Guest Diggers

‘A double brandy please,’ I said to the barman, as I looked round at the assembled company, spotting a well suited gentleman sitting all alone in the corner. As soon as I got my drink […]

During my mother’s funeral last November, I decided to sit close to one of the village elders, a Salvation Army senior cadet, to share a few life experiences. He could have been one of those […]

I recently attended a social occasion in Lusaka. The event, not unusual in the capital city, brought together Zambians from disparate ethnic groups such as Kaonde, Lunda, Tonga, Bemba, Chewa/Nyanja and Lozi speakers. It was […]

On 21st June 2017, His Excellency President Edgar Lungu unveiled a Patriotic Front’s vision for the next five years: the 7th National Development Plan (7NDP). But is this an improved formula? Are NDPs solving development […]

Over two decades ago, a sports scholar Bea Vidacs wrote a ground-breaking article in which she argued that there appears to be a general denial of the importance of sports in Africa as a serious […]

As we sat on the veranda having a New Year’s drink, Sara was in reflective mood. ‘I wonder,’ she said, ‘what exactly is the government’s thinking, bringing in the army to tackle to the cholera […]

On 2 January 2018, Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Kalaba resigned his Cabinet position in protest against the ‘swelling levels of greed and corruption’ under President Edgar Lungu’s watch. Kalaba, 41, also criticised the government’s […]

Across 2017, Zambia experienced no shortage of disappointments and setbacks. Yet there are some individuals whose courage and principles made them inspiring figures in the political landscape. Here, I list two sets of citizens of […]

‘Well, Nawiti,’ I said, giving her a hug, ‘What do you hope Santa is going to bring you for Christmas?’ ‘Nothing,’ she replied, as tears came into her eyes. ‘Nothing?’ I said. ‘I know that […]

On 17 December 2017, opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema appeared on Sunday Interview, a Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) television programme hosted by Grevazio Zulu every Sunday evening that typically […]