SOUTH SUDAN, SINK OR SWIM!

 A  By Bonaventure Mutapi Mutale

Just when Africa and the world at large thought the belligerents in South Sudan conflict, the world’s youngest nation had ceased fire in order to converge their efforts on moving the nation forward, did the nation again go up into a blaze. Before and around Monday, 11^th July, 2016, pandemonium broke out and Juba the capital city of South Sudan was the center of feuds and warfare. And this time around, the mayhem and fighting was so fierce and brutal to the extent that the just in two days since the skirmishing broke out, 200 people had been reportedly killed in addition to many unaccounted for casualties. International media reported that the authorities at South Sudanese Ministry of Health had equally presaged that the death toll from the fighting in Juba could have risen up to over 270. The sporadic confrontation in Juba is a clear affront on the Agreement of the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, which was signed in August 2015 between President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar’s warring cabals. This is the agreement that was the bedrock of the Declaration of Cessation of Hostilities between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) loyal to Salva Kirr and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) loyal to his first Vice President, Riek Machar. This declaration seemed to have held intermezzo.

These hostilities between the two belligerents seems to be deeply engrained in the stern and ferocious fight for leadership which many people may wish to note has bedeviled South Sudan even before it gained self-rule from the main Sudan. The most incommodious thing about this post-independence conflict in South Sudan is the generation of contentions by several observers as to whether the fight for independence was in the interest of the South Sudanese or it was about mere fight for political power. The case of South Sudan rapid degeneration into a warzone for a country that appears to espouse freedom and unity for a people that had been down trodden for a long time is bothersome. This is a paradigm that Africa and the world at large should not sit back and watch turn into a bonfire. Those who follow African events will confirm that this is not the first time that this altercation since South Sudan gained self-rule. In 2013, after tensions arose between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar, who is of the Dinka ethnicity and Vice President Riek Machar, who is of the Nuer ethnicity, war broke out. As usual, the casualties are the civilians especially women and children.  

For those who may care to further know will attest to the fact that Riek Machar even before independence has been at the epicenter of controversy and polemics with the sedulous late Dr. John Garang who at that served as pre-independence President of the South Sudan. Though Riek Machar had been a key figure in the eventual attainment of sovereignty, it has been come clear that he has been a divisive factor thereby making it practically impossible for the newly independent country pull in one direction. This is the reason why observers of African affairs like this author may question his move to go into hiding after the events of July 7, 2016 military face-ff. This action alone raises concerns on the sustainability of the power-sharing agreement. Where is the United Nations (UN) in the midst of this crisis? What about the African Union and regional bodies around the East Africa which South Sudan is a party to?

This is no time for Africa and the world at large to put your feet up their feet into relaxation because the concord the world is simply cosmetic and temporal. The truth is that a conflict is smoldering in view of the fact that the belligerents in the chaos are strongmen with considerable influence that would throw South Sudan’s stability into doubt. This development may also vindicate the reluctance main Sudan had over granting independence to South Sudan. The citizens would question the essence of gaining independence when their national leadership is embroiled in skirmishes and combat. But again, the biggest question that requires answering and vivid understanding as Africa and the world at large responds to the crisis is to establish the footing of the war. Why is it that a newly independent extremely poor country with so much natural wealth would descend into such chaos? What does this say about the future of the peace and security around that country? What does the future hold for a country reported by World Health Organization (WHO) as having some of the worst health indicators in the world? This is a country were under-five infant mortality rate is 135.3 per 1,000, while maternal mortality is the highest in the world at 2,053.9 per 100,000 live births.

Having pointed out the above, it can be adduced that the world’s youngest nation has long way to go to attain a workable responsive governance system in tandem with other progressive African countries in view of the on goings there. But again, this also gives an indication that perhaps, there was a lack of preparation for post-independence life in all institutions of Governance. Prior to attaining self-rule, one would have hoped that those tribal rebel groups should have been effectively disarmed and clear post-independence transition roadmap set. The state of affairs also shows a very bad example of having too many ‘strongmen’ with massive almost ‘religious’ influence on a certain section of society.  Silva Kiir and Reik Machar are very influential figures and none of them appear willing to concession their respective establishments. This mayhem has to come to an end and it can only end if the United Nations and its collectives take a strong stand and   encourage both President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar to push for calm for the sake of the South Sudanese people who are usually the victims of war and its off shoots. This conflict should not be allowed to generate into a full scale bedlam. Africa is undergoing a renaissance but this can only be achieved if all countries have their peace and security guaranteed. Africa has witnessed enough conflicts and cannot afford endure more. South Sudan should swim and not sink into a failed state after being independent for only 5 years!

