Announcing donations during funerals

By Daily Revelation Editor

Youth and Sports minister Elvis Nkandu said the right thing by saying that the government will not reveal what it intends to do for the family of late musician Wesley Chibambo, popularly known as Dandy Krazy.

During the funeral of Chibambo, Nkandu said the government already discussed with the widow on the way forward but would not announce anything, while urging Zambians to desist from the unbecoming conduct of flashing all over social media the donations they were making.

We commend Nkandu for taking such a humane position and we would like to state that while financial support for bereaved families is often necessary and appreciated, the way in which such support is shared publicly warrants careful consideration. Upholding the dignity and privacy of those who are grieving is essential, reinforcing the notion that true donations do not seek recognition or publicity, but rather seek to provide solace in silence to the bereaved family. The culture of public announcement of donations that we witnessed at Chibambo’s funeral leaves much to be desired.

When financial contributions are publicly announced, it unintentionally shifts the focus from the act of mourning to the act of showing off. This can evoke feelings of discomfort and funeral exploitation, particularly if the bereaved family did not consent to such announcements. It also has the potential to create an atmosphere where generosity is perceived as a performance or publicity stunt for personal visibility, rather than a genuine expression of compassion.

Some artistes were literally seen holding stashes of money in their hands, deliberately so in order for the cameras to capture them for announcement to the public. That’s unacceptable in our Zambian culture because in such sensitive situations, any communication surrounding donations should be handled with discretion, allowing the bereaved family to express their gratitude on their own terms, if they wish to do so. Instead of spotlighting the act of donating, the focus should remain on honoring the deceased and supporting their loved ones in a way that feels authentic to them.

The moment you make a contribution and go out to announce to the whole world about your good deed, others may interpret the same differently, to mean as if you are actually using a very sad occasion to market your standing, either as an artiste, a politician or whatever you call yourself.

We wish people can learn about our long-standing culture where most unsung heroes have earned reputation for doing good without making so much noise about their kind humanitarian efforts. Life has one principle, which everyone taking on board should learn from, as in it lies many important life lessons. The principle is that every noble humanitarian effort one does, without even announcing, will always find a way of announcing itself. In the process the philanthropist will win more accolades and respect for their noble deeds done without so much fanfare.