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Building on 50 Years of African Solidarity and Striving Towards Peace, Development and Prosperity for All

Its 50 years today since African Freedom Day was founded during the first Conference of Independent African States, which attracted African leaders and political activists from various African countries in Ghana on April 15, 1958. Interestingly, with the leadership of the great Kwame Nkruma President of Ghana only Government representatives from eight independent African states attended this conference, which was the first Pan-African conference in the continent. Despite the majority of African countries being under the yoke of colonialism, Zambia included, this group of ‘not so powerful’ eight countries certitude to purposely declare the day 25^thMay 2013 to annually mark the liberation movement’s progress and further symbolize the determination of the people of Africa to free themselves from foreign domination and exploitation was a huge act of African patriotism. For those who may not be aware, Ghana was the first African country south of the Sahara to secure independence from colonial rule in 1957.  By 1960, nearly 17 countries in Africa gained their independence and indeed the 1960 was declared the Year of Africa. Obviously this gave way to for the birth of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) on 25^th May, 1963.

It should be acknowledged that Africa has undergone massive changes socially, economically and politically in the last 50 years. It should also be noted that despite the awakening of the African renaissance and the handing over of political to African leaders, it is clear that colonial powers never left as witnessed with the continued meddling in the Affairs of the independent states. The extent of their meddling went as far as their ability to sow seeds despondency that duly elected leaders were being hounded out of office at their instigation. This trend by and large has affected our passage to be completely emancipated from the pangs of imperialism. It is common knowledge some military coupés which became the order of the day in the 60s, 70s all the way to the 80s where machinated and executed with the help of the foreign powers that had turned Africa into a ‘playground’ or a battlefield of ideologies. To this effect, some African countries have to date never recovered from the social, political and economic damage the foreign powers have caused in the last 50 years of Africa’s freedom. While some African countries appear to be getting a clench on their destiny, the African social, political and economic story is so gigantic that one article cannot tell the entire story.  

With all the social, political and economic instability Africa has under gone, the fundamental questions that perceptibly rise are whether its destiny is still its own hands. Are we truly socially, politically and economically emancipated? Do we have the capacity to survive with the without foreign interferences? Are our resources working for us? Are we building on the dream of the founding fathers like Patrice Lumumba, Kwame Nkruma, Captain Thomas I. Sankara, Kennth D. Kaunda, Sekou Toure, Jomo Kenyatta, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Gamal Nasser, Yakubu Guwon, and Julius Mwalimu Nyerere? The fact is that we are still very dependent on outside forces to survive as seen from the fact that we are constantly knocking on the doors of the foreign powers for aid. This has led many countries falling prey to dictations and meddling.  Africans should constantly seek inspiration from the past pan Africanists if we have to hold our own in the globalized contemporaneous world.  They had a clear vision of where they want the continent to towards self-sustainability at all strata of our being. Despite some important economic and political gains Africa has made it is clear that after 50 years, the challenges of peace across the continent remains challenge to an extent that its offshoots such as poverty are evident. There are countries like the Somalia that have practically been ungovernable in the last 20 years.  

 Propitious enough, the African continent has made great strides towards unity and enhancing Peace and security as can be evidently seen through the growth and maturation of politics and economies coupled with regional integrating bodies such as COMESA, SADC that enhances the African renaissance. Therefore, the theme ‘Building on 50 Years of African Solidarity and Striving Towards Peace, Development and Prosperity for All’ is very appropriate because it also directly challenges Zambia to continue playing its noble role of being a hub of social, economic and political development for all to prosper.

Subsidies. Decisions Have To Be Made

Zambia in the contemporary weeks has experienced massive debate on the emotive issue of the government decision to discontinue subsiding fuel and the agriculture sector. This decision has clearly sparked emotive  debate to an extent that an assortment of  sections of society have engaged in a range of debate in support of it and others completely against it to an extent of taking their displeasure to the streets in protest. Despite, the situation as it stands, the Government has made a decision in the interest of the nation. It should be first acknowledged that the Zambian industry in post independence era saw a preponderance of financial support or a subvention of many industries and products, from petrol to food.

