THE POLITICAL RHETORIC BEHIND FREE EDUCATION POLICY

The 2015 National Budget proposes to spend ZMW 9, 433.33 (20.20%) on our education sector. This amount is not sufficient enough to carter for our growing demands in the education sector.

Our education sector needs a lot of funding as it is struggling right now. But I do comprehend that allocation can’t be increased abruptly as it need thoroughly planning. It can be done gradually and sequential so as to accommodate other sectors as well.

Right now as a country, we don’t have sufficient schools and universities to accommodate the rising school leavers. This is being experienced both in rural and in urban areas although in rural areas its very high compared to urban. As a country, we are faced with this crisis for long time now. 50 years down the line, we are still struggling with the crisis of proper education facilities! This has devastating impact on the economy of the country at intellectual level. Contemporary Economics tells us that no country can develop without proper human capital – intellectual capital.

Previous Governments concentrated on building more primary and secondary schools than tertiary education. That’s not a problem but they lacked foresight of having high demand of school leavers and inadequate tertiary places. Currently, this country has only 3 universities ( Mulungushi, CBU, UNZA). Technically and truthfully speaking, these universities have evidently failed to accommodate the rising number of secondary school leavers. My fellow youths are mushrooming the streets as they been denied access to education which can enhance their lives.

With inadequate education infrastructure that we face as country now, what we need is to build more education infrastructure (schools and universities). The issue of human resource (teachers) is another challenge our education sector is facing. But one step at a time. What is of significant right now is to have the right infrastructure in place to deal with the crisis at hand. It’s gratifying to note that the current government has embarked on building a number of university projects (Chalimbana, Mukuba, Robert Makasa, King Lewanika – construction to start in January and Luapula Universities) and schools. Although these Universities are not sufficient to carter for future growth of our education, it’s a step in the right direction in resolving the crisis that we are facing. I would urge the government to continue building schools and universities until such a time we have enough to carter for everyone and the cost of “access to quality education” becomes cheap.

As things stand, we have a lot of mushrooming universities and colleges that does meet the required stands. These private-owned tuntemba colleges have come in to bridge the gap that our government has failed. Most of them lack proper infrastructure and human resources, and unfortunately contribute immensely to poor education standards that our country continue to obtain.

The free education policy issue (up to tertiary level) right now is a political rhetoric coming from our politicians. This doesn’t hold any water at all as it is unrealistic considering the many challenges our education sector. This can only come in after we have built enough schools and universities. Having free education up to university can be a huge burden on our national budget right now. And for that matter the 2015 Budget doesn’t have the capacity for that. Our politicians should be telling us how they will finance such kind of policies rather than just making mere pronouncements that are unrealistic currently. Even now, with free education which is up to grade 7, the government still faces many challenges when it comes to funding our primary and secondary schools.

The government should also increase the Ministry of Education budget allocation to build more schools and universities and not finance free education. The issue at hand can only come in after we have built enough schools and universities, say in the next 10-25 years from now.

Having said that, it would be nice to see our politicians refrain from making careless pronouncements of education as it is not feasible right now. Populist policies should be rejected as they are a sign of mediocre leadership.

Lukonde L. Chaibela

MICHAEL SATA: ZAMBIA'S POLITICAL LION

This article is principally dedicated to Michael C. Sata, our former president who died on 28^th October while on a medical checkup in London, UK.

Michael or Sata (as he was fondly called by many Zambians) became a household name for his political style. Although I may not be able to articulate whole of his political life, I will be able to provide Sata’s political style as I understand and how it changed Zambia’s politics.

President Sata’s political career began in the eighties during the UNIP (led by Kenneth Kaunda) era just after Zambia got independence. Following independence, he worked his way up through the rough-and-tumble rank-and-file of the ruling United National Independence Party (UNIP) to the governorship of Lusaka in 1985. As Governor, he made his mark as a man of action with a hands on approach. He cleaned up the streets, patched roadways and built bridges in the city.

When UNIP lost election in 1991 to MMD (under the leadership of Chiluba) after the introduction of multi-party politics in Zambia, Sata found himself in the MMD camp. During his time in MMD, he held different post such as Minister of Labour, Minister of Health, Local Government and Minister Without Portfolio. Not only did he hold public offices but he found to be among MMD’s party structures as if he was a founder of MMD. It was during his time in MMD that the name Michael Chilufya Sata became a household name due to his hard-working attitude and loquacious political style.

