Migration
Jubilee Centre January 28th, 2008
Migration was the theme in this quarter’s Zambia Institute for Public Policy Analysis newsletter. Articles were written by Zambians in the Diaspora. Chola Mukanga raised an interesting argument when he stated that those who appeal to Zambians in the Diaspora by reminding them to be patriotic or by stigmatizing them for living abroad have limited understanding of the underlying causes of ‘brain drain’ problem. He cited strong positive economic incentives that enable one to provide for his or her family as one key reason for living abroad. The disincentive he cited was political uncertainty.
Gracewell Mwansa and Chisanga Puta-Chekwe both stated that Zambia stands to benefit from fostering a welcoming approach to those nationals outside who want to participate in the country’s development. They stated examples such as remittances from the Zambians in Diaspora which support family needs in Zambia. In addition Mr. Mwansa wrote, “There have been individual investments, the supply of books and computers to needy schools and scholarship for vulnerable school children.”
Families with relatives in the Diaspora and communities in the low-income areas have benefited from these efforts by Zambians abroad that are operating outside the realm of mainstream development structure. But what can Zambians in Diaspora do about the flooding happening in Lusaka, Ndola and Kitwe which is not solely because of heavy rains but it is also because of drainage systems that have been blocked for the last twenty years? What can the Zambian Diaspora do about 120,000 grade seven students who will not continue with education because of flawed education system? What can the Zambian in Diaspora do about “lack of open competition for top government jobs and weak governance?” All the Zambian leaders in Zambia have done is to analyse, scrutinise and talk about these problems at forums at the comforts of Livingstone Sun Hotel, Pamodzi Hotel and at Mululungushi Conference Centre. The Zambian in Zambia is now distressed and together with his children is wallowing in self-pity and grief because the recommendations from such forums are not acted upon. His only hope is remittances from the Zambian in Diaspora. However, the majority of the people have no such family, they are defenseless, hungry, vulnerable and in ruin.
Maybe Zambia needs a leader from the Diaspora. A Jewish story gives me the motivation. Upon hearing that Jerusalem had blocked sanitation system, electric power outage, blocked drainage system, and no clean water, Nehemiah resigned from his lucrative job as assistant for the Persian King. He captured a vision, laid a plan, and mobilized others to join him in his cause. Nehemiah had people labor successfully until they transformed Jerusalem into a safe and prosperous city. Are there Zambians in the Diaspora who are anguished about the state of our nation, or read the book of Nehemiah? Maybe next time you discuss migration you will see a need, stand up, capture the vision, put in place a plan, and mobilize others to join.
Lawrence Temfwe
