The Cross Over

Quite surprising how today we are just five days to 2022. It feels like yesterday when our ship first docked in January for a period that seemed like three months, yet here we are. Indeed the wings of time are getting sturdier moment by moment. This has been quite a year. Yet again pain visited us in its own subtle way; myriads of loved ones we lost to Covid-19 and other predicaments. More painful was a number of young people, full of potential and in many ways better than us, who went before us. A true call for gratitude in our hearts must exist in us today. The review of the year cannot only focus on pain because that is not the only aspect it gave us, the year also sprinkled us with joy; you all have your personal victories, our boys made it to the English Premier league, another scored against Madrid and 12th August had the majority of the nation celebrating.

We are again at the point where our drafts are full of resolutions for the new year. While I do not believe in waiting for a new year to present efforts to be better, anyone who sees the need to do/become better deserves respect. Reflecting on this year, I first of all wish to acknowledge all the efforts you all have made to improve yourselves. I do not know them, but you know best. You wrestled demons, climbed mountains, swarm in danger and here you are standing at the mountain top with a sword in your right hand and the head of your opponent in your left. Surely will you not not stop putting pressure on yourself and tap yourself on your shoulder? Secondly, to those that are going ahead with resolutions, by all means. As you cook them though, allow me to throw in a few ingredients.

I believe that the best aesthetic you can add or enhance in yourself is kindness. We must be mindful of how we treat other human beings. I believe that the real measure of a man must be character and the starting point of character is how we treat others. As you think about becoming better, think about increasing your emotional intelligence. How we treat others will speak volumes about us than the personal perceptions of ourselves we preach. Our speech and actions towards others must reflect how we would love to be treated. I say sometimes that even after your demise, someone could remember the hurt your tongue inflicted on them. We therefore must be mindful of our behavior when relating with others.

You may resolve to attain a certain level of success and a key aspect in meeting your goal will be discipline. Discipline is crucial to our growth. I have this perspective that a lot of people that succeeded at something may actually not be better than those that couldn’t at the same thing. What set them apart was discipline. You must know when to stop and when to continue. You should never go with the wind, but you should be able to stand by a few personal principals. You must learn to have control of yourself. Lack of discipline limits your ability and capacity to stay on course. Whether you want to improve your grades, your self esteem, your relationship with your partner, your religious life or anything that may be your goal, you will need to teach yourself to follow personal rules.

On your journey of personal development, your self-esteem will be your impetus to attain more. I encourage people to read less of novels and more of personal development themed books including those that induce leadership. Surround yourself with kind , goal oriented and inspirational people. Ensure that you feed your mind with content that makes you believe that you are everything and can do anything. Remember that your mind is your greatest weapon, it is your compass, it is your healing and it is your growth. Therefore, make sure you nurture your mind to develop a mentality that is elite, you cannot afford not to be a god. What you listen to, what you watch, who your surround yourself with will shape your mentality. Strengthen your mentality and realise that you are a Queen and a King. Sometimes people get away with treating us undeservingly because we may not realise who we are. Let that power sprout in you to take nothing less than you deserve. Soon as you develop a great mentality, how people relate with you will change. Do not do it for the people though, but do it to expand your belief that there exists no limits to what you can achieve and to emancipate yourself.

As I conclude this blog post, I wish to encourage you all to have a heart of gratitude. There is always something to be thankful for. Recognise anyone who helped you, added value to your existence and inspired you. It doesn’t matter if you are at loggerheads with them, always remember the people that were there for you. In the same vein, cut of toxic people- just do not do it because it is a new year and new you. Anyone that costs your peace must never be tolerated. Let us free ourselves from human beings who deprive us of happiness. I wish this for you now and in the coming years. I do hope that one or two aspects I shared could be helpful and applicable in your life. God bless you all and wish you a great 2022- happy cross over.

FRA needs to limit interference in markets

Maize is a crop of national importance in Zambia. It is a crucial indicator of food security and influences inflation. It is the most cultivated crop and therefore the most produced as the national food balance sheets record and easily visible anyway. It is the source of income for over two thirds of the population. Maize cultivation is encouraged by the government through the Farmer Input Support Program which is now complimented by the E-voucher.