The Author is a Lusaka Based Observer of Local and African Affairs.

For comments, email: bonaventuremutale@gmail.com

The Malaise of the Zambian Entertainment Industry Part II

By Bonaventure Mutapi Musonda Chiti Mutale

In continuation from part I of the article, the crux of this discourse is to understand the extent to which the entertainment industry can be a durable means of survival for our hard working artists. For arguments sake, of current crop of musicians, apart from Macky II, Slap D, Mampi, Amayenge and JK, how many artists are earning a decent livelihood from their intellectual property? To be honest, they are very few in comparison to Nigeria’s or even South African famed musicians whose net worth average earnings are in excess of millions of dollars. Our artists are leap years behind.  How much money does our acclaimed actor Owas Mwape earn from the films he works hard to produce? How much money do cultural dance troupes earn from their performances to sustain them? Or better still, how much is earned by those visual artists whose spend their day being sun kissed curving all types of art work? The truth is they earn peanuts and this is so because the system disfavors the brains behind the works. In Zambia, entertainment artists are conferred fame and not the fortune.

As a nation, we should be guilty of stealing from these dead and living intellectuals. In fact, the guilt should stem from the fact that we pirate their music through free downloads from the internet. We should be guilty because we allow unscrupulous filches to download music, package it in those white paper labelled CDs sold on the streets with impunity for cut-rate prices while the owners of the work famish in hunger and some in destitution.  We should be guilty that we have not created an environment where these artists in film or music can access funds to start up their artistry. We should guilty because we have allowed our musicians to perform for peanuts and yet we are so comfortable to pay foreign artists thousands of dollars. Where does that money suddenly come from?  We should guilty because we have not readily availed them financial literacy to manage their fame and fortune. We should be guilty because we have not provided the correct infrastructure to enhance the quality of the recording and productions.

Apparently, word on the ground is that some Djs in some radio stations are now asking for money for an artist’s music to receive airplay? How corrupt can the system be? While the work of the Djs is totally appreciated, it is discriminatory and highly bigoted to expect a young budding musician to pay them money for airplay when they even struggled to just get studio time to record a song. From the net-worth of the South African music and the Nigerian movie and music industry, one can conclude that the entertainment industry is a business that can thrive in a virtuous environment. The questions that policy makers should be asking themselves should range from what is South African or even Nigeria doing right to attain such high levels of net worth? Pundits will hide in population numbers which this author does not subscribe to. What about Botswana? What about Equatorial Guinea and Benin that do not have the population numbers but have gone ahead to produce big earning artists? The panacea to curing this malaise of the entertainment industry needs well thought coordination at policy all the way to the recording studio, production and the market place. When artists in music or film industry are well remunerated, producers will be well paid just like Djs and eventually more revenue will be poured in the treasury.  

Institutions like the National Arts Council (NAC) and Zambia Association of Musicians (ZAM) need to be operating a macro level in pushing for reformation of the entertainment industry and not just issuing numb reactive press statements. They should engage experts who understand how this industry works in developed countries and then make progressive propositions to the Government for consideration. On the other hand, the powers that be should create a forum for cross pollination of ideas on how to restructure the entertainment industry for various forms of artistic work to benefit those from rural areas.  

There is need to put in place policy measures that cascade to the ward level. For instance, the Government can dedicate three or four percent of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to arts at constituency level. This should be executed with a proper tracking system. This is a form of employment creation at ward level which when aggregated at national level would have an impact on citizen empowerment. High-tech music and film recording equipment should be bought and installed in all ZANIS offices throughout the country to enable the tapping of rural talent. There is no justification to continue keeping our artists whether in film, music, comedy, painting or cultural dance as second-rate performers when it is a common fact that authentic Zambian music and films can break boundaries and earn the country recognition and much needed revenue. Once fundamentals are put in place, everything else will work out because the industry will be paying itself. Perhaps we will see a policy were all artists in whatever form will be required to register with Patents and Companies Registration Authority and Zambia Revenue Authority to enable the Government determine the quantum of the industry. For musicians, music is an investment that they should be earning interest through royalties once their ‘five minutes’ of fame are over. Let us not deprive them of the fruits of their hard work.