During Chiluba’s third term bid campaign Sata was by then MMD Chief Executive Officer (Secretary General - SG) and fought hard for Chiluba, but only to be disappointed by Chiluba and MMD NEC who refused to pick him as the party’s President for 2001 General Elections. It was at this time Sata fallen out of bed with the MMD and went on a solo political path to form his party, Patriotic Front party – 2^nd October, 2001. He formed the Patriotic Front (fondly known as PF) three months before the 2001 general elections. During that year’s elections the PF did not do well and only managed to get only one MP by the name of Joseph Katema, Chingola MP. Joseph Katema is the current Minister of Information and Broadcasting. Since 2001, it was a long journey for Sata.  He lost elections in 2006 (Levy Mwanawasa) and 2008 (Rupiah Banda). During his time in opposition Sata became very famous by championing for the rights of poor.

President Sata spent 10 years in opposition, and during his time in opposition he changed how opposition political parties operate. He became one opposition leader who made sure that both the Mwanawasa and Banda’s government become more accountable to their decisions. He usually questioned the decisions of the party in power and how those decisions will impact the ordinary Zambians. His political rhetoric was concentrated on the poor and both Mwanawasa and Rupiah’s decisions affected them. He was a communicator! President Sata was an ordinary politician who was easy to go by and very quickly to read the political mood. He used to mingle a lot with ordinary Zambians freely and listen to their problems. He became attached to ordinary Zambians thus accumulating overwhelming support. He understood the paramount concept in politics: Politics is local. He understood that the majority electorates are ordinary and not intellectuals. His 10 years in opposition was part of his political learning curve. He learnt and changed how, not only Zambian politics but African politics at large should be conducted. To this effect, he was even invited by the Oxford University, African Studies Department to give a lecture on African Politics. President Sata’s political career was full of action, and his nickname, Cobra - Man Of Action befits him very well. President Sata’s strongest political tool was his ability to quickly understand the political mood. He had a political acumen that no Zambian politician to date has ever had. Not even Chiluba can match him. His charisma to influence people contributed as well (His sense-humor is great!). He was influential and vocal. He was one kind of politician who was not delusioned by the media but was concerned of people’s problem and how they affect them in their everyday lives. He understood that politics (and as a politician particularly), is to possess the mind of a capitalist. The mind of identifying the needs of the people and speak to them in their (people) own language; the language they can easily understand. He had a rare political acumen and I believe emerging leaders in politics will learn from his type of politics. His shrewdness of politics can’t be found on the political landscape right now. None of our polical competitors can match President Sata’s political shrewdness, including his ministers. He was a political capitalist. On the other side of the coin, he was a hard-working leader. During his 3 year tenure as President, we saw how his government embarked on the ambitious infrastructure development. His infrastructure programme will go definitely go a long for mother Zambia. Universities, hospitals, roads, bridges and schools are being built. And once these projects finish, Zambia will witness a hike in economic activities that will take this country forward. He is an action-oriented politician. And his sense of humor was incredible!

President Sata indeed changed our politics. He was a serious political competitor and was passionate about politics. He had passion in his political career, he loved what he was doing. His political life changed a lot of people not only ordinary Zambians but even those who want to embark on political career too. He was an influential political figure on the Zambians landscape.

Lastly, I would want to state that President Sata was a POLITICAL LION. He feared nothing along his journey. He defeated all his enemies on the political battlefield and became victorious. He possessed the gene of Champions who never give when it’s hard. He shown us how to live life to the fullest, how to achieve dreams in life and how to impact people’s lives. He was a great soldier but most essentially a POLITICAL LION! May His Soul Rest In Peace. Go well My President, until we meet again.

By Lukonde L. Chaibela

Reference:

Zambian-Economist - http://www.zambian-economist.com/2011/05/michael-sata-special-lecture-at-oxford.html

Patriotic Front - http://www.pf.org.zm/index.php/about-pf/background

The Telegram - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/zambia/8777561/Michael-Sata-the-Victoria-station-sweeper-turned-Zambia-presidential-hopeful.html

Wikipedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Sata

THE RISE OF NGOs IN AFRICA: WHAT IS THEIR CONTRIBUTION?

Lukonde L. Chaibela, May 2014.

From early as 1980s till now we have seen the boom of NGOs in Africa and their contribution to the continent. The number of these NGOs keep rising and their area of interest differ from one organisation to another, as some they are Christian-based, poverty-reduction, human rights advocates, democratic dispensation advocates, humanitarian etc. NGOs are synonymous with the issues of development, good governance and economic growth in Africa.

In this paper, the author will try to pen-down the pros and cons of these NGOs and their contribution to the face of Africa.

The links between non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and trade unions run deep. It was civil society activism, led by trade unions, which paved the way for the rise of NGOs after the WWII. Funding of these NGOs comes in from all quarters. Simply NGOs are a complex mishmash of alliances and rivalries, charities and businesses, radicals and conservatives.