The crop forecast survey for the 2019/2020 agricultural season reveals that maize production is forecast to increase to 3,387,469 metric tonnes from 2,004,389 metric tonnes produced in the last agricultural season reflecting an impressive increase of 69 percent. As seen in the crop forecasting survey for the 2018/2019 season, small scale holder farmers produce over 90 percent of maize in Zambia, therefore this is commendable to the 2 million plus small-scale holder farmers who do not all have access to subsidies and input support.

Normally there is procured between 300 000 and 500 00 metric tonnes, but in his address on the crop forecast survey for the 2019/2020 agricultural season, the Minister of Agriculture announced that FRA would procure 1 000 000 000 metric tonnes for strategic food reserves. This easily seems appealing in that farmers have difficulties accessing markets, but from another perspective, this has potential implications on market systems. Private sector participation could be influenced.

Further, FRA has set a price on maize of K110 per 50Kg bag. Considering prices of fertiliser alone in 2018 these prices may not be cost reflective and small-scale holder farmers stand to face the brunt of revenue loss. Poor prices let alone late payments which are a huge possibility due to a huge focus on debt repayments may have a bearing on the livelihoods of poor farmers given the present inflation rates. This will potentially impede agricultural led growth.

In light of the export ban, Zambia will lose out on much needed forex earning during a time of this poor exchange rate performance, inflation, debt distress, coupled with Covid-19 limitations. Further, this will limit the private sector’s capacity to take advantage of the markets in Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Congo DRC. According to the Indaba Agriculture Policy Research (IAPRI) Zambia lost USD 270 million due to export bans in the 2016/2017 agricultural season.

Notwithstanding the food security rationale, government needs to limit its interference in markets. According to Chilundika and Mulungu’s study in 2016, while FRA’s interventions have been based on welfare concerns, they are regressive and harm a large proportion of rural households.

This year, small-scale holder farmers need to benefit sufficiently in income terms considering this bumper harvest while any irregularities in maize marketing must be closely monitored. This will contribute to poverty alleviation as well as encourage agricultural led development. Government needs to revise its position in the procurement of 1 000 000 000 metric tonnes for strategic reserves as this may potentially disrupt markets. The export ban will cost Zambia substantial forex earnings and hurt the private sector engagements in agriculture and hence this current policy intervention must be revised.

Dear Zambian Youth

 

Dear ZW,

Compliments of the season. I hope this letter finds you in great health and …*laughter*. When was the last time you wrote or received a letter? Oh that’s right, you probably don’t remember and if you do, it’s ages ago. Boarding school people of 2010 and earlier should really relate. Hillcrest, Ibenga, Lwitikila, Fatima, Banani, Ndola Technical, St Mary’s, St Paul’s ,Simba, Njase, Lwengu, Kasisi, are we here? Remember the thrill of receiving a letter, especially from your boyfriend or girlfriend? The excitement it brought when you would make yourself comfortable just to read those words. Do not get me wrong, I do appreciate the modern days of instant messaging, but you will agree how special receiving a letter made us feel. The 2000s really missed out. 🙂

Anyway, I decided to do a letter for every Zambian youth. Ironically, it’s not in a sealed envelope to be delivered to your doorstep by Zambia Postal Services, it’s hosted on a blog site, to be delivered to your phone. At this point I realise that even if this post went viral, I wouldn’t reach many other youths because they have no access to the internet, let alone a smart phone. So my friend, count yourself to be blessed.

My friend, I understand reading is boring, but just stick a little longer and if you may, please share this link to the next youth. I will really appreciate. I just have a few points to share with you and I’m done.

I always say there is so much history to be made in Zambia by us the youths because a number of ventures remain untapped and a lot of irregularities like inequality, corruption, intolerance, etc are yet to be rectified. In short there is a lot of fields with empty tittle slots for first Zambian because, well as you understand the proverbial, we are backward in myriads of areas.

For example, the Zambian sound is yet to be sold to the world.  Young musicians have a better chance to be the next Wizkid in the near future because a number of factors are changing to their favor with time and also because they are creative. We are yet to see a National Team that will qualify for the world cup, let alone win it. We are yet to see Zambians making a break through in Scientific and economic research. We are yet to see  Zambians building Multinational Corporations and covered on Forbes.

We are yet to see a Zambia where eating healthy, efficient transportation, dressing well, efficient and affordable health care and WiFi will not be a privilege, but a right at least for the majority.  