 The Zambian government being the main player in the assisted many parastatals which by and large made losses year in year out were constantly assisted by the government. The financial support cut across agriculture, mining, transportation, oil and lubricants just to mention but a few. Despite all the support the Government made available to the different strata of industry, the resources appeared to be going into a bottomless pit with no tangible returns to show for it. On top of the subsidies, the government had to also converge its efforts to grow the education, health, or infrastructure sectors.  The continued financial support to sectors that appeared to be a resource drain led to the extent that the Government was forced to be borrowing to subsidize at a range of supply of inputs, manufacturing, distribution, and consumption. At the dawn of the 1991 wind of change and the eventual shift in economic policies of the Movement Multiparty Democracy (MMD) to a free market economy, subsidies were generally shelved but of course not completely. The agriculture, education and oil sector to date have been major beneficiaries of subsidies.  

The Government’s continued support to then oil and agriculture sector seems to have driven us back to the old days when resources would be poured in and at the end of the day losses are still incurred. This eventually means that the cost of fuel has been adjusted upwards and so will be the case for mealie meal. The question would be at whose expense should the continued support be? At the end of the day, the Government had to make a hard decision to either carry on with subsiding loss making ventures or abandon it.  Well, the subsidies were abandoned! This surely means that the savings from the huge subsidies have to be directed to other productive areas of the human endeavour. But again, could this perhaps be the Governments desire to minimize its extensive participation in a variety of economic activities? Indeed, there are many subsidies that are a sanctuary for inefficiencies. 

It is acknowledged that the upward adjustment in the cost of mealie meal and fuel has effects right from the lower strata to the most affluent our population. In reflecting on this very emotive topic, perhaps the Government should have implementation of the removal of the subsidies gradually at a minimal scale to avoid abrupt impact? Other schools of thought have suggested that perhaps the announcement of the discontinuation to agriculture subsidies should have waited until the consumers get over the shock of the removal of the fuel subsidy? 

It can be concluded that the two decisions the Government has made are in the best interest of the nation and as such may have positive benefits in the future. There is no Government that would deliberately want to hurt its people with harsh economic policies. The general populace should therefore be patient enough and allow for their upshots. 

Transforming The Economy Through Job Creation, Labour Law Reform, Better Conditions Of Service And Improved Work Culture

It is that time of the year again when workers across the globe commemorate this very important day. Year in year out, the commemorations have been premised on various themes to help the nations critically focus and reflect on the special day. With the many themes that have been churned out over the years, key thoughts arise on the influence they have on policy makers, employers, workers and the general masses. Are they just themes in name or they are there to help identify pointers to specific challenges that need attention? This year’s theme is dubbed ‘Transforming the economy through job creation, labour law reform, better conditions of service and improved work culture’. The theme appears loaded but it is probably one of the most practical and comprehensive themes coined in a very long time. The theme challenges the Government, Employers, Unions and the Zambian work force on which economic transformation is anchored on. It clearly reminds these keys stakeholder on the important roles they play to achieve economic transformation.

In understanding the specific challenges this theme brings to the stakeholders, it is obviously imperative to underscore the fact that the Zambian economy has undergone massive restructuring and growth over a long period of time in a bid to stabilize it for the benefit of the general population. The growth and stabilization has lead improvements in the quality of life. However, more work still remains to be done if the economy has to grow further to have a positive trickle down effect to the rest of the Zambian population. It has been widely acknowledged that today, Zambia’s biggest challenge is unemployment. Without delving much into the other social and economic offshoots of the challenges of unemployment, it is understood and appreciated that various measures to mitigate the shocks of unemployment have been undertaken by the Government. Though unemployment continues to be a burdensome and time consuming process, the drive to ensure that quality employment is created in order to generate wealth is equally gaining momentum through economic restructuring and implementation of projects such as the Link 8000 and 2000 road projects, the revitalization of Zambian Railways, Nitrogen Chemicals and indeed the impending reopening of Mulungushi Textiles among others. 

