ITWASAMORIBUND ORGANISATION
ONE of the things that is often as certain as death and taxes in Zambia is that we have a high proportion of critics. Critics that one would hope could be more tactful when addressing their grievances so that they do not tear down other people's hard work or the individuals that are trying to help make things right in our country.
Perhaps, said differently, there is a deficiency of individuals that aspire to be advocates of what Zambia can become. Instead, many view the future of this country from a prism of our current challenges. But our challenges are not insurmountable.
In the recent weeks, Economic Association of Zambia (EAZ) president Dr Lubinda Habazooka has been on the receiving end from some of these critics with one such critic noting that he cringes in embarrassment when he hears him speak and equating his utterances to what he termed cadrenomics.
That level of criticism more than anything is unnecessary. Further, others have condemned Dr. Habazooka for not allegedly spelling out the final resolutions from the just ended economic “indaba.”
Others have accused him of organising economic conferences just for the sake of it instead of guiding the government on substantive issues.
Put another way, it is an almost trite comment that Dr. Habazooka is being heavily criticised because his views are in large measures seen to be supportive of the government.
It is relevant that Dr Habazooka would almost certainly be in safe territory, if he chose instead to nod in unison with those who choose to oppose government for the sake of it.
One thing is true and undeniable that a significant share of what ails Zambia, can be attributable to the incidence of politics playing a larger role in fomenting uncertainty and it is difficult not to see this current criticism from that angle.
If for anything, Dr Habazooka needs to be extolled
at least for being the alternative voice in Zambia in the forefront of bringing out the salient positives about Zambia, notwithstanding our structural economic risks.
He has advocated far and wide that Zambia is not a basket case that a number of opinion makers have been making it out to be, that Zambia has risks that can be navigated.
Above all, he has been a significant contributor to the alternative narratives that have assisted in muting the many negative sentiments that were certain to ameliorate us as a nation.
There have been times when I have differed with Dr Habazooka, such as when he said that non-economists should not comment on economic matters, however, if an honest assessment is made, it is likely that a plurality will agree that he has been a progressive force and a singular voice in the private sector that is heard beyond the borders, and that has tried to shoal up investor confidence for this country.
One and half year ago, we featured an article in this column titled “While high interest rates persist, where are the Chambers voices?” that decried the silence of the chambers of commerce in the country in advocating for lower interest rates and in that article we singled out the Mines Chamber as being more effective in outlining the essence of their existence.
We had also highlighted the fact that there are lessons to learn from the mining chamber’s effectiveness in advancing their objectives and delivering results for its members.
How had it been able to do it was a central question that we had posed? The mining chamber has been managing to get results because they have been clear about what they need to do to be effective. They have been visible and regular.
Dr Habazooka in that sense has reawakened the EAZ to their rightful role in this country. He therefore deserves a lot of credit, and anyone that takes over thereafter can only find a much easier path to traverse.
To Dr Habaazoka, other than encouragement, we offer sound words from James Clear (2018), who wrote that “It doesn’t matter how you choose to live your life, whether you build a business or work a corporate job; have children or choose not to have children; travel the world or live in the same town all of your life; go to the gym five times a week or sit on the couch every night, whatever you do, someone will judge you for it. There will always be haters and difficult people. For one reason or another, someone will find a reason to project their insecurities, their negativity, and their fears onto you and your life, and you’ll have to deal with it.”
Think about this, in January 2017, Bill Gates wrote that Africa was one of his favourite places to go for a fresh perspective on how the world was improving. That although 2016 was a tough year for many African economies, almost every trend on the continent has been moving in the right direction over the last decade.
“Per capita income, forIn the recent weeks, Economic Association of Zambia (EAZ) president Dr Lubinda Habazooka has been on the receiving end from some of these critics with one such critic noting that he cringes in embarrassment when he hears him speak and equating his utterances to what he termed cadrenomics. eign investment, agricultural productivity, mobile banking, entrepreneurship, immunisation rates, and school enrollment are all heading upwards.” All of that can be said about Zambia and Dr Habazooka has singularly focused on extolling those virtues.
What is the point of this article? Well it is that we may all have the same goal of building a strong economy, but it will not help if our ar arsenals are aimed at ameliorating those that are steadfast in positively promoting our country.
We need to build our own or better still offer criticism that seek to build, because no one will do it for us, not the IMF, not the World Bank and not the international community. Sure Dr Habazooka has made mistakes along his journey, but the capacity he has displayed in assisting to shrink the constant negative coverage we have been subjected to as a nation is admirable.
Think for a moment that the young kids in western societies that grew up listening to and watching adverse information about Africa, regrettably have grown up believing 70 percent of those views.
The notable concern is that those same individuals are now the Consultants that private international firms approach and hire if they plan to invest in Africa, they are now the policymakers at the IMF or World Bank that guide the policies impacting Africa or Zambia.
What can we expect from their best efforts? Not anything close to the advocacy we have seen from Dr Habaazoka. And unless we go through a self-introspection or a sober analysis of how our criticisms can be better directed, we risk building a cadre of people that speak without reflecting on the collective damage they do to our country, whose roles will be to accelerate our downfall and lead us to an inevitable decline.
In summary, although this columnist has never met Dr Habaazooka, the objective of this article is to encourage him to keep on, that his voice is heard by many that silently applaud his efforts and that his hard work does not go unnoticed.
And if nothing else comes of his stay as President of Economic Association of Zambia, the words of George Bernard Shaw, an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist should comfort him.
George Bernard Shaw said “Patriotism is, fundamentally, a conviction that a particular country is the best in the world because you were born in it.”
Dr Habaazooka has been a patriot at a time when the nation has called for many such individuals. He has in the recent past been a counter weight to the constant destabilising negativity against our country and for his organisation, he must be credited for making it relevant again.
It is relevant that Dr Habazooka would almost certainly be in safe territory, if he chose instead to nod in unison with those who choose to oppose gov
It doesn’t matter
Per capita income, foreign investment, agricultural productivity, mobile banking, entrepreneurship, immunisation rates, and school enrollment are all heading upwards.