My dear friends, the world has really been conquered not by terrestrials nor aliens by the minute HIV virus that has spared neither the poor nor the rich, the young nor the old. I remember at the time when the pandemic took up pace, an AIDS VICTIM was a rear view to encounter and now it’s the common thing of the day. Most deaths are as a result of the deadly virus. Funerals would last a week or so those days in the 70 and 80 when most of us were still kids. But now two to four days is enough as the cost involved during funerals is so high. In most Zambian set up food stuff and other incentives are provided for at a funeral house. People travel from their villages and other far away places to pay their last respect to the deceased. Transport has to be organised for them to get back and as a result funerals cost more than a fortune. How ever, deaths today, in families are a concurrent issue and to serve on costs many have resorted to staging funeral ceremonies in fewer days as possible. As soon as the presence of parents and a few elders to the deceased is acknowledged is a clear significance of concluding such a sad moment.
In the past, parents even as they grew older expected their children to look after them after they finished college and got themselves jobs. These new adults were also expected to help their young brothers and sisters, pull through the final stages of school before they too could be fully ushered into society. Unfortunately it’s the same parents that are now burying their children. In fact these parents are even left with their children’s’ sons and daughters. Most of these grandies don’t even work and have depleted energies for them to manage farming to sustain not only their lives but that of their grand children as well.
More saddening is the growing sex industry propagated by poverty especially in Africa. The few ‘employees’ I’ve asked clearly spelled out to me that they would rather die in years with Aids rather than hunger in days. As though that is not enough most of the informed most of whom even leave good families at their homes still take up to the streets to serve as clients to this industry. They don’t even measure the risk of such an adventure even after losing one or two of their family members to the deadly virus, before.
Moral decay and lucky of focused responsibility mixed with impatience, is what most of us the youth of today are lucking. A little effort made by all us can make a big difference, when all is put together. My first republican President, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, is several 82 years old but is still constantly telling everyone, on TV, without fear or favor, to use a condom every time they have sex or at least abstain till they are married. We the youth, especially in Africa should realise that we are the leaders of tomorrow and we will only lead if at we take good care of ourselves.
Economies are performing badly not only because of poor policies but because of lose of large workforce to the virus. If you and I can realize that the future needs us to lead the way for our children and even for our selves then time is now to start a massive preparation. Carrying massive continuous community campaigns on this cause would add to the effort.
AIDS has changed lives because we have let to do so. Are we going to let it continue doing so?

Recent and constant build up of military presence in and around Iraq clearly draws the possibility of war much to reality. Even as the UN inspectors continue their search for traces of weapons of mass distraction and the like, I strongly believe that Saddam will soon come under attack.
Much debate on this Gulf situation has already been on a number of tabletops in an effort to justify bombing Iraq as a means of disarming Baghdad. Unfortunately few if not none have intensively talked about the poor and voiceless Iraq people who will be direct casualties of their fate. One thing I must state is that the US and its allies or UN per say will not harm Saddam as such. The man will just lose his job as a president. Infact he is already rich and has wealth all round the world. He will simply fly off Iraq as soon as the first attack is initiated. Poor Iraqis who cannot even afford a balanced diet and are probably struglying to earn a living will instead suffer the consequences.
A number of poor people are bound to have their lives disturbed even as the US and its allies may proclaim Victory at the end of it all. Every day conferences and workshops are being held in order to fetch for better means of alleviating poverty and sustaining poor people’s lives. What then will this reflect to the all the efforts that have been and are currently being put forward to ease life around the world? In as much as I may be suspicious about the whole Gulf situation I strongly believe that we can still draw up better means to tackling problems and conflicts such as the Israel Palestine and those seen in the Balkans. What I don’t like my self is the aspect of using guns and bombs whose bullets and targets respectively go astray in harming and killing innocent ones who are needy people in most cases. May be we should get the UN to design more rules that can instantly bring a leader of a nation to book if at all they go against any globally agreed treaty. This should be followed by stern measures like freezing their accounts and/or restricting their movements rather than resorting to brutal and life distracting means such as sanctions that hit most on the choice less poor.

You should have been there with me as well. I was with a friend, a ‘TIGer’ as well, on the bus back home from town. It was peak hour and traffic was crowded in the Great East Road, the shortest route to home in marshlands. I normally drop off as the other passengers proceed to their respective destination.
This day was different from the others as brutal facts of life once again made me realise how hard work is important in life. Only behind me sat this guy who, with the freedom of speech and expression in Zambia over rod the prevailing silence in the bus and took the attention of everyone on this bus. It was common sense for everyone to notice that this guy was actually drunk, may be not too drunk as he was yelling, talking and singing loudly aboard. We normally submit fares about USD 00.30 on average and at the most per person. Trouble started when this drunk claimed to have lost a five thousand Kwacha note(worth almost a US Dollar) right in the bus. He could not hesitate in accusing those sited close to him as immediate pilfers. He yelled out in demand for the lost cash and automatically scared the weak ones near him. He plucked his pockets in anguish removing all days’ remaining little earnings. After pulling out all sorts of gadgets from his belongings he finally came across his “lost” cash. You should have seen his face transform from this enraged savage to one resemble a winning lottery punter, for he was now certain that his supper was going to real thing. Less than a dollar claimed lost in the bus was a reason for this hive of activity!!! My other TIG colleague, upon dropping g off the bus, lamented the brutal facts of life that even led a brother beat to death his fellow brother over a peace of meat. BFOL why some husbands are beginning to count the number of chicken pieces in pots in the kitchen. BFOL why people resort to eating roots and wild fruits to live on. These are but in the chain of brutal facts of life. You may be having an opportunity in life right now and you may not seem to realise just how valuable it may be until certain brutal facts of life catch up with you. You can evade some extreme ends in life by working harder for now and by the way hard work is only possible with a bit of some sacrifice. The drunken brother above was ready to tear up people in the bus for a dollar, his final days’ savior to his hunger state. Take time to review and even cost what is round you at least once a week, as this would help you get restored on your focus. Just don’t take anything for granted in life lest you get visited by brutal facts of life.

I want to exclaim this time, on the way nowadays are getting natured, of course by ICTs. Those of us already familiar with them do realize just how these have simplified our lives. To my friends Adam and Eve in Singani rural area, a mere click of a mouse is a wonder that can brace all reasons to justify a new chapter in their knowledge. I am forced to shake my head sideways, close to shading tears instead of smiling with the dual. Me and you constantly share and exchange valuable information at every thought. Little do we emphasize on taking and sharing our skills with the least capable in deep rooted communities. I don’t think one needs a degree or to be highly leaned for them to get familiarized with ICTs. Am sure one step can be taken which can see the many Adams and Eves in your areas improve their scopes as you take a piece of what you can. Design incentives that would get ICTs there. You can start with posters/broachers or slips in ethnic or traditional languages which can be stuck all round communities before getting the softwares and hardwares following .Lets make this year be a time to direct the transfer of ICTs to the masses especially in rural areas. This world is getting to a point when almost everything will be driven by ICTs and thus the need to get the rural coming along can not be over emphasized.