Readers Have Their Say

When I read the editorial in the September issue I felt touched and ashamed. But Jo Clark's letter ruffled my feathers. Racism is wrong no matter who does it. And it’s not the first time such a thing is being brought up. How many stories have we read about how Lebanese and Asian employers mistreat their workers. So this is not being pointed only because it’s a white person.

As for the situation south of us ...... it’s too bad that Jo appears to have forgotten her Southern African history but us Africans haven't and cannot. How many Africans were massacred in Southern Africa so that the white people could settle and prosper in Africa? Please think before you let out emotions.

Racism is wrong because its wrong. And racism is not racism when its people of the same race discriminating - there is a different term for that.

My point is that when something is wrong people should accept the rebuke and resolve to make it better NOT to try and find someone to apportion blame to.

Elizabeth Milimo, Email

This Is My Story.

Can I commend the brave woman who shared her experience of breast cancer with us in The Lowdown last month. There are many of us out here who have had a similar experience, and even though my own experience was eleven years ago, her story took me back to that time of fear and uncertainty that we eventually overcame, because there is a future after breast cancer and we, the survivors, are the testimony to that.

The Breast Cancer Trust (BCT) is a group of women and men who have had either personal experience of breast cancer or have been affected through family, friends and loved ones. We share experiences as well as raise funds to enable all women to have access to information and treatment. One of the group’s achievements has been renovating a ward at UTH, Ward B21, which is used by women with breast and cervical cancers.

We meet on the first Saturday of the month and the next meeting is on Saturday November 1^st at 17 Dunduza Chisidza Crescent, Longacres at 2pm. For information on meetings and the work of the BCT contact Maureen Lewanika on 095 884-200.

For free personal and confidential counselling, contact me, Felly Nkweto Simmonds, Humanistic Therapist, on 097 889-951 or 01 291-481

Felly Nkweto Simmonds

Counsellor, Breakthrough Cancer Trust

Racism

Ever since leaving Zambia in April 2003, I’ve been wanting to write to your magazine in the hope that you might have the courage to publish what I have to say. But each time I start, the anger inside me boils over to such an extent that I eventually have to stop for a few weeks and try again. Your recent editorial about ‘racism’ has made me more determined to complete it this time and no doubt I’ll be considered a racist by the time it is finished being read.

I came to Zambia with my parents in 1966. Being Cape Coloureds, we left South Africa at that time for obvious reasons. I lived in Ndola for 31 years and Lusaka for the last 6 years and having paid my taxes (yes I did!), created employment and contributed in some small way to the national economy, I believe that I have as much right to speak out as any black Zambian. However, this view is not shared by the majority of black Zambians, after all ‘you are just a ma karadi, kind na kind assorted beescates’ (biscuits for the benefit of those who do not know Zambian Engrish!).

I attended Kansenji Primary and Secondary schools as a young boy and teenager and both these schools were among the finest government schools in the town, if not, the whole country. I have many fond memories of the interschool rivalry between, Ndola Primary, Itawa Primary, Northrise Primary and Perseverence and the sports and athletics days were occasions we were all (black, white and coloured) proud to be part of. However, towards the latter part of my years in secondary school, the drop in standards became very noticeable. This was at the time when we were being indoctrinated into ‘humanism’, education was made free for everyone in Zambia and black Zambians were taking control of these fine learning institutions. The sports days came to an end and instead we, as students, were forced to line the streets (on week days and weekends) and sit in the hot sun for hours so that we could wave at President Kaunda as he whizzed past in his motorcade whenever he came to town. Any student not complying was threatened by having his name taken and being reported to the ‘all powerful UNIP’. I could talk about it for longer, but if anyone from those days ever gets to read this, they will have their own memories about their school days.

What once were fine learning institutions are now a disgrace and if we were honest with ourselves, we would admit who caused this dramatic decline. The continuous drop in education standards over the years, is the reason why the calibre of so many of the country’s leaders, (political, civic, police, army etc. etc.), are so poor and unacceptable. As there is no sign of improvement, who is going to run the country, the local councils, the police force etc. in five, ten years time? A scary thought!

I read from your editorial that you attended a public meeting on a property development being planned for that fair city (slum?) of Lusaka! I would be interest to know if there were some certain people present? The “gentlemen” I am thinking of were the MMD party cadres acting in the name of President Mwanawasa, who were demarcating and allocating land belonging to people with legal title in the Ibex Hill area (remember the fracas in Kalingalinga in December last year?). They must surely be an important part of the decision making process when it comes to urban development!

