2 August 2008
editorial
THIS nation is gifted and well endowed in so many areas of human endeavor and its ability to soar even higher in its achievements infinite.
Sadly though, its undoing has been in its over dependence through the years of donor aid and a cadre of stereo types believing that somebody out there will do the jobs for them, grow food for them and tend for their everyday needs. Luckily a lot has changed in the few years of the Mwanawasa reign.
This trend was more apparent in the earlier days where disregard for public property and sheer I don't care attitude took its toll on infrastructure not only by the shop floor employee, but also at managerial level
You could, however, not take away the resilience of the Zambian people who have over the years, proven that they will stop at nothing to work hard given the right environment and leadership.
It is disheartening today to see our national leaders bemoaning the astronomical prices of agricultural inputs such as fertiliser on the international market and stooping with a begging bowl to donors, no fault of their own, when once not so long ago, we were held in awe by neighbours near and yonder at the billowing chimneys of industry.
With institutions such as the faltering Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia, this nation should have stabilised the fertiliser industry, which like it or not formed the backbone of agriculture, the mainstay of the economy through this cheaper home grown source of the commodity.
The trickle down effect of these cheaper prices would have been un measured and a sure benefit to the local peasant farmer ultimately ensuring sustainable food security.
Yet today the nation is found in the unfortunate predicament of unfair competition of food and fertiliser prices on the world market whose continuing soaring prices seem unceasing.
However, today, Vice- President Rupiah Banda has the not too pleasant and unavoidable responsibility to swallow his pride for the sake of the greater nation and seek assistance from those with plenty.
In the same vain, the nation can still look back and learn from its mistakes and forge ahead to correct its pitfalls.
Zambia does not have to suffer the unrealistic world fertiliser and food prices because in our midst, there are moribund institutions like the NCZ, which can still be revived much to the benefit of its people.
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