by Mukomwa » 29th April 2011, 11:01
I don't believe it depends on the top most leadership only. Somewhere along the way, we have lost it. The freedom fighters for the independence had an objective they aimed to achieve; the first republic had well laid down plans for social and economic development and provided for organized development; the second republic started it by usurping the powers of individual initiative and putting all powers in the state; the sad (third) republic finished it all - completely externalized all initiative: all companies sold off, party cadres (instead of professionals) given to run important institutions, etc.
Given the Zambian culture of fikaisova, we do not collectively do anything to resolve our problems. We sit back and hope that things will resolve themselves. In the process, we see our national resources bastardized, such as our mines being sold for a song, education and health systems let to run down, key institutions that border on national security being sold to foreign companies, to mention a few things. As Zambians we fail to appreciate the role we can play in the global setup to benefit ourselves.
A lot of Zambians are creative, but that creativity is not being applied fully because, as a nation, we have not created institutions that support these. In agriculture, for example, a lot of our middle class perform various activities such as rearing chickens, fish farming, vegetable growing, etc on their small holdings. These activities are, however, are not institutionally supported in terms access to financial support, market information, etc. In our big supermarkets, you find imported tomatoes! Surely we can and do grow tomatoes.
Bupsiny, as you say, we have to have confidence in ourselves. But we also have to be prepared as individuals and society to create conducive environments for ourselves and our children and their children to create and to reap the benefits of their creations. In my case, as a Calvinist, I will not wait for "the top most leaders" to suppress my creativity: I work hard, enjoy the fruits of my hard work, and I intend to enjoy in heaven as I do on earth!