DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in the following article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of Daily Revelation
Philanthropist and South African businessman’s ‘My Hometown’ concept has sent mixed feelings especially among politicians in Zambia.
Mr. Ndambo’s donations in the form of monies, time, buses, and entrepreneurial skills maybe aimed to improve Choma and Zambia as a whole. His act of good will and desire to help his fellow human beings, hosted from his hometown is awesome.
However, the Zambian born, and now South African entrepreneur has sent mixed feelings among Zambians especially politicians over certain remarks which appear to have political overtones.
Make no mistake, Zambia is a society that is highly politicized and everything that anyone does is viewed with political lens because our society has been socialized in that manner.
Politics runs deep in most of the Zambian households where there is a general thinking that one may only donate when they have political ambitions, and it is quite understandable therefore when Zambians pop up all sorts of questions based on our political socialization.
Whilst the concept of My Hometown has been welcomed by many Zambians, it risk being derailed or completely ruined if we all view it from the political lens.
Agreeably that the concept is relatively new in Zambia, the philosophy has drawn so much attention because of the prize money involved and given to the winners.
However this far, political overtones have the potential to ruin this life changing idea because politicians look at anyone with different political views as an enemy.
It is however possible that Mr. Ndambo may harbour political ambitions to be President of the Republic of Zambia one day. He may be positioning himself to take over probably under the United Party for National Development after Hakainde Hichilema will have served his full two terms, this could be strategic.
We can learn from history, the late Anderson Mazoka before forming UPND, he first became ward chairman for a small ward in Bauleni under the Movement for multi-Party Democracy before he was hounded out of the party to form the UPND.
On the contrary Mr. Ndambo may want to come back and form his new party and compete with the existing political parties.
Whilst Mr. Ndambo has no right to aspire for political leadership position as he is barred by our constitution because of his citizenship, it is possible for him to renounce his citizenship for South Africa and later pick up his Zambian citizenship.
Mr. Ndambo is on record that he wharves no political interest but only to support development in the communities through his Non-Governmental Organization, ‘My Hometown’.
All these are possibilities that could happen however, need not concentrate on this but appreciate the generosity of the man which frankly is rare among Africans.
We may like him or not the man has scored big. We may shower him with all manner of derogatory words there are in the books, the man has entered the Zambian space with a big bang and has the potential to unseat any politician known on the political landscape. It is possible that Mr. Ndambo could become a political force within the UPND, or an opposition stalwart in the absence of a strong opposition party in Zambia.
Lastly, congratulations to the organizers of the event, the winner of my Hometown Faith Mukonko and all others who participated.
Francisco Mumba
Governance Specialist
