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RESPONSE

: I would like to acknowledge the

Zambian Economist Reviewer of

Ta Lakata The Tears o f Africa

, my book,my passion and my writing for a fair and somewhat inadequately reasonable review. I understand some misconceptions based on the ambiguity of my recollection of certain facts and in some areas, a lack of in-depth stipulation and critical lineof thought. I will try to be as close as possible in referencing his concerns line by line, point by point, quote by quote, inthe sequence he addressed my writing. Pardon my lack of etiquette.First of all Ta Lakata is not just my hope for a meaningful account…It is extremely meaningful writing, and yes, thewhole objective for my writing was to spur readers into further indabas, such as this one. “We cannot stand by and watchAfrica die, especially us the children, the African Diaspora….it’s inexcusable!

What Ta Lakata is NOT

- Yes it has no intellectual depth…it’s not a Thesis nor is it a Medical Report or journal article!It’s my sociological perspective…the stories and myths surrounding the ways of life of African people ….especially the belief system amongst Tumbuka’s in Lundazi. (

I write about what I am familiar with and what I know

)TaLakata is my attempt of “

Putting a face on AIDS”

and poverty in Africa.How does one describe the impact of AIDS and immense poverty in Africa?…….except it be depicted in word picture format as demonstrated in Ta Lakata the Tears of Africa..I start by taking the entire continent of Africa at large, I zoom in on one country, that of Zambia, dig deeper into oneinsignificant and forlorn village town of Lundazi, and sobering the reader to attach and dwell with oneself in the life of one family, the amazing Thomson Nyirenda and his innocent children



the Daughters of Lundazi, the

Pride of His Chief Mphamba.

..whom he grooms to love Africa deeply and never ever to forget home. He gave them the wings to soar abovethe blues skies above, yet instilled in his children the love of country and people of Zambia and reminded them to never neglect the simple upbringing from their simple village of Lundazi, deep in the heart of Zambia, beyond the Rift valley of the Muchinga escarpment.Ta Lakata The Tears of Africa is wrapped around

The Impact of Globalization in Africa,

in Zambia, In Lundazi, downto impacting my dad, My Story.Yes I am addressing all of humanity, though certain portions are heavily emphasized for whom I address at that juncture;eg: The introduction is specifically written to African Americans…I am looking for Healing in our brothers..they are our brothers, and they long to know Africa and they long to be invited and made to feel welcome…they do not have a home,we do…a lot of the social issues and struggles of African Americans stems from identity, desolation and being without“roots”…we must be sympathetic and be the ones to help them heal…invite them home as a long lost brother.In my attempt addressing all humanity, I do state that “each and every one of you the readers….those who have taken aninterest in Africa, have learned about colonialism, slave trade …ppxix.As far as my coming to America begins

, I did not

“traverse the oceans in search of a better life…”

This statement isdistorted and somewhat inaccurate and presumptuous.And the reason I did not explore this angle deeper is because that issue is not the focus of my writing…maybe in my next book I may do so.

The journey begins with her recollections of a privileged childhood in Chilabombwe, attending a school where she wasthe only “black student in my classroom of largely European miners’ children, because most miners could not afford to send their children to private, fee-paying Christian schools”.There’s little discussion in the book on how those early years impacted on her perspective about life,except to note even with such background, she was instilled from the early years of Royalty….

Response:I guess my early years in Chililabombwe and Sacred Heart Convent School in Chingola have a tremendousinfluence in my outlook. I value and cherish privilege, yet I know it comes with a deeper responsibility for

“to him whommuch is given so much more is required”.

Privilege does give one the premises and the audacity to challenge

inequality

especially if one knows firsthand and is familiar with those very vulnerable in our society, one therefore can speak out for the voiceless…

amongst foreign policy makers whose decisions have impacted our country without fear;

the verything I have carried me with and am doing.“Her faith, though not without challenges, proves not only the anchor through that helps withstand the external forcesfrom home, but also now propels her going forward.”Response:Chola sir, Thank you for this part of the review.You totally nailed this one. I wish you had expounded evenmore because my entire writing is heavy on the supernatural favor and healing hand of God, especially the episode withmy mother- the Ngoni warrior fighting for her life while she was in UTH… we sang

“Kaluma kaluma nkhamutondoli…kanyalubwe…”

and how the eyes of my heart were opened. For once I was the blind, yet Now I see Him, in my life. He picked me up, mended me, dried my tears, gave me word to encourage others and to probe on marching to his tune of Hiscalling…eradicating poverty completely…I believe, ….Thank you Mr Mukanga

that vimbusa is okay, night dancing is not! Unfortunately, she does not provide a deeper basis for drawing this sharp distinction - particularly for the Christian audience

.Response: I love Vimbuza dancing!I love watching it and I think its one of the best dances in Zambia.In as much as I am Christian, I believe some theological perspectives are flawed, especially those of portraying mostTraditional African practices even African names as pagan, our indigenous ways were labeled demonic and evil for themost part…that is a western-centric perspective and not Gods word., where we have been depicted as pagans andheathens..we need to sift through the cultural practices vs the divine word of God.. God created his own people withintelligence to practice medicine, traditionally or scientifically…the knowledge is from God…why would ours be anydifferent and be labeled pagan?

for example, we learn early on that her children were never taken to Africa which given her endearing love for her parents it was most likely due to her financial position….

