Author: Prof. Charles Mwewa
Publisher: Africa in Canada Press
Reviewer: Stephen Misori
In his book, Zambia: Struggles of My People, an award-winning and Amazon’s Best Selling author, Prof. Charles Mwewa, puts into perspective the joy of sacrifice, devotion and resilience in efforts to offer intelligent young Zambians the insight to write their own history, without relying on foreign masters whose descriptions and understanding of Africa are laced with slavery and intimidation.
Levy Ngoma, Special Assistant to the President of Zambia- Political, in his foreword, shares his sense of gratitude with the publishing of the Third Edition of Zambia: Struggles of My People, terming the inclusion of Environmental Legislative Scheme for Zambia a great milestone in addressing global warming and climate change.
Ngoma notes in his foreword, “It is incredibly baffling to note that the author canvassed over 500 books to write only one book. The work is neither a work of fiction nor a personal experiment; the book is footnoted by over 2500 references, making this book, perhaps, one of the most complete in research excellence.”
In 41 well-researched Chapters, Mwewa addresses all the socio-political and economic concerns of Zambia, highlighting the genesis of the country’s weaknesses and offering home-brewed solutions in his quest to underscore the value of patriotism, devotion, and integrity.
The prolific writer boldly pens in his opening chapters that with independence, Zambia envisaged ready job opportunities, a corruption-free society, a strong democracy, and good governance.
Mwewa provides a range of options available for Zambia to explore to fix its economy, politics, technology and environmental concerns.
He says, “For Zambia to emerge as a key player and an equal partner in terms of the economy, politics and technology, it must vigorously analyze past events, and hopefully learn from them.”
The 804-page book draws its strength from the works of Zambians, laying bare the network of corruption that is well-rooted in public offices. As the first book delving deep into the review of the country’s economic policies, it offers possible solutions for economic recovery.
As a one-stop shop about Zambia, it provides a unified discussion of all aspects of Zambia’s struggles without necessarily relying on external sources.
In Chapter 1, the author traces his origin in the same way he traces the origin of his country Zambia. He links his birth to the birth of a new country, implying that just as his mother had hopes in his birth so were the people of Zambia when the country got independence.
Mwewa believes the push for self-governance was informed by the desire of Zambians to define their destiny in relation to job placement, governance, public service practices and provision of quality services such as health and education.
The author highlights the bitterness Zambians had when he first heard about the country’s Independence Day, where children sang and danced songs about foreigners, whom they loathed for taking away their sense of humanity.
“In their songs and dances, they were talking about the rigor and saga of the person they called foreigner. He had yoked them like animals. He had taken away their humanity. He had subjected them to slavery conditions in their own land,” Mwewa narrates.
According to Zambians, independence was a well-fought vaccine to mitigate against all the viruses of the country in a manner that upheld dignity, accountability, and co-existence.
This chapter focuses on the joy and celebration of Zambians, as he says, “The mood in Lusaka, in particular was one of jubilation, happiness and celebration. In the evening, the whole city center was lit up in colorful electric bulbs.”
In Chapter 2, the author opens up on his humble beginnings and the upbringing environment that almost dimmed his spirit. At the height of the struggle for independence, it was expected that all forms of misgivings and frustrations would cease.
He therefore shares his formative years in school as that shrouded in darkness, poverty and desperation.
“However, one cannot understand the stinging power of poverty until one has had a chance to live in a shanty compound like Kapisha in the 1980s and 1990s,” he says.
It is in this chapter that the author narrates his first interaction with the country’s President, who was so protected, so honored and so venerated when millions of citizens were living lives that were less human.
In Chapter 3, Mwewa delves into the socio-political space of Zambia, referring to his engagement in community activities as an eye-opener in his would-be community mobilization and sensitization roles.
He acknowledges the contribution of learning institutions in defining the country’s history, both in the past and in the present. He traces the contribution of the University of Zambia (UNZA), saying at UNZA, students were introduced to the true meaning of independence.
The author explains that despite attaining self-rule, activists, who largely included students, had to continue agitating for true freedom from the local colonialists who, despite winning the trust of their kinsmen, continued the looting spree, enslaving the locals and giving democracy a wide berth.
Zambia: Struggles of My People captures both the high and the low moments of Zambia in what appears to be 8 major themes.
As earlier alluded, each chapter brings to light a set of related themes, expressing the author’s well-researched insight from pre-colonial to post Third Republic Zambia.