I am convinced that if there is any real and long term change to be made, be it social, economical or political, it will be instigated by you. You and I are a generation of potential. We are hopefuls, dreamers. We see a lot of things differently, we have better solutions to problems, we are more sophisticated, more exposed and most important to note, we have grown in the errors our parents have made in our nation  and so our hearts scream change and therefore we badly want to become it. We are going to make great leaders as men and women.

The Zambian youth of today have powerful ideas, they are exposed, they are very tolerant, they do not see tribe, they believe in women empowerment, they care about the future and, they appreciate the arts, they are creators. We have people with interests in Science, Economics, Engineering, Medicine, Politics, Photography, Music, Modelling & Fashion, Developers, people with T.v shows on YouTube. They will create great things and they will make great leaders in the future. It’s all evident in some recent occurrences. The football level exhibited by the under 20 football team is something new, the work of the current Kitwe Mayor, activism of people like Brian Bweembya (B-Flow), the applicants for the EMpower 100 and many more underground creatives and young Zambian leaders around the world who never see the light of publicity.

Dear friend, to be a part of this history creation will not be accidental. You have to start now, with the first thing being the change in mindset. To prevent Cholera, you first need to clean your environment. Similarly, you need to rid your mind off thoughts that impede evolution.  You will need to eliminate negativity, be kind,and most of all to be able to see yourself as a person of value.

When you realise your self-worth, you will never allow anyone to take advantage of you and you will never allow yourself to settle for less.

Today we need to realise as Zambian youths that we have a future to lead. You owe it to the motherland to contribute something that will allow for the growth of our country. Where our country will stand tomorrow is highly dependent on how much we evolve today.

However, it breaks my heart to see youths indulge in activities of self destruction.  Youths studying abroad  are forgetting their purpose there and screwing up great opportunities that took enormous parental sacrifice. In the country, youths have found alcohol to be a great sport and are wasting time by involving themselves in illicit activities with unemployment being their favorite scapegoat. It is time we looked less to the government and made things happen on our own. A lot of success stories came from unemployment. It is all about trying.

If you will have to sale charcoal to support yourself, do it. Do not be ashamed of anyone. Yes you will say, ”Aquila, you want to make it sound easy”. Of course, mate nothing is easy. The world is hard,  but with a positive mind and resilience, you are unstopable. Kindly look up mother to son by Langston Hughes.

Learn to save, learn to invest, do not waste money to impress anyone. The most important person is yourself, my friend. Nothing matters more than your happiness. Be patient for your time, do not let Instagram posts put you in unnecessary  pressure, people just show you what they want you to see. We are all taking Ls. Be humble, learn to love, give more and take less. Read more and Spend less time debating whether or not Modric deserved the Ballon D’or, or if your crush will like you back . Begin to transform yourself into a valuable human being who will contribute greatness on our quest to see a developed Zambia.

I am a firm believer in ”nothing is impossible”. As we go into the new year, I wish you financial break through and your dreams transformed into existence and mostly your happiness. Let us be the better politicians, parents, clergy, and generally citizens we hope to see. Leave toxic associations and habits and see your level elevated.

Yours faithfully,
Aquila Ng’onga
Fellow Youth

 

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Thankful to all the youths  below for accompanying this post and making it beautiful and many thanks to the beautiful Bwalya Mapesa for being the article cover model. You can follow her on instagram by clicking here and her blog site by clicking here

1. Kabwe Mponda ”Life unfolds wherever you are, and now you’re here. Live and make the most of every opportunity”

2. Natasha Ng’onga. ‘‘Do something today, that your future self will thank you for”.

3.  Samuel Chibwe “Always be at your best in all that you do and keep the same energy, because what you give out is what you get back from this world more often than not”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Dalitso

5. Jane Mvula ‘”We should work hard, start our businesses we shouldn’t depend on the government and other people, let’s not wait to be employed we have to utilize the little knowledge we have to develop our country. Imiti ikula empanga”

6. Sandie Mulungushi Dreams do come true, you can win if you want to.

7. Abednego Chiyesu ”The moment we keep looking behind is the moment we continue remaining behind”

8. Nicoletta Katulwende ( Journalism and communication Student) ”Tomorrow is never certain.. so Carpe diem (seize the day)”

9.  James Miller

10. Bwalya Mapese “If you want to see change start with yourself and don’t let your current circumstances dictate or define you because even they change.”

