NEBBY MULAISHO: from driver to lawyer

IT IS said the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work. 

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them - and that is exactly what former Zambia Daily Mail driver Nebby Mulaisho has done - pursue his dream of becoming a lawyer.

Mr Mulaisho, 43, who is married to Mara Mushili, with whom he has five children, attended Kambosha and Kapila primary schools before completing his Grade 12 at Mkushi Secondary school in 1996.

“After school, I sold some cooking oil at some market in Kitwe where I used part of the profits there to get a driving license sometime in 2000,” he says. “

Mr Mulaisho then moved to Lusaka and worked for Shonga Steel as a metal fabricator, Tau Risk as a security guard and also Pan-African Distributors as a salesman, before landing a one year contract with Zambia Daily Mail in 2005 as driver.

“Even as I was working here, I had not given up on my dream of becoming a lawyer one day. I kept telling myself that I will raise enough money and go to school, and I eventually did that,” he says.

After his contract with Zambia Daily Mail ended, Mr Mulaisho went on to work for Fedex as a courier before being employed in government under the Ministry of Works and Supply as a driver.

It was while at the Ministry of Works and Supply, in 2009, that he enrolled at the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) to study law. He graduated with a diploma in law in 2012.

“In 2014, I decided it was time for me to go for my degree and that is how I decided to enroll at the Zambia Open University. I deferred a year, due to finances but I am glad to have resumed soon after,” he says.

He says it was gratifying to be among the law students graduating in October 2021.

“It was very fulfilling to me. I have plans of going for a masters of arts degree and maybe get admitted to the bar, but first, I know I have to pass the test at the Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education (ZIALE). Those are things I will do eventually, with time,” he says.

Mr Mulaisho said American lawyer Courtney Griffiths who represented former Liberia president Charles Taylor at The Hague has had a great influence on his journey.

“I am a key follower of very difficult cases and Ms Griffiths inspired me a lot. I follow and learn from her experiences religiously. I have also drawn inspiration and support from my close friends and acquaintances such as Steven Nyondo, Naomi Hara and Dr Munyonzwe Hamalengwa who always encouraged me to keep studying,” he says.

Mr Mulaisho says working as a driver exposed him to a lot of places and situations that cemented his desire to study law.

“At one point, while on duty in some prisons, I interacted with a number of inmates and realised that a lot of them need legal representation. That, to me, just told me to keep pushing,” he says.

He says the other driving force has always been his family, especially children. He says he decided to set the bar so high that his children can learn that they too can become anything they want to become in future.

“I see everything I do as a stepping stone. Being a driver, people tend to look down on you so many times thinking that you cannot be anything more than being just a driver. There is a lot of ridicule that comes with this job, but for me, I just had to curve my own path and prove people wrong,” he says.

He says education is the greatest equaliser in the universe.

“I believe that anyone can achieve anything with an education and it makes you useful in society too,” he says.

He adds: “I will support my children up to the end. One of them completed grade 12 and intends to study engineering and the youngest is a just under two years old.”

Mr Mulaisho is currently seconded to the country's electoral body, Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

ZAMBIANS ON THE RISE INTERNATIONALLY: A few more Zambians are stamping their names on the international stage

LAST month, Monde Muyangwa officially became the newest USAID assistant administrator for the Bureau for Africa.

President Hakainde Hichilema was among the first to congratulate her following her confirmation.

“We wish her all the very best in her new role and look forward to our continued cooperation with the USA in our journey to building a better Zambia for our people,” President Hichilema said.

USAID Administrator Samantha Power administered the oath of office for Dr Muyangwa in front of her husband, Dr David Kaloustian, daughter Inonge, father-in-law Ara Kaloustian and mother Namukolo, including other friends and family members who followed the swearing-in ceremony virtually from Washington, US.

In her remarks, Ms Power shared how Dr Muyangwa, who holds a PhD in international relations and a BA in politics, philosophy and economics from the University of Oxford as well as a BA in public administration and economics from the University of Zambia, has always exhibited a passion for education from a young age. In fact, this passion ran through the family.

“As Monde embarked on her own educational journey, it became clearer and clearer that she, like her family, wanted to give back to her country,” Ms Power said.

“Her passion for service kicked off when she moved to Lusaka. In Lusaka, she experienced an entirely new world. Every night, Monde and her family gathered around the TV and watched the news together. Each broadcast exposed her to the deep need in her own country and the need around the world.”

Ms Power said these nightly news updates cemented Dr Muyangwa’s passion for global affairs.

