When am done fixing my life, I will volunteer to fix Zambia’s – Haabazoka
By Fanny Kalonda
ZAMBIA needs order, the state should not be divorced from the people, says economist Lubinda Haabazoka.
He said Zambia has no order or a plan “all we know is throwing litter anywhere and looting state coffers with impunity.”
Dr Haabazoka said the biggest mistake in Zambia’s history was privatisation.
“When am done fixing my life, I will volunteer to Fix Zambia’s life. My first stop will be to create strong state companies to secure mineral resources so as to create jobs, diversify the economy and develop Zambia. The biggest mistake in Zambia’s history was privatisation. The generation of that time watched cheerfully as they dismantled Zambia’s industrial base sending thousands into destitute and reversing Kaunda’s gains of 27 years!” Dr Haabazoka wrote on his Facebook page. “Ever since everything we have done has been chaotic and instead of creating entrepreneurs we have promoted tenderprenuers that milk the little that the country has! We have really created the notion that a wealthy Zambian is a corrupt one and have really sold out to the revolution carried out by KK and his colleagues! By calling for FDI everyday we encourage the recolonisation of the country economically and demoralise the citizen by denying them access to champion economic development.”
He said people have become jealous and ruthless to each other.
“We have grown into a nation of jealous people, ruthless to each other that we use state institutions to fix each other deviating away from the spirit of humanism that we crafted at independence. We are now a country without order or a plan. All we know is throwing litter anywhere and looting state coffers with impunity. How can the land of Zambia give us back fruits if we don’t nature it? Why should we be so mean to each other? Nowadays I can’t read newspapers. Either we are fighting in them or destroying the essence of One Zambia One Nation! Can someone tell me since 1991, what has been the plan?” Dr Haabazoka asked. “We need to go back and agree how we plan to move forward together as a nation otherwise I honestly don’t know the type of communities we are creating. Communities where there is no love, togetherness and respect! Besides economic development, our society should be built on respect to elders and love for one another. Our social media which is a reflection of society has kids insulting each other daily and scandalising innocent people. This is what the police should bring to order. Otherwise people will start killing each other. We are building chaos in the country. We need discipline otherwise people will start losing lives!”
He added that it is sad to see a nation going to watch a “cooler box when Elon Musk is building robots”.
“Zambia needs order. The state should not be divorced from the people. They should be one. We need to have a plan. A 50-year plan championed not by politicians but by citizens themselves. It’s sad to see a nation that goes to watch a cooler box when Elon Musk is building robots. 60 years after independence and my people have been denied exposure. We now have citizens we call junkies. People are scared moving at night because of this segment of the population. As things become tough the numbers of this particular group will grow and we risk converting into Alexandria, South Africa!” Dr Haabazoka warned. “Today we have educated people at the forefront saying we can’t run the mines! Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines is the best thing to have ever happened to Zambia! We were proud Zambians owning a real Zambia Airways not the one a subsidiary of Ethiopian Airlines! Are we not ashamed as Zambians? What can Lawrence Katilungu say about us today? What would Elijah Mudenda think about us? What about those who fought for independence in the hope that we would have bacon and eggs at breakfast everyday? We have sold out! We need discipline and order in Zambia! Am a sad man.”
Dr. Haabazoka, donot gamourise state enterprises and the Kaunda days. Some of us survived KK’s era. Initially, yes, Zambia was heaven on earth until 1974 when the downward spiral kicked in with oil prices hitting the roof and copper prices dipping. By 1991, Dr. Kaunda’s parasrals were a total mess. Basic commodities like mealie meal, salt, soap, sugar were in short supply. The transport sector was hell.
If State companies are a silver bullet for our economic woes, why is Zesco performing badly? Zamtel is no better. Which parastals are contributing to the national treasury? We don’t have the discipline to allow parastatals to run as independent business entities without political interference. Look at how well CEC runs and yet it is a private Zambian company! We should have more of such. Of course there is room for state participation in the economy but not as the main player.
Easier said than done.
An old relic thinking his soviet education that he has failed to apply in life will work in reality.
Baba focus on telling lies to UNZA students as anything that you seem to tout publicly seems unworth of a person who has a PhD. Palibe critical thought pali imwe baba…pa tali.
A stark contrast from a properly trained Don like ba Sanga Yakula Sanga.
Another PF cadre trying to make himself relevant after being ousted.