11.  Tyson ”What ever you can do ,do it with excellence ”

12. Tsion “trust yourself, you know more than you think you do”

13. Simwenya Simwaka (IT officer) ”Always stay positive and work hard while at it, it’s starts in the mind”

14. Desbourne

15. Sarah Agape Phiri ”Be negative about Negativity”

16. Joel Mfune The youths need to reanimate their unleashed potential into a productive one.

17. Bwalya

18. Emmanuel Simusokwe ”we need to put in much in our Education for it is an investment in knowledge that pays off”

Thembi: Your favorite Zambian Make Up artist

AquilaSpeaks: Kindly introduce yourself to the people.
Thembi: I Am Abigail Thembiso Moyo aged 25, a pharmacy technologist by profession and a part time makeup artist.
AquilaSpeaks: How did you find yourself on this journey?

Thembi: Being artistic has always been a hobby from childhood, growing up I would express how I felt about a particular situation through drawing, painting and design. As I got older I developed interest in being a stage makeup artist for SFX makeup but due to lack of materials, I decided to focus on beauty makeup.

AquilaSpeaks: How has the journey been so far?

Thembi: Its been quite an interesting and amazing learning Journey being a self-taught makeup artist in Zambia. It has given me an opportunity to work and interact with different people within and out of Zambia.
AquilaSpeaks: Any Notable people you have worked with?

Thembi: I have worked with one of Zambia’s talented Photographers Davies Tony Marko, owner and founder of Tony Media, I have also worked with Zambian female dance hall musician based in Germany, Cassy Nyemba on her recent project ,I have worked with a few Zambian Models Christina, Mulenga Chileshe and Natasha Mapulanga. I’m yet to work with Wayaya Fashions on one of their big fashion shows coming up in March 2018.

AquilaSpeaks: Do you offer makeup Tutorials?

Thembi:Yes I do but it’s been a bit hectic because of my full time Job.

AquilaSpeaks:Small tutorial in a Paragraph?

Thembi:How to do a perfect brow. Clean and shape your brows by either threading, using tweezers or a blade. After shaping brush your eyebrows with a small makeup brush.
Use a brow pencil, gel liner (wax) in colour black or brown to define your eyebrows. If you are using gel liner(wax), you will need a small angle brush to define your brows especially in areas you don’t have enough hair, you can do the same with the pencil. When this is done, use concealer and a concealer brush to clean below and above your brows order to give it a clean finish look.

AquilaSpeaks: How appreciated is this craft in the entertainment industry?

Thembi: The makeup industry in Zambia has actually empowered local Zambian women because it’s a skill that has provided a source of income to Zambian women. Makeup artist are being hired for music videos, TV shows for the presenter’s makeup and fashion shows.

AquilaSpeaks: Which makeup brand would you recommend?

Thembi: I would recommend the following brands for face foundation, Maybelline fit me, wet n wild, loreal, mac, Estée lauder,nars, gosh.
Makeup palates morphe by Jacklyn hill, juvia palates, Nyx, ABH, Colour pop

AquilaSpeaks: Are you dating anyone?

Thembi: NO, currently single

AquilaSpeaks: Any words to female Zambians?

Thembi: Never look down on yourself you can be anything you choose to be the choice is yours. Get educated, always be innovative, be an entrepreneur and help other women get to the top.

There you have it everyone. Great to see a woman doing good. If you want to contact Thembi for anything, you can simply click, here. Thank you for your time, Thembi.

Look out for the next interview dropping next Monday. You never know who is next. 😎

SONG REVIEW: MIXXY’S PA EASY ft AFUNIKA

Micaiah Ng’onga ‘Mixxy‘ is a third year Survey major student at the Copperbelt University. He is one of the Zambian upcoming artists on fire. He  has  done  a  couple of  other  songs  that  have  received  airplay on  some radio stations  and  clubs in  Lusaka. He has worked with Royal Prince and Mari fro­m  Cabin records. On  this  new  jam, he  features the king of New Version of Kalindula, Afunika.

Pa easy is a song that reminds us of how speed kills. Mixxy is advising us to take it easy because the consequences of speed is crushing.

The  proverbial being that  ‘life  ain’t  no  crystal stair‘ limits the shocks of  the  results  of  shortcuts taken  to succeed. Many people  take  shortcuts to  improve  their  lives  or  decide  to  create   a  dangerous or risky definition of  pleasure.