The bedrock of employment creation should essentially be implementation of concrete wealth creation programmes that would grow and transform the economy for wealth to be created.  This also entails active participation in economic activities that promote self suffiency as the current labour market cannot absorb the entire population into formal employment. To this effect, there are economic questions that require answers from the leadership and the general citizenry on how with concerted efforts the economy can be reinvigorated to sustainably levels through their efforts. This is supposed to be the starting point of our reflection on this year’s labour theme.

 This theme also highlights the important aspect reforming labour laws to ensure that they are responsive to the needs and dynamics of the labour market. The Zambian labour market is constantly changing in the face of the many economic trends that are taking place.  With these key changes, it also entails that we constantly pay attention to the trends for Zambia to have labour law reforms that are relevant to the employers and employees. The key legislative pieces currently managing the Zambian labour market include the Employment Act, Cap 268, Industrial and Labour Relations Act, Cap 269, Factories Act, Cap 441, NAPSA Act, Workman’s Compensation Act, No 10 of 1999 ZIHRM Act No. 11 of 1997, Conditions of Employment and Minimum wages Act, Cap 270, Employment of Young Persons and Children Act, Cap 274 and obviously some International Labour Conventions that have been ratified and domesticated. I may not be in a position to clearly state which of these laws require reformation but in a nut shell these laws are that manage and provide direction to the labour market. It but it is important that lacunas in their administration are identified and reformed to ensure that they are become relevant and help transform the workforce and in the long run transform the Zambian economy. 

One of the fundamental pieces of legislation that has not been bundled with the other laws that the Patriotic Front Government needs to revise and reform is the Apprenticeship Act. This act should provide a national systematic involvement of the youth into entrepreneurship through apprenticeship. Once the Act is revised it should be responsive to the current needs of the youth as one on the many interventions to achieving economic transformation. In addition Internship should become a mandatory function of any organization to ensure that the Youth are availed an opportunity to gain experience in business and industry. The strengthening of this Act should further be backed by an undertaking to create a National Skills Inventory (NSI) to ensure that the country takes stock of the skills available on the Labour Market and also deliberately monitor the quality of jobs available on the market. The national skills inventory will assist Government project and predict the areas were particulars skills are required.

So far, the Government has lived up to the theme by ensuring that the Zambian worker is paid a living wage through the issuance of the statutory instruments on the minimum wages in various sectors of the labour market. Under the circumstances, this is how far the government can go and it is a very commendable move. On the other hand, workers in various cannot afford to demand for more wages without anything to show for it. The Governments token action should be repaid with a workforce that is totally committed to going an extra mile to improve productivity at work places. Zambians are generally hardworking people but in recent times, their work culture has come under the spotlight particularly the public service whose performance falls far below the people’s expectations. The perception has even gone further to suggest the public service appears to have taken the route of ‘self-service’ and not ‘public service’.  It is a well-known fact that self-service can be very distractive as the person who serve themselves become gluttonous and forget to serve others.  These perceptions are correct in certain instances where civil servants who are supposed be the engine of the economic development have been caught either reporting for work late, drunk or not even reporting at all. It is instances such as these that bring into question whether the credibility of the workers charged with the responsibility of turning government policies into tangible programmes that not only the benefit general populace but themselves are fit to hold those positions. There is need to philosophically change the mind-set of the Zambian workers so that they constantly improve sustained productivity which eventually opens doors to improved conditions of service. Which employer would not be willing to improve conditions of service for his or her employees if they are putting in their level best and delivering on their institutions mandate? There are several examples of both foreign and Zambian employers that remunerate their employees well based on performance. Employers who show traits should be recognized and used as models of best practices to the rest of the employers.  

Therefore, as the Zambian workers commemorate this very important day, they should not only be excited at wearing a new suit but they should reflect on what contribution they have made to the transformation of the Zambian economy. They should further reflect on the fact that Zambia’s economic transformation largely depends on their productivity to achieve tangible transformation. It is high time the Zambian worker both in the private and public sector put Zambia’s interests first before theirs and they should never at any point downplay the role they play in the whole process of social and economic transformation of the country.

