By AUSTIN KALUBA –

THE English dictum ‘mother is the best cook’ is found in many African languages and describes the limited perception of a person who remains at home without travelling to other places.
I feel this best describes the acceptance of the sub-standards of bodies representing our institutions in Zambia.
The mediocrity pertaining in many professional bodies in Zambia is only exposed when one travels to other countries since at home we are cushioned and even blinded to such averageness.
I am talking about the legal fraternity, church bodies, academia and even the media.
The professional bodies representing these ‘professions’ are polarised and exude mediocrity that is hinged on personal aggrandisement and no collective responsibility that characterised such bodies in yesteryears.
There is need to go back to the drawing board to up the game since we have a template here in Zambia when these bodies commanded respect.
The church at one time spoke with one voice and was never polarised along political factions as is the case now when it is difficult to make a distinction between a clergyman and a politician.
The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) is understandably being attacked from several quarters since the body has deliberately chosen to share ignorance with the populace instead of guiding the nation on legal matters.
Then we have media bodies like the Media Institute of Southern (MISA) which issues selective and grossly biased statements purporting to champion Press freedom.
Like LAZ, the institute is highly personalised and divorced from the media whose causes it claims to champion.
Then we have the academia which the general public wrongly associates with a high intelligent quotient (IQ).
The truth is that many of our gowned friends are divorced from life outside the lecture rooms, explaining their lack of positive contribution to improve society.
There is need to reexamine all professional bodies in Zambia to make them tick once again.