These  days  young  girls and boys tend  to  become  regular club partakers  which  is  really cool if  they  think  about  it, but  the  thing  is  they  have  yet  to  go  to  university,  but they  are  exposing  themselves  to wrong  people and  creating  a  wrong  impression as  they  become  alcoholics at  a  tender  age. They  begin  to engage  in  adult  activities and  as  Afunika sings in  the  chorus, Ichalo ichi Chilalya  (The  world eats), a bemba saying symbolic of   death. There is HIV and other consequences through such behavior which again results to death. Mixxy urges young youths to wake up and take  it  easy because everything  has  it’s  own  time.

To terminate suffering or because of  envy of people acquiring possession, people  seek  shortcuts to  get  money  or  get  rich. People  tend   to  take  part  in  illegal activities like  corruption and  theft. Eventually the  crimes  catch up  with you and  you  are  put  behind bars. Before this  happens to  you, Mixxy reminds  you  to  take  it  easy.

There  are  plenty  other  situations or  examples where  we  can’t  take  it  easy  and   so   whenever  we  try  to rush let  us  be  able to  think  of  the  consequences and  eventually refrain from  such an  action.

You  can  have  a  listen/download of  PA  EASY HERE. Please  remember to support MIXXY and share. You  can  also drop your  views of  the  song  in  the  comment box  below.

A Family Hustle: The Second Generation (EPISODE 4)

EPISODE FOUR (APRIL)

6 YEARS LATER…

CLAIRE

Mathematically, it could be precise to say that the innocence with which we are born is a decreasing function with time. Experiences we encounter allow us to change in ways diverse. The rapidness with which our innocence disappears may depend greatly on how vulnerable we may get. With GrandMa Mary’s lost battle to cancer, Claire Hamooya had grown to be vulnerable.

She was now under the care of her uncle. He had taken good care of her all this while until after she was 15 when he had started acting weird towards her. She clearly remembered his betrayal of her last year, everyday.She remembered how when she had come back from school had only found her uncle home. Normally he was always at work at 2pm during week days, but that Wednesday was an exception.

He had called her to his bedroom asking her to bring him water, but that was a trick. No sooner had she entered his room than he had shut the door and pounced on her like a lion on an unsuspecting gazelle.

Her cheeks burned with the hot ocean that poured  from her eyes every time her mind fed her with the memory. At her age, she was so unprepared for such a predicament, not that she had to be. She was forced to contemplate suicide, she was looking for a way to escape the evil world.

The hardest thing of it all was she knew the truth would set her free, but how would she open up to a world that would become even more complicated after. Her uncle’s wife would never shut up about how much she thought her husband loved her. How would the woman react if Claire told her about the cold blooded defiler, the full time devil?  She knew her Aunt would never believe her and probably kick her out. Claire was forced to analyse all these things. At her age, girls normally have to worry about less petty issues,but at her age she was forced to be a woman. She remembered her uncle’s threats.

“If you tell anyone, I will kill you” he had told her.

She could tell her father, but her beloved dad was too sick and weak to be handling such  cases and she never thought her brothers would be the best avengers.

She forgot to pray, not that she couldn’t. She had questioned her beliefs. Where was the God her grandmother always told her would always be there? Why had he allowed her to suffer? Was she too cursed that her birth caused her mother’s death?

Her teachers were worried as her grades were poor of late. They had called her guardians for a meeting due to the rising concerns. Her uncle was the first to give a reason as to why it was this way.

“I think she may be missing her grandmother”. the devil had said. “She will be okay, won’t you Claire?” he added with a smile.

The hypocrisy of her Uncle tore her heart apart. She could never get used to his disgusting behavior. She had been thinking about poisoning his food, but her plans were just limited to her thoughts. She knew sooner or later, she had to do something about it, but the question still remained, “how”?

A Family Hustle: The Second Generation (EPISODE 3)

EPISODE THREE (MARCH)

It is often said that God hears the cry and sees the tears of a woman.  Mostly, this is never apparent to a man at the peak of his ‘cheating game’. There however, comes a point when life ceases to be a crystal stair for the man and when he finally tries to connect the dots realizes he cooked his own problems. This is the point Michael Hamooya had reached. He had the slightest idea that two weeks after his daughter’s birthday, he would be standing before a judge slapped with another corruption Charge. He now strongly believed everything would be different now had he only stuck by Claire.