Celebrating the Zambian Youth

It is that time of the year again when the Zambian citizens commemorate a very important day in the Country’s calendar of events, Youth day!  This is a extremely important day because over the years Zambians youth have made not only made significant contributions at various strata of human endeavour in the country. But again, it is the same youths who over several years have been affected by many socio-political and economic changes. These changes have a direct effect on every age group. However, the most vulnerable group is the youth who remain at the mercy of various societal changes.  

One thing that amazes me is the determination and zeal most Zambian youth exhibit to contribute to the development of our beloved country.  Surely, a segment of the population that shows such patriotism and willingness to be a part of the national agenda deserves praise. It is true that as a population, they can never be homogeneous and so are their problems.

Before going further to discuss this important matter in the Zambian context, it should be acknowledged that the fundamental challenge faced by our youth is unemployment. A critical element of the current job crisis is the struggle of young people to enter in the labour market.  I recently came across some interesting statistics on youth unemployment in not only in Africa and the World at large.  According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates, of the total 200 million unemployed worldwide, 75 million or around 40 per cent are young people. 

Young people are three times more likely than adults to be out of a job. For those who have a job, the quality of the job is another issue. If the estimated 152 million young people living on less than US$1, 25 per day were added, the number of youth in extremely vulnerable situation would be 225 million. Youth unemployment is reaching unprecedented proportions globally. Between 2007 and 2010, youth unemployment increased by 5, 1 million and in 2012, four out of ten unemployed was a young woman or man according to the ILO report. These global trends clearly show that the problem of unemployment transcends boarders and therefore should be used by all stakeholders with renewed sense of urgency for action on youth unemployment.

Again the other statistics I came across indicated that about 7, 2 percent of Africa’s youths are unemployed and an additional 46, 9 percent are underemployed or inactive (ILO). The United Nations further estimates that of the world’s one billion youths, about 850 million of them live in developing countries like Zambia. Those who were present at the freedom statue during last year’s Youth day celebrations will recall that His Excellency the President Micheal Chilufya Sata  did direct the Minister of Youth and Sport Honourable Chishimba Kambwili  come up with an youth employment action plan that will help reduce unemployment among the Zambian youth. One year down the line, it is clear that the Minister appears to have heed to the directive as seen from his commitment to ensuring that the shocks of youth unemployment  are mitigated through  systematic accessing funds under the youth empowerment fund. 

This should be about one of the many mitigation measures that should be stepped up to sure more young people escape the pangs of unemployment crisis. However, young people who access these funds should show resolve and ensure that they put the funds to good use. It is important that young people identify tangible and workable areas of investment. Some of the keys sectors that the young people can invest are the services sector, Agriculture, mining, manufacturing, ICTs and indigenous/cultural tourism that in my considered view represents an attractive routes for youth-driven small scale enterprises. Currently, Zambia has the right environment to unleash this entrepreneurship. 

One historical moment that will go down in the annals of history is Zambian’s hosting of the Zone IX Under 20 games. Having watched a number of sporting disciplines, it was impressive to see such high levels of patriotism that were exhibited at the games by the Zambian youth representatives. The lesson that could be learnt from the games is that sport is now generally a money spinner and today, some of the world’s richest individuals are sportsmen. We have the talent and have the capacity to even reach greater heights at the international level. 

With the foundation that was laid at the youth games, there is need to nurture all the youth that took part in the games to ensure that the sporting disciplines are not just a source of fitness but a source of living for the young people. In long run we will be fighting unemployment through sport. Government’s commitment to ensuring that the challenges that the young people face today is definitely undoubted and it is my sincere hope that our young people will be patient enough to respond to the Government youth agenda with a view to tackling the unemployment problem which is not only unique to this country. Zambian youth are patriotic and in every sense of the word need to be celebrated. Happy youth day and celebrate wisely!

