Cherise, a drip, and patriotism

Fore note: Often I write, "in this country we always arrive where we left", and today I went to my commentary archive to show why. The issues are still the same a decade later.

September 12, 2003

Last week, I attempted to show that the mislaid assertion that I hate Mwanawasa, Nevers Mumba and country is a manifestation of failure of reason. I did not dwell on the question of country as it is the subject I now seek to address.

But first, if I may briefly concern myself with the name on most people’s lips – Cherise.  So Cherise won the “immoral and un-African” big brother Africa reality TV show.  She is a role model, hardworking, and all the baloney many are according her. The government has even honoured her with a diplomatic passport.

The only concern with the baloney is the “African and Zambian values role model” acclaim.  It seems in our contradiction of existence and identity a human that enjoys early morning household chores and cooking is an African woman.  Before we get steeped into the “role model” acclaim, we should seek to understand whether Cherise enjoys early morning chores and cooking simply because she is human or a woman.  If Cherise enjoys the chores and cooking simply because she is human, then I too will acclaim her. But, if the contrary, then surely Cherise can not be a role model in current times, as this merely perpetuates the stereotype thinking that a woman is nothing but a vacuum cleaner and food dispenser!

 Any way, congrats Cherise, even though I still do not know what big brother was all about and why some pastor somewhere decided to petition ZNBC TV. 

This week, a question of an intravenous drip brought to mind the apparent failure of reason in a citizenry’s relationship with the State of Zambia.  Whilst under the blade of a young barber, I learnt that in most clinics patients have to provide gloves, syringes and even drips!  This in a country whose government is a ‘new deal’ was unnerving, and hence intellectual trespass was in order.

When questioned on his political preference, the young man was vehement in asserting his support for the ruling party.  An attempt to show the young man that if the party in government was as good as he argued, he would not have had to buy four sachets of intravenous (IV) fluid for his aging father, elicited failure of reason.

“Ba Mudala, ifya ba MMD fi mapolitikisi, ifya ba bbali fya fipatala.” (Old man, the issue of the MMD is politics; the issue of my father is about hospitals).

In his sentiments, it was clear that our reality and our continued socio-economic and political derangement lies in our inability to bridge the gap between the people we vote for and our daily livelihoods. 

Politics and hospitals are inseparable.

That the health sector is decaying is both politics and because of the obtaining political ineptness. It is irresponsible for the citizenry to show fanatical support for a party that does not seem to alleviate their everyday livelihood constraints. The sooner people like the young barber comprehend this, the better for this country.

The health sector in this country is in a pathetic state. It is not enough to continually trumpet the donor-instigated poverty reduction or corruption lullaby, without due recognition of the immediate plight of Christopher. The average doctor per population ratio in this country is one doctor per 16 000 persons. Provinces like Luapula have one doctor for nearly 145 000 persons! The doctors are out-migrating, and the government is busy issuing in-migration visas to deputy ministers and DAs.

Mind you the country’s health strategic plan affirms that the health sector reforms will “provide Zambians with equity of access..., quality health care…”  The problem with nearly all of this country’s reforms is that the average citizen only sees new vehicles emblazoned “something reform, or something capacity building,” or indeed a continually elongating government.

Consider, the two deputy ministers per ministry. Surely, either the fellows in government are dull or this country’s civil service inertia is so overwhelming that ministries need more elective personnel. Come to think of it, may be it will be prudent if Mwanawasa and Nevers Mumba fired all the civil servants and replaced them with deputy ministers and DAs. No. Fire the deputy ministers and DAs, then may be the young barber will not have to buy a drip for his father!

Sorry for the digression, back to the barber.

The young barber did not have to buy an IV for his father because this country is poor, but, in part, because this country’s leaders are ineffectual, contradictory and not worthy looking up to.  If not, why should the young barber have to buy a drip, and not simply have government fly his father to South Africa like they do their kind?

In addition, this country is poor and will continue being poor because the citizenry is seriously irresponsible. For decades now there has been the misplaced belief that sycophancy, denial of ones’ impoverishment is patriotism. In my travels, I have met Zambians who vehemently admonish me for being categorical in asserting that my country is one of the poorest of the poor. 

We are poor and a pathetic lot, period! The sooner we accept it than burying our sorry heads in the sand like an ostrich the better for ourselves and Christopher. It must always be understood that a wrong or problem can only be solved when it is first identified and accepted.

That one, that accepts the realities of one’s country hates his or her country, or is not patriotic is a misplaced assertion.

Patriotism is responsibility, commitment and dedication to ones country and citizenry.  Patriotism is not loyalty to an individual that today is president or vice-president. After all, that individual may tomorrow be a thief, foolish or mentally deranged, and the one that once asserted misplaced patriotism will be the one that stands up and throws the first stone. 

And by the way, the patriots are arguing that all concerned should attend the great Indaba.  Cabinet office this week issued a statement saying all those that seek to attend, should put it in writing. As the years pass by, I can not cease to believe that these fellows in the current government are on a conspiracy to age me faster than I should. How can I write seeking to attend something I have no idea about?

Are we ever going to do something right in this country? Forget the Indaba, since they do not know what the ‘ndaba’ is.  Why should they be in government, if it has to be you and me to tell them what the ‘ndaba’ is?

When conceived beyond politics, could be Cherise, a drip and patriotism all coalesce to manifest a country where there is a deliberate lack of discourse on linkages between political office and one’s livelihood.

After all, the political landscape is not short of individuals that can articulate linkages between lack of a drip and Mwanawasa’s or Mumba’s inability to provide developmental stewardship. The problem as I see it is that most politicians in this country know too well that they are better placed to parody as saviours only in an environment of ignorance.

Ciao. Do not forget to touch a child today, and please also give an affectionate handshake to a cop.