He had now realized there was no more hope for his release. He realized he had been played. A deal gone wrong had landed him in this mess and his former organization was not letting him get away that easily. This case needed not be adjourned, the judge proved him guilty again.

This moment sung with so much sorrow that for once Gary put aside his hatred for his father as his eyes watered. Grandma Mary was in tears too as she held Claire tightly. Peter remembered the days that followed his mother’s passing, he could never get used to losing parents. For a moment, the court room felt much like a grave yard to them all. They felt like they were saying good bye to Michael forever.

                               BACK AT GRANDMA MARY’S HOUSE

Devoid of the appetite to eat, the grandmother and her grand children sat in the living room. They talked about their favorite moments with Mike while Gary was quiet for the most part of it.

“I know you have heard so many stories about your Father from other people, but there is a lot of things you do not know about my son”, Grandma Mary suddenly Said

She told them how Mike was actually her favorite child. She told them how he was the only one who proved responsible in supporting the extended family and how much he loved their mother.

“I don’t think he loved mum, if he really did, he couldn’t be away when she needed him the most”, Gary quickly shot in indignation.

“Gary, your father can never rewrite his wrongs, but you know he has learned enough lessons, you also have learned something from this and it should make you a better man in future, by not making your father’s mistakes” Mary said patiently.

“I think we should pray for dad, Grandma” Peter said after listening to Grandma and Gary for a while.

“Indeed Peter”, she smiled at him.

Grandma Mary always smiled to make her grand children feel better, but deep down she knew she that she was cracking down. She wondered if her grand children would be well taken care of once she died. She worried and she really did about little Claire. They had grown so fond of each other over the years. She had no answers to her worries so she simply put them in prayers.

“Dear Lord, we come to you”, she began to pray.

TBC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A VIVA MOMENT

Before I developed the interest of studying abroad, I always wanted to study at the University of Zambia. I guess I really loved the thought of moving to Lusaka and also because my coolest cousin went there. I really had this utopian view of the institution.

So after I completed Grade school, I applied and was accepted to begin my freshman year in 2012, but I did not go as I had to do A. Level. After A. Level, I wasn’t going abroad as planned so I had to go back to the institution I abandoned.
With no enthusiasm, me and my cousin got on a bus to Chelston to begin my registration. To be clear, I was the one devoid of enthusiasm. When we got off, I wasn’t going over the bridge. You see because of my fear of heights, it took me almost three months to cross Great East road on the bridge. It had to take female coaxing to get some inspiration when I finally used the Bridge.Thanks  Beauty, wherever you are. Lol

It wasn’t long before the registration process began to agitate me. Nothing pisses me off more than slow processes, slow people, slow cars, and yes slow internet (which also can dictate my mood) and so when I joined a really long train of a queue with tortoise speed just to do my medicals, I knew I was going to learn patience the hard way.

It was really cool though, seeing senior students ready to help out in the registration. I learnt later that it was only a campaign strategy for students wishing to be members of UNZASU, but I could care less as long as I got the needed assistance right? I realize now that I have never taken that many passport sized photos in my life than I did at UNZA.

A few weeks later,I finally got a room at the Vet Hostels and in a week my Laptop was stolen. I thought orientation was done until this loser stole from me. It was such a horrible morning when I woke up, I was beginning to hate the school. I don’t think I will forget that morning.

Thanks to the academics, the school remained interesting. I never missed lectures. Ironically, we all enjoyed Dr Chigunta’s cockiness and because of some of his comments and statements, development Studies was never a dull moment at all. I will say Dr Lemba’s class was a bit boring, but I soon grasped the theory and realized how eminent the course was. Answering a question in LT1 that only you had the answer to was a special feeling in Dr Lemba’s class. He could always ask what your name was and glady I had my moment too .

Of course, I enjoyed Economics with Mr. Banda. If you are so good at following instructions, you would never have a problem with the man. I forget the name of the Indian woman that lectured me in math, but all I remember is she was too fast, and thankfully as I had done A. level, her speed matched my timing.

At this point, you may be wondering if all I have said has anything to do with a Viva, but forgive me for telling a story you are enjoying so far. 🙂
I planned to be UNZASU president in my third year. One of my plans was to eradicate Vivas and still get results. Now, I know most of you love Vivas and are wondering what kind of leader would not want to go to war, but not everyone is keen on that and I believe in change. I seriously hated riots. Further, I wasn’t on BC so I could literally be fighting for nothing.