“I know Monde, as a globally respected thought leader on US-Africa relations with unmatched credentials, will tap into the opportunities throughout sub-Saharan Africa and will help create many more,” she said. 

“As assistant administrator for the Bureau for Africa, Monde will take her turn outstretching her hand to others on behalf of the United States.”

Eight months before Dr Muyangwa took up her appointment, another Zambian, Amanda Khozi Mukwashi, was in the news when United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed her as the United Nations resident coordinator in Lesotho.

Ms Mukwashi previously served under the United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV) in Germany as chief of Volunteer Knowledge and Innovation.

Among the many positions she has held include being chief executive officer of Christian Aid, an international development and humanitarian non-profit organisation working in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean , and the Middle East.

The confidence that international organisations and institutions have in Zambians has been oozing for years and goes back to even as far back as 2009 when Chingola-born lawyer Chisanga Puta-Chekwe was appointed deputy minister for citizenship and immigration in Canada.

He also served as secretary-general of the Order of Ontario. There is also the recent appointment of the Savenda Group of Companies chief executive officer Clever Mpoha to the advisory board of the Thembekile Mandela Foundation (TMF), another illustration of the confidence international organisations continue to have in the abilities of Zambians. 

Mr Mpoha was appointed to the TMF advisory board on September 1 for a period of five years.

The TMF is named after anti-apartheid icon and South Africa’s first black president Nelson Mandela’s son Madiba Thembekile Mandela, who died in a road traffic accident in 1969 at the age of 24.

In the latest appointment, TMF founder and chairperson Ndileka Mandela had the following to say to Mr Mpoha: “I am pleased to inform you that the Board on September 1, 2022, on the recommendation of its nomination committee and your exemplary services to the community, has appointed you as a member of the advisory board, effectively for a period of five years.”

Ms Mandela, who is the first granddaughter of Nelson Mandela, founded TMF with a view to ensuring that all learners in selected rural schools have access to education, infrastructure and the right to quality life in South Africa.

A key objective of TMF is to continue the legacy of Nelson Mandela by promoting health and education programmes in selected rural schools.

This objective is in line with that of Savenda Group’s own charity works which include the sponsorship of the Savenda Awards of Excellence at St Mary’s Secondary School in Lusaka.

The Savenda Awards recognise academic excellence from Grade Eight to 12 and are aimed at helping raise the level of competition among pupils at the Catholic Church-run school.

Ms Mandela said the appointment of Mr Mpoha to the TMF board was aimed at bringing African minds together to solve African problems, with the shared vision of developing Africa as one community.

Mr Mpoha heads Savenda Group, a Zambian procurement and logistics solution conglomerate which has business interests in mining, telecommunications, energy, agriculture, automotive, insurance, ICT, aviation, petro-chemical and medical fields.

Further, the group’s motto is Save Nations Develop Africa, which is a pan-African approach of ensuring that Africa is developed by Africans.

As a global supply chain management company established since 1997, significant synergies exist in Savenda due to a network of associations in the USA, Middle East, Africa, European Union and Asia pacific regions.

In her appointment letter to Mr Mpoha, Ms Mandela said she believed the Savenda Group CEO’s business acumen would add value to TMF.

“As a great pan-African businessman, we believe that your experience and leadership in [the course of the organisation] will be of great value to the mission and vision of our foundation. We wish you success in this new assignment and have confidence that you shall transform TMF to the next level.”

Mr Mpoha is a published author whose book, The business mind of Clever Mpoha: The Group MD who built Savenda Group of companies into an African conglomerate, has received international acclaim.

In its book review published in its June 26-July 2, 2021 edition, The Economist magazine describes the book as one of the most inspiring stories for any young Zambian.

“A touching book which could be taught in every school,” The Economist summed up.

Early last month, the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies and the Southern African Institute for Policy and Research (SAIPAR) honoured Muna Ndulo, a William Nelson Cromwell Professor of International and Comparative Law, for his influence as a legal scholar, constitutional advisor, academic leader and expert in international law.

In the entertainment circles, Sampa The Great, born Sampa Tembo, is making waves as a Zambian rapper. For the first time, a Grammy looks possible for Zambia.

For a long time, first President Kenneth Kaunda and celebrated footballer Kalusha Bwalya have been the most recognisable Zambian names on the international stage. But now a few more Zambians are stamping their names on the international stage.

