ZAMBIA THE BEAUTIFUL

Welcome to Zambia, the real Africa. You have traveled this far to Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia. You are now at Lusaka International Airport, a moderate, clean and friendly reception. Zambia is known for beautiful smiling faces, people who are truly lovely. The nation has kept a long honoured tradition of peaceful coexistence, harboring African refugees and brokering peace among belligerent African nations. The rule of law, and not of men, governs Zambian interests. The democratic process, though not without hurdles, has performed well so far, manifesting in fair elections at both the presidential and parliamentary levels.

You are now on Great East Road moving towards the city. Like many African urban areas, you will be greeted by small and large neighborhoods along the road. Some areas are highly rich, with big houses, spacious backyards, and beautiful decorations. Other areas will look too poor, especially by Western standards. But do not be too quick to judge; people here have learned how to survive, and their experiences may sound very different from your initial observation. Wait until you talk to them; hear them talk about how proud they are to be Zambians. They may complain here and there about this and that, but generally, they have learned to tame their surroundings. You may be fascinated to discover that Zambia has magnificent structures. This will especially mesmerize a first visitor to Zambia whose only orientation about Zambia has been the impoverish images shown on prime-time television for donor solicitation. But these images are absent here, because those who show them in the West go to very great lengths to find them. Street kids will be everywhere, but we have seen the homeless in the streets of the developed nations as well.

Already in Zambia? Do not worry even a bit. You will not run short of accommodation or be troubled about your safety. There are a lot of rest-houses, guest-houses, motels, and hotels, at very reasonable rates, especially if you are exchanging your dollar into Zambian Kwacha. Food? You will not miss Europe or Australia or America. There is sumptuous food in every dish, and you will enjoy the hospitality of the Zambian people. Moreover, there is an abundance of transportation within and outside the cities. While at one of these hotels you will learn about a number of transportation services such as cars for hire, tour-guides, and many more. In Zambia you are not a stranger; you are a guest. And guests in Zambian terms are accorded the highest courtesy they could ever have dreamed about. That is just what Zambia is famous for; Zambians want to always afford a memorable visit to their guests!

If you are coming from the West, Zambia’s urban areas may not intrigue you. You are used to be and to seeing the storey buildings and skyscrapers of New York or Toronto. You will, however, be enthralled by nature. Nature in Zambia has been deliberately preserved to satisfy people just like you, dear guests to Zambia. That myth you have always heard – the myth that Africa is a jungle? Well, yes, it is when you leave the urban areas for the protected areas, sometimes called national parks. Here you will meet the finest of God’s creation; the lion and his lioness with cubs, the cutely striped zebras, the splendid speckled impalas, the straddling crocodile in its shallow world, the happy-singing birds in their freedom, the smiling monkeys in their excitement and the dancing elephants in their glory.

You are not visiting Zambia but you want to gain a first impression of Zambia. There is no place on the globe where you will be treated with respect, honour and dignity better than in Zambia. Zambians prize three things: hard work, friendship and justice. Zambians are among the most industrious on the planet. Sometimes they have to work too hard for too little a gain. This is the challenge confronting many Zambians because some people have taken this for granted. And yet Zambians do all this in the spirit of social justice, harmony and global solidarity. Zambians are doing their best to overcome the evils of poverty, high mortality rates and menacing scourge of HIV/AIDS. Don’t make a mistake about it, challenges facing Zambia are also facing other nations, and sometimes even rich and wealthy nations. And Zambian leaders are making important strides in dealing with all these pertinent issues. Zambia, like many African nations, is a creature of history, a history that has shaped everything from Zambia’s economy to politics, and the bitter fruit of which Zambians, like most Africans, are forced to endure everyday.