The New Chipolopolo Kit!

Am I the only one who seems to be having a problem appreciating with the new set of jerseys for our beloved national soccer? Before I proceed to express my specific concerns about the new kit, I would like to refer to an article I wrote some weeks back in which I questioned African teams’ ability to brand themselves. I further questioned why big teams on the African continent still wear European club replica kits which my view is a sign of lack of originality.  

 In that article I also praised the Football Association Zambia (FAZ) for finally settling for a set of kits that truly represented our national colors before and at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. Many will agree with me that the set of kit worn by the Chipolopolo at the 2012 Equatorial Guinea/ Gabon Africa Cup of Nations were not only colorful but unique to the extent that one needed not look at the outfit twice to know that it was a Zambian jersey.  This is the jersey that has been heavily counterfeited to an extent that even this author only realized after a long time that the words of the Football Association of Zambia emblem read “Football Assoclation of Zambia” and not otherwise.   

Having said that, am sure all readers and soccer fans will agree with me that it is the green with stripes of red, black and orange plus either black or green shorts  that we have become comfortable with . Additionally, away games would see Zambia don orange tops with green shorts and orange stockings. When the Football Association of Zambia announced that our beloved chipolopolo dressed by Nike would have a new kit, I was so expectant and for several weeks, I envisioned how the kit looked like as I was sure nothing could beat the creativity of our dressers. During the wait, I was so sure that the new kit will maintain the same design with some slight changes to enhance its appeal.  

It was presented to the nation and for a moment I thought it was a hoax!! For a moment, I thought to myself FAZ was undertaking a mission to ‘rebrand’ the team like political party. For a moment it appeared to me like FAZ was on some sort of a mission to rid itself of the past and needed to be seen I a different light all together.  When a friend of mine came with the replica jersey of the new kit and asked for my opinion, I told him that I would rather stick to the old replica kit because it identified with me and my pride as a Zambian. That is the kind of kit that needs no introduction at any major or international airport around Africa. Sadly it appears to have been consigned to the archives.   

The question I have always had since FAZ ‘rebranded’ the team is if the really reflected on the importance of branding for the national team.  In my considered view, the new kit is a ‘miss’, am not trying to grandstand on this matter but am sure several people out there share this point of view. If you go anywhere in the world class team has attempted to position themselves to ensure that they retain a distinctive and durable perception in the minds of the fans. Brazil, France, England, Germany, Cameron, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Tanzania and even countries like Uganda are teams that have for a longtime have branded their kit wit national colors  intertwined with uniqueness and originality.  That set of kit that appears to have been shelved will probably go down in our history as a nation as the most worn replica jersey both locally and internationally because it has a legacy of success, a legacy of Champions. 

That is the kit that has won recognition, loyalty, image, reliability and quality around the world! Brand experts will agree with me that a strong brand projects an image of quality and loyalty. Why has FAZ opted to throw all that power and rich legacy to the wind? If one takes a look at teams that made it to the 2013 African Cup of Nations, they still maintained their kit and if they did alter it, the alterations where minor. This can been seen in teams like Burkina Faso, Mali, Angola, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, and Ghana who wore improved kits of the ‘original kits’ and at one glance, one would easily identify them. This was not the case with Zambia; they wore completely different oversized looking kits that lacked originality, image and recognition!

In the light of this I would like to urge the Football Association of Zambia to swallow their pride and give us a jersey that is truly representative of our national colors and Pride. The kits that were worn at the 2013 South Africa  Afcon should be relegated to the Under 23s,20 and 17 while the  2012 legacy Jerseys to be improved upon without tampering with our national colors. For a Pan-Africanist like me, national colors at too important! With that said, you can now ask me if I have bought the new replica.  

Of Wizardry and Superstitious: Have We Stopped Caring For Our Senior Citizens?