GPS ON LONG DISTANCE PUBLIC SERVICE BUSES: RTSA records reduction in fatalities after installing the system on over 500 buses

ACCORDING to the Road Transport and Safety (RTSA), most road traffic accidents are as a result of human error, and this includes excessive speed.

In order to curb excessive speed, especially among long distance public service vehicles, such as buses, the RTSA, two years ago embarked on a vigorous exercise to install Global Positioning System (GPS) on over 500 distance buses.

The idea was to reduce on the number of fatalities involving such bulk carrying passenger vehicles.

“You see, the thing is that these buses carry a lot people and we used to lose a lot of lives when such a vehicles is involved in a road accident that is mostly as a result of excessive speed,” says the RTSA head of public relations, Fredrick Mubanga.

Indeed, fatal road crashes involving long distance buses claim many lives.

Mr Mubanga, without giving figures, justifies that ever since the agency started the exercise, it has led to a drastic reduction in the number of road accidents, involving such buses.

“You see, how the GPS works is that we have interfaced and interlinked it and it is able to detect the speed at which the bus is moving and if it is above a particular speed limit, we will get a notification through the our customer care call centre where we then take it up and notify the operator and caution the driver to drive at an appropriate speed,” he says.

The GPS is a navigation system using satellites, a receiver and algorithms to synchronise location, velocity and time data for air, sea and land travel. The satellite system consists of a constellation of 24 satellites in six earth-centered orbital planes, each with four satellites, orbiting at 13,000 miles (20,000 kilometres) above earth and traveling at a speed of 8,700 mph (14,000 km/h).

Mr Mubanga says, with this particular technology, Zambia through the agency is on course to attaining the United Nations Decade of Action that seeks to reduce the number of road traffic accidents by 50 percent by the year 2030.

“We can safely say that we have found a proper formula to manage speed-related road traffic accidents. So far so good, and even the behaviour of the drivers is well managed and the drivers themselves are also complying and appreciating the system,” he says.

He says: “We are trying to get a multifaceted approach where everyone should be engaged in matters of road safety.” Mr Mubanga is also happy that the system has been received well, even by the bus operators.

He says the system has so far proven to be an effective way to manage speed-related road traffic accidents.

“…we are trying to leverage on the use of ICT to mitigate road traffic accidents considering the fact that most of these road traffic accidents are speed related. So if we manage the aspect of speed, especially for mass carriage buses that carry over 70 people, then we are moving towards the right trajectory of reducing road traffic related accidents in our country. Mind you, we are signatory to the United Nations Decade of Action which aspires to reduce road traffic accidents by 50 percent.”

Gershom Chembo is a Chibeka Bus Services bus driver. His route is mostly Lusaka to Kasama and back and forth.

He too appreciates the fact that his bus is installed with the GPS.

“This is a very good technology, and as drivers, we have welcomed it because it is for the benefit of all of us,” he says. “If you look at our track record as Chibeka, we have a safety record that is as good as hundred percent.”

Another bus driver, Chibwe Chalwe of P Ngosa Bus Services appreciates the technology.

Mr Chibwe who goes as far as Samfya, says the system is so smart that it can detect that one has exceeded the speed limit on a particular stretch.

“That is how clever this system is,” he says. “So, for me, I don’t have a problem with it. In fact, I can even recommend that it is extended to all other vehicles.”

The RTSA is also encouraging the traveling public to ensure their own safety while traveling on buses and report any driver that is not driving appropriately.

“At the end of the day, it is your life. So, if you want to leave the driver to drive as careless as he can, you will have yourselves to blame in case of anything,” Mr Mubanga told travelers at Serenje Bus Station.

He said: “In an instance where a driver is not complying, we are calling on the travelling public to report such drivers to us through our customer care call centre using the 983 toll free line.”

A team of RTSA officers led by Mr Mubanga and information officer Roy Habaalu led some journalists on a road profiling visit of the Great North Road from Lusaka to Mpika to document and understand traffic-related challenges on the road.

“The idea is to tell the story as it is for the benefit of the motorists,” said Mr Habaalu.

Note that this article was also published in the Zambia Daily Mail newspaper.

RESIDENTS GEARED ON COVID-19 FIGHT: Zambia currently sits at 52 percent of the national herd immunity

THE setting is Mahatma Gandhi grounds in Lusaka’s Mtendere Township. And scores of people are gathered to witness the official launch of the 2nd COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

Yes, the country, which currently sits at 52 percent of the national herd immunity, has set itself an ambitious target of getting to the internationally required 70 percent herd immunity.

