The K900 Billion Question
Jubilee Centre January 22nd, 2008
Do our public officials care about the pain, suffering and hopelessness being faced by our people living in poverty especially those in rural areas? The Minister of Education recently informed the nation that 120, 000 children who sat for grade seven examinations did not make it to grade eight. However, he did not tell us what will happen to all these children whose age average is 13 years and are now out of school. About 58% of our nation’s population lives in rural areas. Here again the government has not propped up the rural education by providing infrastructures and resources as it is doing in urban centres. In addition, the major source of livelihood in rural areas is agriculture; however the government continues to face great challenges in providing road infrastructures.
The context becomes perplexing when you hear the public officials expressing happiness that K900 billion has been returned to the treasury because it was laying idle in the banks. Why should those entrusted to improve the lives of these 120, 000 children, the 58% rural population, the orphans and those needing health care let so much money to be returned to the treasury? In the absence of an explanation from the Government and our elected officials on why these funds were not used we are left to speculate. Our rationale suggest that the people given responsibility to reduce poverty are either ignorant of the hopelessness of our millions of Zambians living in poverty, or are greedy and selfish or lack skill.
In Matthew 25:14
ff Jesus illustrates to us in a parable that leaders are responsible to use well the task and resources given to them. In this parable we see a man who was either lazy or had hatred for his master. This man knew that his master wanted a return for his investment. Yet when he went to his master he said, “I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground.” The master responded to him, “You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest … You should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. (Vv. 24-27)
The public officials are our servants. The masters are 120, 000 children who did not make it to grade seven; the 58% rural people who have no good road infrastructures; the Zambian suppliers to Kansanshi mines who recently had contracts terminated; the sick who can’t afford medication; etc. Our servants-the public officials are tasked with the responsibility of using their skills to ‘harvest’ and ‘gather’ more school places for our children, facilitate for infrastructures for our rural people and ensure that there is adequate health facilities and medication for all sick people. Unless, public officials come to know the reality that we are the masters and that they are our servants millions of our people will not be availed opportunities to realise their full potential.
In Scripture God calls those who know him to fairness and social responsibility toward the poor. God insists that the poor and the powerless be well treated and given the chance to restore their fortunes. Christians should reflect God’s concern for the poor by helping them have a voice on issues that concern them. Indeed we cannot be saved by deeds of service and the poor will not be saved because they are poor. However, our faith lacks sincerity if does not reach out to those who are oppressed and if it does not challenge those who cause injustice. The church must be pro-actively present a prophetic vision of society in which the welfare of all people is equally important.
The churches’ understanding of our witness in and to the world demands that we lend our voice to those who are weak, and transform public attitudes and policies so that all people are availed equal opportunities. If we do not do this as a church, then the nation will be led by people who let K900 billion lie idle in the ground.
Lawrence Temfwe
