A Bemba saying goes, “umwana ushyenda atashya banyina ukunaya” (a child without travel experience praises his mother as the best cook). MAUREEN KABWE highlights the importance of exposure to other cultures which she argues Zambia could benefit from. Read on…

I AM a Zambian female aged 22. While in high school I was privileged to visit Norway in 2012 through an exchange programme between Mpulungu Local Council in Northern Province and Jølster Kommune in Norway. The exchange was called the MIC programme; it was based on empowering women and the youth at large, so that they can actively get involved in developmental issues.
The visit comprised a delegation of councillors and people in the administration, and I was the youngest person selected to represent the youth council and the 4H Club. The 4H Club is a club that has been introduced to the young people by the Norwegian society. The club was adopted from South America and later introduced to Africa.
The club encourages young people to put their hearts into everything they do, that they should be in good health to achieve success and they use their heads and hands in order to be productive in society.
While in Norway, I interacted with the youths in the Kommune (council) and after several discussions that took place, I learned that young people have been placed in the fore- front of change and given responsibilities of different communities in which they live.
Young people are viewed as leaders of today and not of tomorrow; they have an active voice on how things are being done in their community and the country at large, while politicians provide a platform for young people to be heard and, as such, young people are seen as partners in development.
And the 2012 visit to Norway has led to several other visits which have given me a deeper understanding of the political system, economic stability, education and how the media operates in Norway compared to Zambia.
In 2013 and 2015, I have been to Norway on private visits, following invitations by Judith Kapstad, a counselor in Jølster Kommune who has been to Zambia several times through the Delegation from Jølster Kommune (council) Norway.
Through her I have had an opportunity to meet other councillors of the commune and also members of Parliament (MPs) who have expressed confidence in the Norwegian political system.
When asked if corruption exists in their country, some members of the public and politicians smiled and stressed that corruption does not exist and the members of the public are the first priority.
Interestingly, politicians also emphasized that during elections, the political parties only advertise themselves to the general public without bribing them or vote buying. I was overwhelmed to sit next to MPs and interact with them like every other ordinary person. Being a counselor in Norway is a voluntary work; only MPs and the mayor are paid.
The most fascinating thing about politics in Norway is how they operate and express dissatisfaction. I witnessed peaceful demonstrations with no semblance of violence and people just march, light candles.
For their part, politicians debate issues while the young people also discuss and produce several materials like T-shirts and hand bags emblazoned with campaign messages to express disapproval of any decision made by the government and, incredibly, the government of the day is reasonable enough to revisit their decision usually in favour of the people they serve.
But in my country Zambia expressing disproval of, or dissatisfaction with, important issues is often characterized by violent demonstrations or riots in which innocent members of the public are hurt or lose their property at times. Perhaps we could learn something from the Norwegians and change our mindset.
The Jølster Komune invited me to join the young people in song of Fjordane who met for the purpose of making developmental plans and political discussions for several days. In this meeting young people stated that, they had a very big role to play in politics; they presented their ideas and were very inspired to implement them. When I was asked by a journalist if I was familiar with such an event in my own country, the answer was very embarrassing, because the event was very strange for a Zambian youth.
My visit to Norway captured the attention of both the media and the politicians in Jølster Komune wanting to know more about the living standards and the opportunities that young people have in Zambia.
Norway is one of the most expensive countries in Europe with high living standards. The country has dramatically developed not only because of the production of oil, but because of a good political system coupled with compliance in paying taxes by the workers and the corporate world. Workers pay 50 per cent tax of their income.
This tax is used in several ways; to create old people’s homes, improve the health facilities and bring about equality among people whether rich or poor and all have equal access to free health facilities.
And the government has also offered the Norwegian people equality in education by creating a student bank where students are able to get loans and pay back later when they begin to work. This has been a great opportunity to the young people and has exposed them to visit other countries as they can afford. And the job opportunities are available for students which make them very busy during holidays and there are plenty of recreation facilities enabling them to focus their minds only on positive issues.
Judith Kapstad, a Norwegian politician, explained that Norway decided to give help to foreigners whose countries are experiencing war, such as South Sudan, Eritrea, Syria, Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Somalia, among others.
And some of the refugees expressed great disappointment with their countries, including the Africans, noting the poor political systems in those countries with some power hungry people fighting for power and influence at the expense of their vulnerable citizens such as conscripting underage youths into the military where they are forced to serve their entire lives.
This has precipitated an influx of refugees into Norway by the suffering masses. Many of the refugees die at sea even before they reach Norway. One young man confidently quipped, “It’s better to risk my life on the sea than remain in my own country and be condemned to a life of sadness and regret.” He was speaking for many.
Due to this fact, the Norwegian government has offered planes to help these people escape from their various countries and then they are all dispatched to various European countries. Among the refugees are also young people aged 15-18 years, who escaped from their countries leaving their families behind and in the hope of being integrated in the Norwegian society.
These people live in Europe as refugees; they are not allowed to work unless they are granted permanent status.  The Norwegian government, however, gives them money to buy food and clothing every month. Some refugees have to wait for several years in the refuge hotel before they are allowed to stay in Norway permanently.
Having understood the Norwegian political, economic, and health systems and its education opportunities, I feel safe in stating that Zambia needs to develop in different directions.
I strongly urge the government to involve young people in both politics and developmental issues and not only use them as cadres during elections. And politicians should not look at young people as future leaders, but as partners in development who should freely express their views and be heard.
The politicians should not make fake promises to the people during elections, but serve them with passion and not serve their own selfish, elitist interests because this is not good for the economy. When politics are unstable so is the economy of the country.
Corruption in Zambia is something that should not be tolerated both at government and individual levels because this infringes on the freedom of citizens and sends a bad message outside.
Some members of the public have lost confidence in the justice system and concluded that justice is only for the rich. Young people have no recreation facilities in most cases, which has made them engage in crime, drug abuse and early marriages.
I also urge politicians not to promise free education, but rather be practical and realistic because Zambia is an under developed country but, give loans to students which can later be paid back and used to develop the country, improve health facilities and achieve equality for all.
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