I think the first attempt came one day when I was leaving LT1. Simple colonel or so they called him and his team had something scribbled on paper and were trying to entice other students into a protest. I later went to the Library were they also came through. All I heard were drums being beaten shortly followed by a sort of alarm I was hearing for the first time. I realized it meant we vacated the Library as everyone else was leaving. Orientation takes a long time yeah?

Later in the evening, I escorted a friend back to her boarding house and for the first time, I saw students throwing stones in the great east road almost causing what could have been a fatal accident given the average speed cars move by in that road. I was so happy that Viva wasn’t going to happen that day.
One evening, must have been a friday i think, we had an extra or make up class for ECN 1225. Mr Banda began to speak on the phone and then told us Ruins had just been peppered with tear gas. He quickly left the class as we all followed suit to wherever we thought was safe.

I quickly rushed back to my room. The hostels were safe for most of the hours, but the Viva was getting intense as our view of new res presented us a burning female hostel. Apparently, the fire had been caused by a canister that was shot by the cops and the fire was slowly spreading. I don’t know if that hostel has now been fully rehabilitated as i left people working on it.

The viva kept degenerating as  now I could see the blue land cruiser with a light on top. I was left in my room with my room mate’s girl friend. After a few hours of the cops not reaching the vet hostels, they finally showed up and two rooms away i could hear the cops fighting their way into a room that some students had run into. I quickly switched off the light, told my friend’s girl to get under his bed and I got under mine. No sooner had we done this, than I debuted in the world of tear gas. I was rubbing my face with my wet towel, ferociously. A bucket of water was my well. I have never been so nervous in my life. I was so scared i could be another innocent statistic. I had heard of stories of how brutal the police would be with anyone who seemed to be a student during these critical times.Thankfully, the heavy boots and Nyanja could not be heard outside any more. The cops were gone. I had survived a viva moment.

I really do miss the campus but for the vivas, I hope it can be reopened soon enough for all the students to progress in time. I would really love to see education run as smooth as possible in Zambian universities, it is not every decade that we need riots.

Thanks for reading and leave a comment to share your own Viva moment if you went to UNZA, CBU or any other rioting university.
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A FAMILY HUSTLE: THE SECOND GENERATION (E2)

EPISODE TWO (FEBRUARY)
On her ninth birthday, Claire had wished her dad could be present on her tenth. She had grown so fond of him. A father daughter relationship that grew stronger during the prison visits. She saw him past the court’s conviction. She saw her father and She loved him.

It was as though her grandma had been in her mind, eavesdropping, because she had been working in line with Claire’s wish. She had been arranging for Mike to attend his little girl’s party.

The funny thing of it all was it seemed Mike was the first rich man justice had happened to. Initially, his lawyers thought they could pull it off, but when more than three quarters of his property had been seized by the state, they knew a politically motivated case was far from being won.

Peter and Gary, the oldest of the three had come through from Chingola and Kitwe respectively. Every one little Claire loved was here except her dad and of course her beloved mother her eyes had never set on.

“Now put on that smile birthday girl. Who frowns on their day? ”, her grandma Mary said, knowing the little girl just wanted to see her father.
Mike should have been here at 2pm, but it was now a quarter past 3. She cursed them so hard in her heart, but then instantly remembered Pastor Ben’s Patience is holy sermon.

It was almost 4 when Mike showed up at the gate with two casually dressed cops beside him. The cops had insisted to attend the party as part of the arrangement-a party of a little girl they barely knew. Anything for the love of food could be anyone’s guess. However, Mary could care less, her son was home.
“Daddy”, little Claire screamed while running with open arms to her father.

“Hello Princess, nice party you have going on here, come here, I got you something”, Mike smiled.

“Missed you dad”, Peter embraced his dad.

“Wow, you grow bigger every time I see you, I wonder what kind of food your aunt is feeding you on the copper belt”  Mike said with a chuckle then suddenly with a worried face added , “Where is your older brother?”

As though programmed, they turned to look at Gary in unison who in turn looked back at his father with a furious face and walked away.

“Come here princess, let me show you something” he smiled at Claire

He gave her his wife’s silver necklace.
“This is for you princess, your mother would be so proud of you, Happy birthday, Daddy loves you”

As she ran to her friends to show off her new gift, Mike wished his wife was here, he wished everything was normal. His heart burned, but he wasn’t going to let melancholy prevail, today was his little girl’s day.