The author is a Lusaka-based Observer of local and African Affairs.

For comments, feel free to email: bonaventuremutale@gmail.com

The Malaise of the Zambian Entertainment Industry Part I

By Bonaventure Mutale

Caught up in the early morning traffic some two weeks ago, I tuned into one popular radio station which churns out great antiquated Zambian music. As usual the station was rocking some of those creative sounds that can make any music aficionado tap their hand or feet in appreciation of the rhythm. Several thoughts on the evolution of Zambian music artistry came to mind. The first one was around how much was the net-worth of the Zambian music industry? Who could be Zambia’s richest musician? Who is Zambia’s biggest artist? And if they are big, in what sense? What constitutes a big artist by Zambian standards?  My mind also wandered off to ask the net worth of the film industry? What about paintings and art work? These are pertinent questions I have attempted to research on and yielded zilch results.

One might think this is a blithering supposition but the truth is that there is no information available to ascertain the worth of this important industry. If at all it does exist, the question one would raise is what parameters have been used to arrive at those conclusions. After searching for this information far and wide in futility, I concluded that there is nothing to talk about regarding the general organization in comparison to other countries on the African continent. I am drew some quick but unverified conclusion that the Zambian entertainment industry could be in a real malaise that needs urgent reformation coupled with deliberate restructuring before it slips into a comatose.

In an attempt to put things into perspective, it is cardinal to point out that in Zambia, it is not a surprise to find a musician asking for a drink from a patron back stage after an electric performance. It is also true that there have been times popular musicians have died not being given send offs befitting their status. Stories have been heard were families of the late artists have struggled to even raise money to purchase a coffin to enable them afford a decent burial. Having said so, it is also not a surprise to see an artist; be it an actor or musician struggle to pay bills despite their success in public domain. It is also not surprise to see artists in whatever form become a heroes and heroines after they die when everyone just watched them live in impecuniousness while alive.

These are unfortunate incidents that do not seem to click anything in the minds of the public who spend nights away dancing to the creativity of these minds at gigs and all types functions including clubs. The truth is that the fame that comes with Zambian artistry is not in equilibrium with the money that goes into their pockets. Fame without fortune is like potential because cannot potential be eaten. Fame will cannot pay bills. What pays bills is the value that is attached to the fame. In view of this, the question one raises is how long will the Zambian artistry remain in this conundrum? I have heard some musicians say that to earn a decent living in Zambian art, one needs to have another fall back income generating activity. Well this is true but why should his be the case? If this is not deliberately corrected, I portend even more difficult times ahead for our Zambian music, painting and movie industry. It should not surprise you when musicians clamor around political parties to perform and earn some shekels.

According to the Forbes ranking of well performing entertainment industries, it should  fluster us that the South African Music Industry alone is net worth $68 million while Nigerian music industry is worth $48 million and Kenya $3Million. For Nigeria, the film industry in multi-million dollars. What about Zambia? You guess could be as good as mine. Not such information exists! Now, the composition of this net worth is in record sales, royalties, and endorsements. Apparently, the Governments in these countries are obtaining a sizeable share revenue from this industry. Can the same be said about the Zambian music and film industry? How much money is realized from this industry? It is clear that this industry at the moment is a ‘hand to mouth’ and only the brave can stay in the game and survive even after their ‘five minutes of fame’ has come to an end. A big artist by Zambian standards is probably arrived at by ‘observation’ and not by other aspects. This archaic and draconian style of managing this industry needs to come to an end at an earliest possible time. Artists whether in music, film, painting, or cultural dances should be well remunerated and a well thought out environment created for them to thrive.

We should not even act oblivious to the fact that many Zambian musicians just like actors have died paupers and disfavored despite having produced some of the best sounds and films that have lived through time. If fame and fortune is anything to talk about, dead entertainers like Sauzande, Greg Lungu, Paul Ngozi, Pitchen Kazembe, Glorious Band, Smokey Haangala, Serenje Kalindula Band, Masasu, Alfred Chisala Kalusha, Joyce Nyirongo Micheal Kumwenda, Kieth Mulevu, Ras Willie, Daddy Zemus, Lilly T and the young prodigy P-Jay would have died rich men women. Are the dead musicians’ families paid royalties? Could this explain why the rich Kalindula music is slowly evaporating and we still rely on music that was recorded in the 80s and 90s as Zambian music? When the last time a successful authentic Zambian flavored was album produced that sent shockwaves across Zambian radio and clubs? 