When I objected to this new illegal development to the extension to Kalingalinga taking place around my home, I was told in no uncertain terms by this bunch of goons that “this is our land and you will be removed – you are very stupid!”. They were right – how stupid of me to think that the law would prevail, that the government would put a stop to these illegal developments. After all, this was the reward offered by one of the MP’s during his election campaign. They, the MP’s, the Ward Chairmen, those highly intelligent party cadres, are above the law – no matter what party they belong to! I remember one of them showing me his membership cards of all the political parties he belongs to. What a joke the political system is in Zambia!

How inconsiderate of me to want to stop this illegal development. What is wrong with being enveloped by a sprawling compound, being surrounded by pit latrines, beer halls with music blaring out all night, every night, having ones electricity interrupted every 10 days while the “entrepreneurs” steal the oil out of the ZESCO transformers, the women and children queue up at the gate asking for water? (Oops did I say queue – sorry, that word does not exist in Zambia!) That is 38 years of progress???

I agree with you when you say that over the past 18 months, there has been a definite change in the attitude of black Zambians towards non blacks. The Zimbabwe situation has not helped the situation nor has the influx of unscrupulous white South African “investors”. However, I do believe that a number of black Zambians are racists. They revere the white man (but will stab him in the back!), tolerate the Indian but treat the coloured people with contempt, yet the black African is 50% responsible for creating the coloured race! When a non-black sees a black person in Zambia, do they see that person as a Bemba, Lozi, Tonga, Lala, Zulu, Xhosa, Shona, Matebele? No, they see that person as a black person. So when a black Zambian sees a white person in Zambia, do you honestly believe that they see them as white Zambian? No, they see them as white! (And that includes you, madam editor.) As the country goes further down the drain, the blame will be laid squarely at the feet of the few remaining non-black Zambians. This might not be the message being given publicly by the political leaders but by the illiterate party cadres who, in my opinion (after witnessing first hand the way the Kalingalinga fracas was handled last year) run the country at ground level. Inspite of what people might think, the authorities have no control over their party cadres. It is unfortunate that race will ALWAYS be an issue but the races become more tolerant of each other through proper education and understanding. But as the country gets taken over by more illiterate black people, the more vulnerable the non-black community will become.

I left Zambia (Africa) with a very heavy heart and I am very angry, angry at President Kaunda, President Chiluba and President Mwanawasa and their respective governments for what they have done to Zambia. I have been forced to leave what has been my home for 37 years because I could no longer tolerate the continuing decline in the country’s standards. Before I left Zambia, my neighbour, a Ghanaian lady (who was married to a Zambian but now widowed), whose land was taken over by one of the MMD goons (UNIP, UPND, Heritage, Abbot & Costello, Monty Python etc. etc.) told me how sad she was about what was happening in Zambia. The land her husband had left her and their children had been taken over by and the Ministry of Lands were showing no signs of helping her. She said that when she first came to Lusaka, it was a beautiful city (and it was!) but now it is becoming a big slum! Open your eyes, look around you and tell me that you disagree with her!

I miss my friends dearly, fishing those magnificent rivers, camping out in the bush, the wildlife, the smiling, happy faces of Zambians of the early 1970’s. I do not miss “hungry bwana, no father, no mother bwana”, hordes of street vendors mobbing you as soon as you step out of your car, “look after bwana”, mini bus drivers blatantly breaking the law, motorists (black and white!) disregarding traffic lights (when they are working!), “bwana, I want job” (but do not want to work!), “where to, how far, can you give my friend a lift” at the numerous police road blocks spread throughout the country. I could go on and on and on and on…… If that is progress then I do not want to be part of it anymore.

I now live on mud island where I am fortunate to have a good job, I drive on roads where people are courteous, where motorists stop at traffic lights (even in the remotest parts of the country), where people (in most cases!) abide by the law, where people have confidence in the law enforcement agencies, where the government (inspite of it’s many flaws) looks after its’ people. There are many things wrong with mud island, but at least I can sleep with both my eyes and ears shut (something I have not been able to do for a very long time whilst living in Zambia), it is able to offer my children a decent education and secure future. What can Zambia, after 38 years of independence, offer its people? I leave that for you to decide.

To all those people who are earning dollars and are using Zambia as a transit point in their lives – you have my full support. To the rest of the people in Zambia (black, white and assorted biscuits!), who have nowhere else to go, pull your heads out of the sand, see and acknowledge what is going on around you! Stop fooling yourselves by thinking all is well and that things will get better! It’s going to get a lot worse before it turns the corner!

lesterdavadoss@tiscali.co.uk