Just to illustrate that we just do not feature stories about politicians below is an interesting story by Austin Kaluba some Zambians in the UK who are "more British than the brits" . I have met this class of Zambians and sometimes it is every embarrassing how they conduct themselves. Nothing wrong with integration but equally important to remember your roots.
The PANEL.
BY AUSTIN KALUBA (Times of Zambia)
SOMETIME last month, I visited a friend in Manchester. He had left Zambia 10 years ago and has settled down in England where he works as a banker. His wife who is a nurse joined him three years later.But When I visited the couple, I was struck by the contrast between them concerning their attachment to Zambia.While the wife spoke in a high-tonal nasal accent, the husband still speaks like any down-to-earth Zambian speaks back home.The woman went out of her way to show that England, and not Zambia is her home (despite being in the country for a shorter period).The man opened the door for me and greeted me in chi-Bemba hugging me cordially.Then I heard a female voice in the kitchen reprimanding someone. ‘Stop it! I said stop it! Stop being silly Lucy!”As we settled down in the lounge, I saw a pekinese dog trot in the room, its tail erect. The woman followed it and lifted it up. ‘I have got you, silly thing.’ I realised who Lucy was. It was a dog!
The woman nodded a greeting in my direction but her husband reprimanded her in chi-Bemba. “Efyo uposha abantu ifyo (Is that the way you greet people)?” The woman put the dog down and came over to shake my hands.After introductions, we sat down to chat.
“When did you leave ‘Zembia’?” she asked in a forced accent. I nearly answered rudely that I did not know any country by that name but I had to be polite “Five years ago,” I replied. ‘I am told they have a new president Rupiah …Rupiah Benda…he…” ‘mmh Bana mwana mulelanda kwati tamuli bena Zambia (my wife you are speaking as if you are not a Zambian)…who is they?” the husband cut in but she ignored him.“You worked as a journalist. Write something about me. I want to stand as Member of Parliament for Kafue. Zambians need help. They need food.”
When I left the home late that evening, I started thinking about the types of Zambians who have come over here. There is one group that is still loyal to the country and support most things, which are Zambian.This group usually attends the independence celebration day at the residence of the High Commissioner in London, might have a small Zambian flag in their homes or cars, and sometimes eat nshima and play Zambian music.This group is also abreast with events back home through the Internet.
Then there is the type that is striving to be more British than Zambian by accommodating everything British and rejecting anything that links it with Zambia.This group has people talking about the British Premier Gordon Brown like he is ‘our leader’.This group has people who never speak any vernacular language in their homes.
The last major group is in between encompassing both British and Zambian values.Surprisingly, the second group, which is de-Zambianised, comprises largely people who have lived here only for a few years.It is also surprising to hear the number of people who want to bring change when they go back home as Members of Parliament. These are the people who write in the tabloids as ‘worried Zambians’ or ‘concerned Zambians’.To them Zambia is some remote, backward society whose solutions are in the hands of people in the West.Like the Western journalist, these homegrown armchair critics feel they have solutions affecting ‘Zembia’ that President Rupiah ‘Benda’ cannot solve.