I have noted with dismay at the rate our aged or should I call them senior citizens are being abused and in certain instances killed on suspicion that they are wizards or witches. Most of these aged are dying at the hands of some heartless and merciless young members, who in every sense of the word are supposed to protect them. Where are we headed as a society if the safety of these defenseless cannot be guaranteed? Where are our values of respect for human life? 

Where are our values of respecting people who are older than you? Why young people sunken have so low that they can without compassion or feeling of pity literally abduct an old man and subject them to beatings and even burn them to death? Is this the society we want to create and leave to future generations? It hard to comprehend that such heinous acts are going unabated in our society. For how long are we going to seat back and what poor old defenseless senior citizens die at the hands of ill mannered and blood thirsty misfits our societies?

   

My Tuesday evening was spoiled when I saw a moving and touch scene on MUVI TV news of a group of young men and women torturing and beating a defenseless and tired looking old man in Ndola. It is believed that the man is a wizard who was found roaming the streets naked. This was the basis on which the suspected that the man was a wizard and they pounced on him and were ready to burn him alive had it not be for the quick intervention of the police. 

Thank God! It later turned out that this poor old man has had a history of mental problems. And yet the assailants where by any means ready to shed his innocent blood? Anyone who saw that television clip will agree with me that that frail old man could not even hurt a fly and the only sin he had committed was having a mental illness that had affected his ability to not only reason with himself but with society aw sell. It can be recalled that another old woman in Kitwe’s Chamboli Township was brutally beaten by some people who accused her of being a witch. She later died as a result of the severe beating she suffered at the hands of her assailants.    These are just peculiar or isolated cases but a recurrent trend that appear to be taking route in our society and in my considered view send a strong message that the aged and mentally sick people are not safe anymore.

This trend is highly disturbing and also goes to show the high levels of superstition in our society despite it being a Christian Nation. It is clear that older persons are being discriminated against at various levels in our society that include family, community, and even institutional level. In work environments, there are instances where older employees are usually accused being wizards on account that they do not want to leave employment and give way to the young ones and they consequently are a subject of all sorts of ridicule. On the other hand, at family and community, the old usually are left isolated and will be occasionally be visited. It is worse if they are living in an environment riddled with poverty. They end up on the streets and eventually are become victims of all sorts of scorn and accusations.

     

Zambia is a signatory to various international conventions and accords that seek protect old persons aged and the mentally challenged. The reason why Zambia scribes to such international conventions is because older persons have specific needs and requirements.  One of the fundamental truths we have to face as a country is that life expectancy in Zambia has increased in addition; the population of the country is relatively youthful so at some point in future, Zambia may experience unprecedented demographic aging. The question now is would we be happy to be discriminated against based on our age? Would the future generations be justified to accuse of being wizards and witches just because our old and frail bodies? 

It is high time our society started respecting the aged and on the other hand the law enforcement agencies clamped down on violence against the aged. It is clear that our society needs a lot of education in this area. We need to encourage a paradigm change of attitudes at all levels in the way our aged are viewed. After all, they are a source of wisdom! We also need to remember that the aged were once like us the young and soon we shall be like them so let us create a society devoid of discrimination against the aged and mentally challenged!