Zambian Worker. Change Your Work Ethic!!

Achieving national development is no mean feat. As the axiom goes, ‘Rome was not built in a day’. It clearly shows that achieving national development cannot be achieved in a short time but a long process which calls for calls for hard work, sacrifice and probity. It also entails putting the least of society first than self. In saying so, one would fling quick questions on whether Zambia has the necessary aptitude to improve quality health care, education, transportation infrastructure, decent housing and the social welfare of the people? The answer is a clear-cut yes! However, from the outset, it should be recognized that these amenities do not come discounted. They come at great cost of amplified productivity, investment and the Government creating and enabling environment for the citizens to expend their energy on moving the nation forward

This year’s Labour Day theme dubbed ‘Achieving National Development through Productive Decent Work, Sustainable Job Creation and Social Justice’ comes against the backdrop of serious concerns on the lackadaisical approach the Zambian worker appears to have towards work.

This theme generates important questions that call for deeper reflection at all strata of Zambian society. It also brings in fundamental points of reflection on the extent to which a Zambian worker is willing to go to contribute to national development through their personal effort. One negative trait I have empirically noticed about some Zambian workers is that they seem to underestimate the small and yet cardinal role they play in the aggregate national productivity.

This is seen from the poor working culture coupled with tardiness and general lack of commitment to go an extra mile to contribute to overall organizational vision. This, I see every day in my interaction with some workers in both the private and public sectors.

It has become normal these days to see workers reporting for work at their own time and rush to knock off. Just as it has appears normal for workers who treat clients like they are doing them a favor. 

These practices create very negative perceptions among the general population. These perceptions turn out to be correct in certain instances as civil servants just like those in the private sector who are supposed be the locomotive of the economic development have been caught reporting for work late, drunk or not even reporting at all. How then does one expect improved productivity with such negative attitude towards work? How can a country develop if the keys drivers of three of the four factors of production, the workers are so unworried and complacent in their approached to work? Pure stagnation is the result!

Achieving desired national productivity is a complementary effort where employees play their part and other key stakeholders play theirs too. Each Zambian must realize that there is no ‘quick fix’ to the many challenges the country faces today. It is all about commitment, sacrifice and patriotism in serving ones country.

Interestingly, people around the sub-region praise Zambians working in outside the country as hard working. I have never heard foreigners labeling Zambians working outside the precincts of our territory as being lazy. Its accolades all the way! The question that straight away comes to mind is are Zambians only hard working away from home? Why can’t the praised Zambians exert the same energies they exert out there at home?.

While it is extremely import for the Zambian worker to put in their level best to obtain results, the employers should correspondingly motivate their workers to put in their best as opposed to the business-as-usual. How many government and non-government organizations have productivity committees?  How many employers create well thought out productive workplace cultures? While many employers actually do invest in people and skills, there is need to scale up this aspect to ensure that employees are skilled enough to increase productivity. It may be a case of blaming a worker and yet they are not fully equipped with tools to operate effectively. 

It is a known fact that poor productivity does not bring about sustainable jobs. In fact, my considered view is that low productivity is no different from throwing money in a bottomless pit because there is absolutely nothing to show for it. Sustainable jobs can only be guaranteed if there is increased productivity at every level of Government and the private sector. It is my firm belief that an efficiency and effectiveness opens opportunities to grow the economy. The public sector just like the private sector should work towards scaling up efforts that not only inspire the nation to work hard but also spur development to attain sustainable job creation.

 

While there could be no single answer to productivity challenges Zambia faces today, the starting point should be a paradigm change of mind-set. In saying so, it should be recognized that transforming a the mind of a Zambian worker should not be limited to Labour Day speeches but an everyday exercise that even targets those yet to be absorbed by the labour market.

Therefore, as the Zambian workers commemorate this very significant day, they should not only be excited at wearing a new suit but reflect on what contribution they have made to increase productivity of the Zambian economy to operate efficiently and generate more resources that will drive it forward to achieve social justice.

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 production of  decent jobs, sustainable job creation and social justice

What is it like being black in India? BBC News

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.