The party had been going well so far, except of course the funny questions and stares some of his relatives tossed him and a growing fear that his son may have been turned against him by his wife’s sister. He had also noticed another thing wrong with Gary; he had a scar on his lower lip as though it was sliced by a knife. He knew his son had been fighting and possibly drinking. He never thought Lusaka would look this different.

“Okay, everyone gather around”, shouted Grandma Mary

This time Claire wished her dad would be released as she blew over her cake.

“She keeps transforming into her mother by the years”, grandma Mary said as she and Max watched her

“It’s magical”, he said with a smile. “Listen mum, I am very grateful for what you have been doing for my daughter, I..”

“Son, they told me they may be releasing you in a year and a half depending on the Judge’s decision and I want you to come and be there for your children. I am dying, Michael. This cancer doesn’t seem to leave. I am good for a year plus according to the doctor, but I may go. I want you to inherit my house and build a home again with your children|”

“But,.. but,, why did you not tell me all this time mum? Why?”, he said with watery eyes.

“You have enough problems as it is, Michael so I want you to be strong. Gary has been a problem. Esther told me he has joined the Jerahbos. He’s barely 16 and it will be you to shape him when you get released. You have more problems than to worry about me.”

Michael had never felt this vulnerable. His mother was dying, his son was a mess, and he was still in prison. Maybe melancholy would prevail after all. He wished his day would not have to end this way as the cops drove him back to the prison.
TBC

A Family Hustle: The Second Generation

EPISODE ONE (JANUARY)

The vast room glowed red as though the air had been vaporised by the color. The air was fragrant with a sweet smelling French scent. There was no sense lacking stimulation as the music was a perfect match for the environment and once you saw the host, there was no escaping this lovely prison. As she made her last pole move, Michael knew from where he sat on the bed, like a little child hooked to telly, that he was about to go on a mind blowing trip. He always loved this part of his South African Business trips and she always knew how to take care of him.

Like a beautiful snake she slowly began to make advances towards him. His heart beat excitedly as he expected her. She always managed to make it seem like a new experience. As she was about to strike him with her skill, his phone blew into a ringtone. There was no avoiding this call and not even this naked buxom could stop him from doing so.

“How is she doing, doctor?” He asked the doctor in panic.

“Mr Hamooya, you need to relax. I cannot tell now for sure, but I am doing the best I can”, Doctor Phiri responded calmly.

Everything happened so quickly after the call. He was lucky Mashaba’s private Jet was available to get him into the country on time. His wife was in labor for their third child and it was unusually a complication. She had called him in the morning telling him she wasn’t feeling too well, but he just had plans for Lydia that afternoon after the meeting. For the second time since his cheating episodes, he felt sorry for his wife. The first was when he had done it the first time, he wished he had just apologized then and maybe he wouldn’t have gone far in this way. The guilt was burning his soul, but he was just happy to have made it on time.

After what seemed like two hours, Dr Phiri reappeared in the room and Michael immediately shot up.

“Mike, I’m sorry” He said.

Michael felt a huge pain in his heart like somebody was firing electric shots to his heart. He looked at his two sons and a sudden realization hit him that he had failed both as a husband and a father. Depression was slowly creeping in. The surviving baby had her mother’s eyes and nose. He looked the innocent baby in her eyes and called her Claire.

Never had he pictured Claire’s name on a grave stone. His wife was gone and he blamed no one else but himself for this. He had questions whose answers bred excruciating pain in his heart. Who was going to take care of his kids like she did? What was he to say to Peter who now was on a daily routine of questions about his mother’s whereabouts?

“Dad where is mum? Little peter asked inquisitively.

“Peter, mum is in heaven” he answered softly.

“Dad, can you please take me to heaven, I want to see mum” Peter shot again.

Usually people ask what they had done to deserve a predicament, but that was going to lack in Michael. His wife’s relatives had insisted on taking custody of the children and he saw himself in no position to disagree.

Michael felt his guilt outweighed the lessons life was handling him and when he was summoned by the Anti- Corruption commission presenting him office fund embezzlement charges, he had no time to feel sorry for himself. He knew he was going away for a very long time, he knew he had no time to seek redemption because he knew he didn’t deserve it. He knew this was his end, but deep down he knew it wasn’t because his children were still out there.
TBC