The author establishes that democracy and development are great definers when considering the uniqueness of culture, society, and legacy. He says leaders should appreciate the existence of disparity as a way of embracing development models, technological proficiency, and innovativeness.
In Chapter 8, the author addresses the advent of the Second Republic, the subsequent reign and downfall of President Kaunda. He narrates, utmost painfully, the One-Party State in Zambia and his considered opinion how democracy was stifled through this practice.
The Chapter confronts the resolve to break the heart of oppression in Zambia and redirect the soul of the nation on a full democratic path.
He says through the first post-independence election, Zambia was more than willing to rebuild and refocus. However, tribalism, appetite for power, corruption and neo-colonialism did not give room for meaningful transformation.
He writes, “Elections in the Central Committee were held on tribal lines, creating very stiff competition among the party faithful.”
In understanding the political situation of Zambia, the author investigates the unsuccessful coup attempts which continued to sink the country’s prospect for a bright democracy.
Despite coup plotters advancing multi-party democracy, the idea remained elusive as talk of betrayal among proponents was evident.
As a lawyer, the author interrogates in Chapter 11 the position of the rule of law in Zambia.
He notes that despite the country’s desire to respect the law in the public eye, real distractors such as personal interest, naivety, tribalism and corruption have consistently dimmed the light of hope.
He says the rule of law helps address poverty, noting that nations whose people are brutalized by poverty find it near impossible to avoid crime. Mwewa notes in this Chapter that fighting poverty contributes to promoting and protecting human rights.
“In Zambia, the Rule of Law must move in tandem with the fight against poverty,” he notes.
In Chapter 17, the author delves into the Church, acknowledging the role of the Clergy in promoting justice, equity and the Golden Rule. Despite the country being a Christian, Mwewa notes, Christians have never made good presidents or key politicians in government.
He pens, “Historically, Zambia’s political leaders have followed a Christian route. David Kaunda, the father of Zambia’s first president, Kenneth Kaunda, was a Christian missionary to Zambia from Malawi. Kaunda himself was a Born-Again Christian.”
He mentions Fredrick Chiluba, who succeeded Kaunda, as a Born-Again Christian too, together with the late Levy Mwanawasa who was a great man of faith. Their stay and hold on to power, according to the author, did not help Zambia realize the independence dream.
Chapter 20, in trying to focus on liberating the country, addresses the Third Republic, discussing the highlights that led to the fall of the Chiluba administration. He opens this chapter by acknowledging the role of John Mwanakatwe in facilitating the downfall of the Chiluba dynasty.
This Chapter highlights the promises that propelled Chiluba to power as liberating the economy and introducing a free market system.
He pens, “Under Chiluba, Zambia embarked upon an aggressive scheme of privatization, largely in response to pressure from the IMF and the World Bank.”
He notes this pressure also led to the fall of President Chiluba, and after President Banda, the MMD had failed to win the presidency. In all instances, the people have remained true to their demands even with different personalities in office.
While tackling the country’s economy, the author agrees in Chapters 22 to 24 that crucial sectors in Zambia have to prioritize if meaningful and sustainable economic growth has to be achieved. He makes a logical comparison of Zambia to Switzerland and Ontario.
“Between 1986 and 1990, inflation was at about 100 percent. The Kwacha was devalued. The unexpected result was an expansion in shanty compounds as people lost jobs and could not go back to the rural areas,” Mwewa notes.
He gives hope in this book when he narrates the prospects of the country’s economic vision, advising the country’s economy handlers to focus on the middle approach to tackling the challenges facing the Zambian economic dream.
He focuses on the country’s technology in Chapter 25, adducing a conceptual approach to addressing Zambia’s technological challenges. The author reveals that technology has always been used by powerful nations to scare away the weak.
The Chapter gives a clear link between the management of data and information to the health and safety of the people of Zambia.
In Chapter 41, the author acknowledges the commitment of the Hichilema Government to the issue of the environment by creating the Ministry of Green Economy and the Environment.
He says, “The Hichilema Government has shown commitment to the issue of the environment by creating the Ministry of Green Economy and the Environment.
This is a good beginning and successive governments should emulate this commitment and develop implementable programs to realize the goal.”
He commends The City of Lusaka for working closely with organizations like Green Cosmos and Ecosapentia, among others, in following up on street vending and other environmental concerns.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Book Review: Tuberculosis in Immunocompromised Patients
He traces this in his book, the Environmental Legislative Scheme and the Fight for Environmental Protection in Zambia.