For the past decade Africa has witnessed an influx of NGOs, both locally and internationally, and have both created negative and positive change. Most of the NGOs that have planted their feet in Africa are from Western countries specifically, USA, Canada, UK and other European countries. Today NGOs distribute 10%-20% of all aid transferred to Africa, the US government transfers about 40% of its aid programs via NGOs (Manji and O’Coil, ibid). The question we should ask ourselves as Africans is: Are NGOs a good force in Africa or they are failing their promises? Perhaps, the most important question should be: Are NGOs playing a pivotal role in changing the face of Africa or they are just a proxy being used to advance western influence?

PROS AND CONS OF NGOs

PROS/MERITS OF NGOs

In Africa, there are certain NGOs that play an important role and have contributed massively to the transformation of the lives of many indigenous people, both young and old; boys and girls. There are certain organisation such as Camfed which centered at the uplifting girl-child education and they offer scholarships to the girls they sponsor. There are also other NGOs that provide access to medical services such Malaria, TB and AIDs. These organisations provides free access to medical services and have contributed a lot a lot in areas where African governments have no capacity to reach. Organisations such Global Funds have contributed immensely in that area. NGOs are a rapid response unit to humanitarian disaster not only in Africa but also the world at large. Members of these unique organisations put their lives at risk by operating in torn-war areas by providing services to poverty stricken individuals e.g. South Sudan, Somalia etc. Simply put: NGOs operate swift in crisis stricken countries than African governments does. NGOs have closed the gap between the rich and poor when it comes to justice by providing the poor with access to justice. NGOs in this angle provide citizens who are incapable of accessing justice, since justice in Africa is for the rich and not poor. Poor citizens in Africa have less or no access to the justice system as their trials takes long and some jailed unfairly without being heard in the courts of law. Justice is only for the rich or politicians (as in the case of Zambia where there is fast-track court cases for politicians). These NGOs that advocate for equal access to justice have come in and filled this gap. There are also other NGOs like Habitant for Human who provides housing to less privileged individuals where the governments have failed to do so. NGOs have become an important instrumental in the 21^st century, they chip where the government has failed to provide the service to the citizens or where the government is acting careless and failing to account to the citizens.

NGOs have consistently, stepped up to plate to expose corrupt leaders, tyrants, counter powerful multi-national corporations, advocate for the poor, stand up to powerful African governments. Besides that NGOs create employment for the locals thus eradicating poverty and contributing to national development. They better the lives of the down-trodden individuals, those the government and elites neglect. It is the NGOs who have been penetrating remote areas of Africa to provide food, clothes, water and sanitation to the local people where governments have failed and have no capacity. They supplement government efforts.

Certain NGOs like ActionAid help governments to monitor tax evasion perpetuated by multi-national conglomerates as in the case of Zambia where they challenged Illovo Sugar subsidiary Zambia Sugar for not declaring their actual profit figures and the issue of China Non-ferrous Corporation for not remitting actual tax to the government. In April 2011, Mopani Copper (subsidiary of Swiss-based Company Glencore) mines based in Mufurila district in Copperbelt province in Zambia was accused of dodging tax. In Zambia, right now they are a core component compelling the government to release the draft constitution.

CONS/DEMERITS OF NGOs

Despite their activities, Africa still posts a disheartening picture of economic stagnation, poverty and under-developed.

It has been widely viewed that NGOs are a proxy to spearheading western interests rather than doing their sole job. Their role has been put on suspicion and linked to that of early missionaries to Africa who, it claimed, were used as instruments of subjugation to colonial masters.

There have been reports of some NGOs conniving with the media and together they represent Africa to be the poorest continent despite the stride African governments are making in terms of development. Some of these NGOs have moved from non-profit entities to profit making entities. They demand certain taxes to be exempted so as to make their work much easier. In Zambia, just recently the minister of finance just signed a statutory instrument that will compel NGO to tax on imported vehicles etc.

Some NGOs have been accused of lacking accountability for the funds and how they spend them. Most NGOs are money and leisure spinning entities that buy 4X4 and hold numerous unproductive seminars like the Zambian civil servants.

There is also an outcry that whilst NGOs tell us that they fight poverty, poverty in certain African countries have ballooned over the years despite having NGOs claiming that it is reducing.

Some NGOs have been accused of not having any regards towards the African culture as they have gone to the extent of even promoting what has been considered in African set up as disgusting or uncouth western norms such as homosexuality in the name of human rights. And countries who don’t support these “disgusting” values and norms have suffered massive financial withdraw from both NGOs and western governments who tend to fund these NGOs. Simply put it into context: NGOs have a particular interests that they intend to advance.  In countries like Ethiopia and Somalia NGOs have been criticized on not doing enough to help eradicate poverty as they tend to simply live lavishly lifestyles. This is the main reason some scholars and commenters have continued to question the role of NGOs in Africa.

