Any person opposed to aid in Zambia is viewed as an enemy. Worse still if such a person is Zambian. He will be classified in the most unpalatable terms that the dictionary can offer to the politicians and those that subscribe to the ideology that aid from Europe and the United States is Africa’s right. Some believe that the colonial masters must pay back the proceeds of the scramble for Africa. They further assume that the payback time is not yet over! But the question is: Does Zambia need financial aid? Has the assistance so far provided weaned Zambia from the dependence syndrome? Its worth noting that to date, Zambian leaders are still going on global trotting missions to ask for financial aid. The recent global financial crisis seems also, paradoxically, to have catapulted the begging bow! Some argue that those responsible for the recent global financial crisis have a responsibility to help African countries survive through the economic turmoil.
Looking at the amount of financial aid that Zambia has received, I believe very strongly that Zambia does not need any more financial aid! Donors have made every effort to support our economy, but alas, we are still degenerating! The blame is definetely not on donors but on our leaders , yes on our failed leadership. I believe that Zambia, more than anything else, needs good, faithful and visionary leaders. Is it not flabbergasting and enigmatic to see an Zamibian leaders going round Europe, America and Asia to woo foreign investors by telling them that Zambia has rich natural resources? Have you ever seen a poor man with a treasure who goes out to a rich man to ask him to come and explore the treasure and then in turn give the poor man a little something in appreciation? It sounds ridiculous, but that is what is exactly happening among our leaders!
We are so engrossed in the idea that someone from out there must come and sort out our economic difficulties. The rich natural resources that we have is proof enough that we do not need any more financial aid but a leadership with a vision to motivate its people to exploit the resources. In Zambia, the cry for foreign investment is the politician’s breakfast, lunch and supper. They would rather give tax incentives to foreign investors than indigenous entrepreneurs. We have seen local businesses go down without government help but government is quick to attend to foreign investors! This, to me, presents an inferiority complex on the part of our leaders.
Listening to this years budget presentation by Dr Musokotwane, I hardly saw any plans for economic development. Much of it was just traditional allocations! There was nothing in it to stimulate thinking and action on ordinary citizens. There was no mention of small and medium business enterprises in the budget. Simply put, I couldn’t figure out where we are going as a country in this year's budget- no visionary approach!
You can give a man a lot of money and other resources, but if he has no wisdom to use it in order to wean himself from dependence on aid, you are simply wasting your time!
Lack of good leadership has resulted in aid going down the drain. What we need now, is investment in leadership training among the youths. I should have actually started with a call to leadership training among our current men and women we elected! The executive and parliament should start attending leadership training sessions. I think that pastors with sound biblical teachings can help in leadership training.Perhaps, this might salvage the government from the current underperformance!!!!
