It truly is with great pain I write this to you, mostly because I’m not going to complain as much as I would like, and that will be really difficult.
Welcome to Zambia’s 55th Independence Day celebrations. How fortunate we must be then that this Independence Day will find most of us blacked out, both on the streets and in the homes.
Think back to a time in this country worse than the one we find ourselves in. Blackouts for more than 14 hours at a time, and these are usually working hours. So businesses have slowed almost to a stop and so has the flow of cash.
Water is a big problem with over 40 boreholes being closed because they are dried up. Also not to mention this water problem is the reason for the electricity problem.
Our staple food is also now more expensive than it’s ever been but people can’t seem to let the five finger delicacy go and this has put us in an interesting place, to evolve in either one of two ways. Find a more affordable alternative or pay the price.
All this without even speaking on how those who have been handed the powers to lead us, seem to be doing a very poor job of it. I won’t complain on this unfortunately because it’s honestly too draining.
About a year ago I sat down with Krytic, we had a similar conversation and we concluded ALL OF US are the problem and really the only solution was to band together, and as he called it, BUILD THE MACHINE.
I agree profoundly, so what can we actually do?
Well for 1 we’ll have to individually get invested in ourselves. Now this is simply so that we figure out which aspects of Zambia we want to give our attention to. Remember, our gifts will make room for us, trust that.
Yeah I know as we’re figuring us out the country is still on fire, don’t worry about the country until we have taken stock of ourselves.
Secondly, Take a stand for your truth. When we complain we leave little room for a progressive idea to manifest. However, if we identify a problem coming with a possible solution is more helpful than just telling everyone that there is a problem. Mostly because we all have problems and we all want our problems to be attended to, and unless we speak our truth there will be no change.
Now this one is difficult, but if it’s our truth, we wont stand to see anyone take advantage of that truth. This is what happens, we allow people to walk all over us and then go complain in the dark.
Change will not occur in secret, it will leave a trail, it will send up flares and smoke signals, it will shake the very ground with each step all in the pursuit of becoming.
Thirdly, equally as important but slightly more difficult, let the anger float away and collaborate. This collaboration comes in different forms, for some our gift is to ensure accountability, may you help us create systems that ensure the general good not for the few but for the many.
For some our gifts are to lead, may we be led with love for our nation needs leadership not born of greed but love and genuine interest in seeing Mother Zambia progress.
Leaders do not work in isolation, we all have our gifts and our paths, trust that you are a blessing and we are waiting to build the machine together.
Lets hope this Independence Day brings much Joy for our freedom and excitement for our future. Please do not take this freedom lightly because millions of people are modern day slaves. You have life, you have freedom, use your gifts, whatever they may look like.
I’m not saying the change is instantaneous, but we’ve spent 55 years doing all these other things what do we really have to lose?
Peace and love to you all this 24th Day of October. Happy Independence Mother Zambia.
One Zambia. One Nation.