“I am yet to be vaccinated,” says Alick Mwale, a Mtendere resident. “That is why I have come here to hear for myself the stories they say about the vaccines.”

Mr Mwale, like many others who are yet to get vaccinated against COVID-19, has been skeptical taking the jab because of the myths that he has heard about it.

“I have heard a lot of bad stories about it. That is why I am just from having a chat with that nurse there, asking about the safety of the vaccine. I think I will take it with time, we shall see how it goes,” he says.

Another Mtendere resident, Derrick Phiri, was among the people who had spared some time to be at the Mahatma Ghandi grounds to learn about the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

Mr Phiri was brought to the venue by his older sister, who is already vaccinated and wants to get a booster jab.

“I will get the vaccine,” he says. “My sister has recommended that I get the AstraZeneca because it is the one that she got and it didn’t give her any problems.”

His sister, only identified as Bridget, says: “There is nothing scary about these vaccines. It is better to get the vaccine and forget about worrying about COVID-19. At least you know you are partially protected even if they say it [vaccine] is not a cure.”

Previously, vaccination campaigns were implemented by the Ministry of Health, but not anymore.

Minister of Health Sylvia Masebo announced at the venue that, as part of the decentralisation policy, Government has decided to delegate to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development activities such as sensitisation campaigns.

This, according to her, is to ensure that the information trickles down to the intended people in the communities.

“Going forward, such events will be officiated by local councils because they are the ones on the ground and they are the ones in touch with the communities – the actual people who need this information,” she said.

It is no wonder that Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Garry Nkombo was guest of honour at the event.

In his speech, Mr Nkombo called for heightened awareness in the COVID-19 pandemic in order to attain the internationally required 70 percent herd immunity.

He observed with dismay a resurgence of respiratory diseases since the relaxation of the COVID-19 guidelines such as cessation of the mandatory wearing of face masks in public places. He said much as the COVID-19 positivity rate has reduced, the pandemic has not been eradicated.

“You are all encouraged to get vaccinated. It’s not a secret that at the peak of the pandemic last year, we lost a lot of people. Government remains committed to improving health systems in the country and to attaining universal health coverage status,” Mr Nkombo said.

He added: “This campaign must be a reminder that our country has not yet achieved the desired target. Let’s play a role and encourage each other to ensure that every eligible person is fully vaccinated against the COVID-19.”

Mr Nkombo said vaccination has demonstrated to have a high impact, owing to how the number of hospitalisations and deaths have dwindled from the time the country started administering vaccines.

Currently, Zambia stands at about 56 per cent herd immunity against COVID-19.

At the same function, World Health Organisation (WHO) country representative Nathan Bakyaita commended Government for the dedication and commitment to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Bakyaita said WHO will continue to collaborate with Government through the Ministry of Health to fight COVID-19.

“This pandemic has crippled a lot of economies and ensuring that we vaccinate many people will see us return to a semblance of normalcy,” he said.

He said at the current rate, Zambia is on course to achieving the required 70 percent herd immunity target and WHO remains committed to supporting the country.

UNICEF acting country representative Benjamin Meyer said with the vaccination campaign, Zambia stands ready to meet its target by the end of the year.

“We have been working closely with many other cooperating partners to provide vaccines since April last year,” he said.

Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) country director Dr Andrew Auld said the U.S government is fully committed to supporting Zambia in her vaccination drive.

Dr Auld said a significant number of eligible people still remain to be vaccinated.

“Please, continue to get vaccinated. The vaccines are readily available and the US government has donated over six million vaccines,” he said.

Lusaka Province minister Sheal Mulyata, in a speech read for her by Minister of Water Development and Sanitation, Mike Mposha, who is Munali Constituency Member of Parliament, said the province has adequate vaccines, and personnel has already been dispatched to various centres for the vaccination campaign.

Ms Mulyata urged all stakeholders to continue championing the response in a multi-sectoral manner.

The campaign, which is being held under the theme: ‘COVID-19 is not yet over. Get vaccinated today, protect yourself, family and your community’, is running from 3rd October to 12th October.

Not too long ago, USAID Discover Health deputy director Mutinta Nyumbu urged people not to drop their guard against COVID-19.

“Let us, therefore, go out there and tell the people that all those myths they have about vaccines are not true. We are glad to have partnered with the chiefs and Ministry of Health to win the fight,” she said.

At provincial level, North-Western, Copperbelt and Central provinces have all reached the internationally required 70 percent COVID-19 herd immunity.

Note that this story was also published in the Zambia Daily Mail newspaper of Wednesday 12, 2022.