There’s a view shared by some in Zambia that the west is aland full of plenty, though I admit the issue is one of relative plenty. The reality of course is that such relocation choicescarry huge costs as well.As Talakata illustrates the financial needs from those left behind (in Zindaba's case medical treatment costs for her late parents at the time) push many people into struggling position especially debt. For some it’seven worse. Many sad tales of mostly young Zambian women litter our western capitals(I need not say further). In this sense it is most invaluable to have a fresh and honest perspective on the challenges that the Zambian diaspora face.

Response:My life in America proved excruciatingly painful…the first 20 years were Yes unbearable! We were pioneersin USA, no family. We suffered from financial (we were students sponsored by UNZA- the university at one timecollapsed in Africa, it stopped sending money to its students abroad..) health, immigration, racial discrimination, burdens,some natural occurrences beyond our control and some from consequences of our own poor choices. Learning!I try not to go into those details so much because that was not the focus of my writing, Again, I must say that Yes it isvery common for the Diaspora to learn the hard core truth about the DISTORTED VIEWS we have of living in Americawhen we first come from Africa. The Hollywood image is just that..it exists only in the movies! We get to see America for what it really is… cold, isolated, hard labor camps, racist, fake, instant gratification, self centered society; me me me andme, need I say more? It can be very negative, yes and yet it also can be great… with God in it

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Unfortunately, the problem in Africa is not the diagnosis, but the remedy.Many of the issues she identifies are well knownand do not really add to the intellectual depth– they are too obvious

Response: When explaining the situation to American readers, you wonna go as simple as possible..they know nothingabout Zambia…besides, my writing is not intellectual perspective..its a story shared…Vilapi. Checkout my bibliography,there is none there…deliberately. I was not counterattacking another’s thesis, I am preserving what was never written andcapturing what is about to disappear if we continue letting “Others” write for us. ata!

There’s very little discussion in the book about the failure of African leadership or what can be done from the ground upto ensure we have the politics that serves our children and mothers. Zindaba has not sufficiently demonstrated that sheunderstands that change must begin with Africans developing African solutions for Africa.

An intellectual renaissance iswhat is missing

not intellectual capability! Incidentally there’s also no mention on how the diaspora can…

Aid is to Africa is certainly important and all must continue agitating for better aid effectiveness, but the debate is moving on onto how Africans themselves should take advantage of the resources they have to make a difference. First, the approach to African development is western-centric

Response:

Chola, You are starting your argument with African Leadership developing African solutions for Africa….Iagree that it is US the African Leaders to develop solutions for Africa..totally…100%

My starting point though is not Africa,…

that’s the point of my book! “Silence the Silence” -Ending the silenceand “Rhodesia Revisited” the 23

and 24

chapters of my book - is my starting point!!

My Question: How Are You Going To Develop Africa When

Rhodesia S

till Rules You…

Globalization

is not in your Favor!!!

Zambia- You don’t OWN your own Copper mines!! The only thing we got, they have claws over that!!

The ones mining your copper are the multinationals, expanding, greedy and are unstoppable! They are killing you, polluting the air you breath, contaminating the water you drink and the land- they have damaged copperbelt province andwill repeat in Solwezi!!

Africa- we are economically crippled!

And the African Leadership comprises Yes the Presidents and the cabinets etc,and also the Diaspora…intellectual think tanks of Zambia!

We are responsible for the future of our country

.That is the cry of my heart…

how can we the Diaspora sit and watch that happen…we know better

! We areaccountable!My Approach to African development is actually very sympathetic to our leaders; I see how their hands are tied.What we need is Partnerships, Win-Win Situation with the western multinationals that govern our economy- is what Iadvocate

My Solutions

:Redesign, Reengineer the processes, Rethink, Remap, Revise, and Restructure the whole existing economic structure of Zambia.May we benefit from the rising global demands of copper ore..it’s our ORE people…weneed to have a ‘say so’ in the matter!

Start there and Be Not Afraid. God is with us!.

The other issue is that the Talakata proposal for getting traditional leaders involved in development is inadequate, and perhaps not fully thought through. Zindaba rightly notes that traditional leaders “have vision and a sense of ownership,[but] too often lack the tools, expertise, and resources to accomplish these objectives”.