CONCLUSION

No doubt, NGOs are helping Africa a lot but what needs to be known is their role in Africa. Their impact in some areas is minimal. The question that needs to be asked is: Are these NGOs really helping the image of Africa or they are just parading the extreme poverty remote areas of Africa to the outside world so that those running these NGOs can amass more wealth at the expense of impoverished children in Africa? NGOs needs to be challenged and respect the values and norms of Africans. They shouldn’t stop violating these values. I look forward to the day when Africa will stop receiving aid from these western NGOs because it has the capacity to feed itself. The continent is rich in its mineral deposits and other resources. African can do better.

REFERENCES

1.    NGOs and Africa’s Development & Economic Growth, Ogechi Njoku, 2006

http://iijd.org/PDF%20Files/Ogechi_Njoku__NGOs_and_Africa__with_IIJD.pdf

2.    Mining firm under fire over tax payments in Zambia http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2011/apr/15/mining-firm-tax-payments-zambia

3.    ActionAid's revelations on Zambia Sugar misleading: http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=30245

THE CASE OF VEDANTA RESOURCES - KCM

It is very shameful to note that KCM's Chairman Anil Agarwal can mock the Zambian people over the profits he has been making after the acquisition of Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) from Anglo-Americans in this video here http://www.lusakatimes.com/2014/05/13/video-vedanta-boss-saying-kcm-makes-500-million-profit-per-year/. This man is mocking us and this entails that us as #Zambians and #Africans at large should wake up from the slumber and prevent vultures from rooting/plundering our resources. This is purely daylight robbery and it has to be condemned with the strongest terms it deserves. Surely, after making profits of excess of $500m plus a billion while KCM is failing to:
1. Increasing the miner's salary;
2. Contribute to infrastructure development (roads, buildings, etc) of Chingola, Chililabombwe, Kitwe and Nampundwe. There is no corporate social responsibility. Period
3.To pay mining suppliers as they keep on fabricating lies that they have operational cost challenges.

In Zambia they keep telling us that they are making losses and when ActionAid talks about mining companies invading tax, our Veep and other GRZ ministers trashes the talk and favour the people who are rooting/plundering our resources that are supposed to enhance the living standards of the majority of Zambians living in poverty.
There is too much docility among our leaderships/politicians. They side with these multinational firms simply because they support their political campaigns financially, and mostly benefit together with their families and close friends whilst the majority of poor Zambians remain in abject poverty. Surely, how can you sell the biggest copper producer in ‪#‎Africa‬ for $25 million rather than the $400 million asking price. Someone benefited from this deal and he has to be held accountable. Even if he is dead, let all those who were involved in this whole transaction be brought to book.
Has the schools, hospitals been built and the lives of the Zambians improved after the sale of the mine?? Yes he was trying to save the jobs for Zambians but duping the majority of them (Zambians) including the August House (Parliament) which most Zambians hold in high-esteem as the house of intellectuals and leaders is very dangerous and unacceptable. This is the main reason he even refused to allow the Norwegian Government to help curb tax invasion because he simply knew the cards he was playing.
My appeal is for His Excellency Michael Chilufya Sata to do something about all this transaction now that evil deeds of Vedanta Resources have been exposed. The company is still managed by the same Vedanta Resources, so its incumbent upon the government of the day to do something. Also GRZ should invite the Norwegian government (and others who are willing to help) on board to verify/validate that the figures/data these mining/multinational firms are presenting to the Zambians are of truthful in nature and equates to the reality on the ground!! The Norwegian Government is very much willing to help audit these mining/multinational giants so that Tax fraud is curbed!!
Zambians will continue suffering if we continue with this docility amongst the citizens and mostly the leaders (politicians in particular) who have been appointed as resource managers of this great country.
We can do better as a country. The taxes KCM is supposed to remit can have a large impact on the lives of many Zambians. Firms like KCM, Zambia Sugar, Mopani Mining among others that have been mentioned to be invading Tax are the ones making life difficult for the ordinary Zambians. They are the ones contributing to the deficit of ARVs in Hospitals, they are the ones making the government to borrow in excess, they are are the ones contributing to infrastructure deficit of this great country. The companies should be taken head on so that they remit tax that reflects their true books and not cookery figures. I further implore the government to put up laws that can allow transparency in these multinational firms; laws that will provide a fair play and not exploiting the other player. Our politicians have a responsibility to safeguard the interests of the Zambians and not conniving with the capitalists (Businessmen) to milky this country. If President Sata loves this country, let him stand up and defend what belongs to Zambians and make KCM accountable by paying a fair share of their profits to Zambians.
I say again, we can do better to improve this country.
Cry my beloved country Cry ‪#‎Zambia‬