let me conclude by stating that when I find a motivational book or speaker who doesn’t use the oversimplified "work hard and succeed" narrative, someone who acknowledges the social determinants of success, maybe I will start listening to them. I mean a motivational speaker who acknowledges that a person from a low-income background may face limited access to quality education, which affects their network and future opportunities. Someone who acknowledges that an individual with a disability may encounter environmental barriers, limiting their access to resources and social connections. Success is not solely the result of individual effort. No. The background, enabling environment and connections, while not exhaustive, play a significant role in shaping our outcomes. Together, they are the face of inequality of opportunity in Zambia.

“'If wealth was the inevitable result of hard work and enterprise, every woman in Africa would be a millionaire.”