EX-MINERS NEED FINANCIAL DISCIPLINE

‘It’s party time in Kitwe!’ screamed a headline on Sunday, 13th December, 2015. Of course this headline was in reference to the sudden hysteria and massive spending by retrenched miners on the Copperbelt after being paid part of their retrenchment packages in ex-gracia payments and Christmas bonuses. It was reported that some ex-miners descended on chain stores for excessive shopping while others emptied all alcoholic beverages in bars and night clubs from dusk till dawn. Upon reading the story in detail and confirming it with some sources, I quivered in disbelief that these ex-miners can use their life savings on self-indulgence, extravagance and excessive imbibing. I generally do not have a problem with incurring expenditure that benefits the families but I certainly have a problem with engaging in excessive spending for pleasure at the expense of their future.  Apparently, word has it that most of these ex-miners have acquired new friends and acquaintances that they are splashing cash and drinks on. 

Obviously, one wonders whether these newly acquired friends will stand by them when they are bust and penniless. Do the ex-miners fathom the extent to which they are sabotaging their own future with such wanton engagements? Are they financially sound to meet their children’s school fees and other expenses associated with January and beyond? Inasmuch as this story makes sad reading, it also gives a clue how deep rooted financial indiscipline has become in our country. In my considered view, this is just a case in point. Most urban areas have young Zambians who have religiously embraced the ‘shipwe shipwe syndrome’! (Unwarranted spending of money on play) This is a new phenomenon among the young generation that as the nation cannot afford to ignore. 

Having a financially undisciplined citizen is a sure way to personal and collective self-destruction that creates a bedrock for a corrupt society in whatever form. This indiscipline and quest for vanity at the expense of self and national development should worry all well-meaning patriotic Zambians. Young Zambians these days have become known for working extremely hard to make money during the week for nothing else but self-indulgence and imbibing with nothing to show for it. Should the nation’s productive sector degenerate to such levels? When are we going to use these energies to move the nation forward? 

This quest for vanity and love for alcohol is a growing problem in Zambia that if not checked, we are likely to have a nation of drunkards. The consequences of alcohol abuse are well documented and there for anybody to consult. It has become a common feature to find young energetic Zambians intoxicated as early as seven o’clock in the morning. It is a pity that the love for alcohol and sheer vanity appears to have virtually taken over the sensibility of the young and middle aged generations and most of them would do anything to earn money they would fritter on alcohol and vanity as seen from the ex-miners. This comportment has the potential to create other social evils such as break down in family life coupled with delinquency. 

The efforts of Government through the President of the Republic of Zambia, His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu to ensure that those ex-miners are paid part of that retrenchment package tax-free in addition to being given land should be commended as it indicates the extent to which Government wants them empowered to live decent lives after retrenchments. Unfortunately, some of these ex-miners are not reciprocating and complimenting the President’s efforts in view of their reported reckless spending sprees. 

It has now become inevitable that the ex-miners are mobilized and educated on the need for them to retain high levels of financial discipline in this delicate time if they are to survive beyond retrenchments. Programmes such as Future Search should swing into action to succour them with tips to manage their lives after retrenchment. If this is not done, they will weep to Government over problems they would have brought upon themselves due to careless financial management.

For the ex-miners, this is not a time to indulge in excessive spending or imbibing but to exhibit restraint and engage trusted individuals who will help you further your life beyond retrenchment.   

BURUNDI CRISIS NEEDS URGENT ATTENTION

Sometime in May, 2015, I called for the intervention of the African Union press Burundian President Pierre Nkurunzinza to respect the constitution and abandon his third term bid because it would spell serious ramifications on the socio-political and economic instability in that country and around the Great Lakes region. Well, Africa just like the rest of the world watched President Pierre Nkurunziza disregard calls for him to respect the constitution and went ahead to obtain a counterfeit mandate through a Presidential election held on 21 July 2015. This election was obviously boycotted by the opposition as it was deemed fraught and unfair. The veritable truth is that President Pierre Nkurunziza was ineligible to run for a third term. Preceding the election was even a failed attempt by a Military mutiny that attempted to depose him from power.  Since President Pierre Nkurunzinza secured a third term, there appears to be smokescreen that life in Burundi is back to normal and yet the country is on the brink of civil war with international reports and observers suggesting that situation has gravely degenerated to the extent that there are proposals to request the African Union to take decisive action to forestall further violence. 

The innocent citizens haven been displaced with a reported 1,200 Burundians seeking refuge in neighboring Tanzania. There have also been reports of security forces in Burundi being accused of killings targeted the opposition leaders and ordinary citizens. As if that is not enough, there has been upsurge of full scale conflict on political divide and ethnic lines reminiscent of the events that followed the death of President Cyprien Ntaryamira who was President of Burundi until 6 April 1994. This is so because, it appears a targeted and well-orchestrated conflict targeting at specific sections of society.   While the world in 1994,  witnessed a catastrophic episode as thousands of people were killed in the civil war along ethnic lines between the Hutu majority and minority Tutsis. That kind of situation should never be allowed to occur under what circumstances including the current one. In doing so, serious questions should be asked and adequately responded to by the African Union and the United Nations. There have been propositions to send five thousand peacekeepers to Burundi despite resistance from the Bujumbura. How long should Africa wait before the troops are deployed? What about the individual at the epicentre of this crisis? What measures will the African Union take to ensure that post-crisis?   What role will the AU play to guarantee civil liberties to the general populace? 

The Great Lake region has generally been prone to conflict and therefore there is need to do everything possible to expeditiously forestall the current crisis before it sucks in other neighbouring countries.  In view of this, it is cardinal that all member state of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region which Zambia is a member of actively participate in resolving this conflict.  

As most Zambians maybe aware, Zambia and Burundi share borders through the great Lake Tanganyika which consequently there have been trade relations taking place between the two countries. Just in 2013, Zambia is reported to have exported a total of 40,000 metric tonnes of maize to Burundi as clear indication of the trade potential.  For more trade relations to proliferate and fortified, Zambia should play an active role to ensure that Burundi remains politically stable. 

In an event that the Burundi Constitutional Court rules that President Pierre Nkurunziza is eligible to run for a third term, the African Union and the International Community should impose sanctions Burundi to ensure that the will of the great majority is respected. The situation in Burundi is serious and African and the World at large cannot afford to be inconspicuous about it.  It is very simple; President Pierre Nkurunziza must respect the constitution and the will of the people.