Today Zambia has turned 48 years old. Zambians are still going strong, proud and free. This year many Zambians are proud of the Zambia National Soccer Team. The Team won the prestigious Africa Cup. This is the first time that Zambia is the African Soccer Champion. The Cup had evaded Zambia since independence. In 1974 and 1994 the Zambian team came close to winning the Cup by coming second in the African Championship. The nation also participated in several international competitions this year. We were represented in the London Olympics but we did not get any medals. We were also represented in the London Paraolympics but our team was disqualified for wearing the wrong attire during the opening ceremony. Imagine how such a mishap could happen. Our team 'borrowed' the national soccer team attire and the organisers of the Paraolympics were not impressed and set the team packing.
On the economic front we are not doing badly. What with our government beginning to borrow again with Zambia's improved credit rating. This year Zambia was able to borrow through Euro bonds. The government is very happy with this development saying that the increased credit rating will provide Zambia with the needed financial capital to build bridges, roads, school and other physical infrastrusture. The ordinary Zambians have received the news of the borrowing with mixed feelings. Some of the citizens have welcomed this capital injection because of the possibility of job creation. Zambia has a very youthful population with 50% of the citizens aged below 35% and many unemployed. So any possibility of job creation is greeted with praise. However, some senior citizens are asking for caution with regard with the recent acquisition of a loan of this magnitude. Perhaps it is because they can still remember how the 7 billion Kwacha borrowed by Zambian's first government led by Dr. Kenneth Kaunda brought the country to its knees. The debt could not be repaid and it brought a lot of suffering. Zambia became one of the world's highly indebted countries and needed to be rescued by the G8 through debt cancellation. On a positive note the construction industry is booming. Many Zambians are becoming home owners through building their own houses. Others are investing in development of properties to put on rent. Construction has became the buzz word whereever one goes-at the office, pub or Church. This is very good for our young economy. It is contributing to the growth of the informal sector especially metal fabrication and block making and in a way creating self employment opportunities for talented and enterprising youths. Many absentee land owners have taken the opportunity to subdivide their properties for sale to prospective home owners. Unscrupulous invidividuals have also taken the opportunity to illegally grab land which they sell to unsuspecting prospective developers. The construction industry is booming mainly in urban and peri-urban areas throughout the country.
On the social front local music and arts are finding their place on the airwaves once again. There are now so many singers, dancers, actors and writers that it is difficult to take count. Songs are written and released every week, day, hour or minute. Some songs are forgotten only a few minutes after release. But the most exciting thing is that those who are hard working get recognised and make a fortune from their songs. One such lucky singer was the composer and singer of 'dochi kubeba'. His song became a hit during the 2011 presidential and parliamentary election because the Patriotic Front (PF) adopted it as its main campaign song. The song was therefore 'banned' from playing on the national broadcaster airwaves by the party in government at the time. With the victory of PF the song was played on the national broadcaster, all private radio stations and at social gatherings especially weddings and kitchen parties. The composer and singer was even awarded the 'order of distinguised service...' during the 2011 independence celebrations at State House. So if you are lucky you can actually became very famous and also earn a decent living from music and the arts.
I hope that this year's independence celebrations will be different. I am currently out of the Country so I wish you all a Happy Independence Day. In the past the celebrations have centred only around government officials, ruling party officials and civil servants' merry making. In Lusaka, if you want to participate in the celebrations then you have to get an invitation to State House or sit in front of your TV and watch what is happening at State House. Now it has even become a recognised fact that the prominent leaders of the opposition will shun the celebrations at State House. The radio and TV news bulletins will make a point of mentioning who attended the State House function and who 'boycotted'. But this has become so predictable so that it is not news anymore. One wishes that the members of the opposition will realise this and begin to attend these functions because after all it is tax payers money that is used so why not go and enjoy with everyone else.
I am sure that this year's celebration will be overshadowed by the death of the mama Betty Kaunda, the wife of First Republican President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda. She passed on a few weeks ago. These celebrations will not be done without remembering this gallant daughter of the nation. Soft spoken and kind she is an inspiration to many Zambian and mother of the nation. May Her Soul Rest in Peace.
Happy Birthday Zambia! Long live Zambia.
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