Work Culture

Lately, there have been concerns raised in various sections of society even in the media regarding the work culture and the perception of the Zambian Civil Service falling short of the people’s expectation in the delivery of quality service at various levels of public service. It is not long ago that  the Honorable Minister of Labour and Social Security, Honorable Fackson Shamenda complained of poor work culture in Government Institutions. This message was again reiterated by His Excellency the President Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata. In conquering with the concerns raised by the His Excellency the President, Government institutions are faced with huge challenges in meeting people’s expectations. To this effect, the perception held about the various government institutions is that they focus on ‘self service’ and caring less for the public for whom they are employed to serve. This negative work culture has resulted in inefficiency and consequently derailing and frustrating the Government development agenda and thus not delivering on its pronouncements. It is true that some civil servants have a pathetic work culture. There are instances where people report for work at 09:00hrs in the morning, spend one hour moving from office to office chatting, then spend another one hour sipping tea or coffee, work for two hours and then go God knows where, I suppose for shopping? At the end of the day you will realize that of the expected eight hours they are expected to put in, they only put for four hours. Surely what can one achieve in those few hours? Some have constant excuses for not reporting for work because they know that dismissing them is not as easy as 123! This has resulted in very poor attitudes towards work and in the end the Zambian agenda doesn’t move! Perhaps allow me to make drop a bombshell that most Zambian workers worse with the Civil Servants are remunerated for just reporting for work and not availing themselves to work. Is it an easy way of reaping where you did not sow?  The ‘Productivity’ and ‘Work Culture’ question should however not just be directed at the civil service but all productive sectors of the country as a whole after all collective effort is what sees Zambia move forward and not just a portion of section of the country.  This matter should be presented at the feet Public sector too who have on many occasions exhibited inefficiency and managed to get away with it. Many people that I have personally interacted around the sub-region with full of praises for Zambians as being hard working.  While I have agree with such assertions on account of seeing for myself how hardworking Zambians in diasporas are,  It appears they work hard when they are working outside Zambia? Where does the steam to patriotically work hard for the benefit of this nation disappear to when in Zambia? How do they manage to keep two to three jobs out there and when in Zambia they give little or nothing to move this country forward? Someone once said that if Zambians worked as hard as they talk, Zambia would have been a heaven on earth but its only talk! Anyway, my focus is not on the Zambians in diaspora but those of us working within the borders.  In my view, Zambian workers generally lack virtues of honesty and time management. They could be hard working, but no matter how hard working one can be if they lack these two very important attributes then the quality of work delivered is compromised. Why should the Zambian public be denied quality service when the majority of the Zambian Labour force is actually youthful? Statistics are there to show that the Zambian Public Service comprises 78% of a workforce aged between 20-44 years and 18% are 45-54 years, while only 4% are above 55 years. With this Youthful workforce why shouldn’t government programmes move at lightning speed? It is a pity that some workers just report for work, work with the system and not even make a single plan of how they will approach their work for the day using their personal effort. On the other hand you will read on a number of times in the press of some road contractors are accused of doing shoddy works on some of the road works. How many of you ever think of the fact that the poor workmanship may have been a result of workers who stole cement and given an impression that they had utilized it for the intended purpose? It is clear that the virtue of honesty lacks on the part of the employees. . Where are the work ethics in this?
One close friend of mine at the height of the heat wave in October 2012 jokingly retorted that it had become too hot and that the Government should do something about it. We laughed about it but when you come to think about it reflectively, this is the culture that has slowly taken over the Zambian Society today that they expect the Government to do everything for us even in situations where we can actually mobilize ourselves as communities to solve some of the community problems. It has become common every day to see and hear people on either television or radio making appeals for the Government intervene in this or that community problem. The words that have become common these days are “Tipema government iyanganepo” (Literally meaning the Government should look a particular matter). This is also clear indicator of how our society appears to taken the path of waiting for the Government to do things for them. There is need to reverse these trends.
 
However, we cannot say all hope is lost because attitudes though hard to break can still be changed. It is also true that there are some civil servants out there who are making huge difference in the health, education, and other sectors. It is important to build on this and ensure that government programmes move.  The Ministry of Labour and Social Security should be a given a leading role to provide us with information on the productivity index and levels both in the private and public sectors. Perhaps they could go round some of these institutions to explain the important of improved productivity. It should not end there but there is need to thoroughly study systems that create bottle necks in the delivery of quality service at the end of the day. The most important one is for every worker to reflect on what contribution they are making to whatever institution they are working for. Honestly, it does not make sense to sound like a broken record singing the same song year in year out on the need to change your personal attitudes towards work. Do you expect the government to be moving around with whips to make you work? That will be reminiscent of the days of slavery.  The Unions can only do enough and so can the Government the rest is incumbent upon you as a worker to motivate yourself to work hard to not only prove your worth but also move this nation forward. At the end of the day, we should get up and work extra hard since Zambia is a land or Work and Joy in Unity.