ZAMBIA AT 50: THE ROAD WE HAVE TRAVELLED. My name is Joseph Kalimbwe, I was born in the Chiluba administration in 1993 hence I do not know how it felt like on 24th October 1964 but after 21 years in Zambia as a Zambian, I certainly know how it feels like to be in an independent Zambia. With our stories and struggles during the British Colonial era, Dr Kaunda and his colleagues worked so hard,kept on enduring without complaints and finally on 24th October 1964 a new nation was born and Kaunda went to the state house to meet the challenges which only Zambians could solve. Dr Kaunda wore the uniform of our country with bravely and distinction during the 27 years he had at state house and for that we honour him. Many Zambians will not just remember Dr Chiluba as a man who had a very good relationship with the English language but also a man to whom we owe our declaration as a christian nation and for that we will honour him. From his years as a UNZA student to his years as Zambias attorney general, Zambias third republican president Dr Mwanawasa made tough choices when easier ones were available. His willingness to develop sports has today given FAZ the hope of hosting a major soccer tournament. If Dr Mwanawasa taught us anything,its that you cannot enjoy the pleasures of vice presidency in a corrupt administration while the hopes of an 8 year old boy are dashed as he continues to suffer as a street kid along cairo road. Mr Rupiah Banda who took over from Mwanawasa in 2008 will be remembered for his willingness to carry on Mwanawasas hope of a better Zambia.His ability to lure investors to the Copperbelt after the 2008 financial crisis speaks volumes. Although his rule has many question marks,we remember him for the services rendered to our land. Before september 2011 when his hopes had been threatened,he stood up to show many Zambian youths like me how to dream. Mr Sata by winning the 2011 general elections showed us that in Zambia you dont have to be from Lusaka to make it to greater heights, even a boy from a small village in Munchinga Province can defy all odds. He has continued to pursue his goals of a better Zambia by letting his critics own their failures.Even though he is “reportedly ill” today, we know that ours is a strong president who knows how to face the challenges of the future. We wish him well today and hope that soon he will let go of those who hold back our progress and heal our wounds. TO ZAMBIANS! We have seen so many things in these last 50 years.We stood firm and showed Dr Kaunda in 1991 that after 27 years of his leadership,rule by the people and for the people does not perish from the many Zambians who demanded it. We let Chiluba know that the laws of the constitution which requires a president not to exceed two terms does not only benefit those who drafted the constitution but the Zambians who demand them. We showed Mwanawasa that Zambians are the carriers of their own legacy and our heritage is a strength not a weakness. We showed Rupiah that leaders should do their business in the light of the day because only then could one earn our support. To Mr Sata, we say to you that you have our support. However, we say to your ministers that ours is a hope of a better Zambia. We can no longer afford the wrangles and indifferences in your party, we can no longer settle at seeing you tear yourselves apart at the expense of many of us.We need a Zambia that is open to a 70 year old fisherman in Mpulungu district,open to a 19 year old boy with good results in Zambezi district that he can one day dream of a UNZA degree without having to think of huge tuition payments when they are basaries,open to a young woman in Sesheke district to also open her small business without paying a bribe at PACRA, open to a 65 year old retiree in Lundazi district to also enjoy his pension and not die before he receives his money. We acknowledge that its hard to accept reality but this is a Zambia we hope for and we cannot afford to let the next 50 years look just like the last 50. Happy jubilee celebrations mother Zambia. Joseph. ..
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 06:52:50 +0000
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