Temba Nolutshungu from the Free Market Foundation in South Africa (www.freemarketfoundation.com) visited Zambia during the second week in June 2011. He was taken by Murray Sanderson of the Zambian Institute for Public Policy Analysis to make presentations at four universities and colleges.
In every presentation Temba outlined the character and contents of the CD “Ideas for a Free Society” and explored:-
- The importance of individual freedom
- The separation of powers
- The rule of law
- The state expands at the expense of individual liberties.
Participants were all given a free copy of the CD and urged to study it and to lend it to others. Some 500 copies were handed out at the above meetings, including 300 at NIPA, whose staff were keen to pass them on to selected students among the 8,000 at the Institute.
Murray Sanderson and his colleagues in ZIPPA considered the visit to have been very successful. The presentations and the CDs distributed came at a good time, as Zambia was on the verge of a general election. The email addresses recorded will enable ZIPPA to maintain and strengthen contacts made with the students and staff who participated. All who attended the presentations were invited to enter their names, email addresses and cell phone numbers on circulated lists, and were told that they would soon receive copies of the two papers – The Free Market and its Enemies and Foreign Aid and Free Societies - on which Temba’s talks had been based.
1. The Zambia Catholic University, 13 June 2011
This small, recently established, university at Kalulushi near Kitwe was a last minute replacement for the Copperbelt University, whose staff were on strike. Fortunately, the ZCU was able at very short notice to give us an hour in the late afternoon. Temba’s address on ‘The Free Market and its Enemies’ attracted an attentive audience of about 100, whose members asked good questions.
2. Mulungushi University and Kwame Nkrumah College, 14 th June 2011
Although the University itself was closed, some of the academic staff were
able to attend, and the university authorities kindly opened their facilities to an influx of 100 or more students from nearby Kwame Nhrumah College. Temba’s presentation - this time on the disadvantages of offering special conditions to attract foreign investment – aroused much interest and provoked critical questions, which were well answered.
3. Evelyn Hone College for Further Education, 15 th June 2011
A talk to the Evelyn Hone College in Lusaka attracted some 250 students, who almost filled the College’s main hall. Here too there were lively questions after the address, after which some enthusiastic students stayed on for further discussion with the speaker.
4. The National Institute for Public Administration (NIPA), 17 th June 2011
NIPA performs the vital function of training Zambia’s civil service. Although the Institute’s students were on vacation, the Executive Director was keen for academic staff to take advantage of Temba’s visit. The meeting was attended by well over 50 staff members, who responded with keen interest.
All who attended the presentations were invited to enter their names, email addresses and cell phone numbers on circulated lists, and were told that they would soon receive copies of the two papers – The Free Market and its Enemies and Foreign Aid and Free Societies - on which Temba’s talks had been based. Of the 293 entries made on sheets of paper passed around at the meetings 220 give email details. Many who attended failed to enter their names, as the current examinations meant that there was coming and going during the meetings, especially at Evelyn Hone. Temba expressed himself very happy with the attendances and with the keen interest and positive response with which his presentations were received.
My colleagues and I in ZIPPA consider the visit to have been very successful. The presentations and the CDs distributed have come at a good time, as Zambia is on the verge of a general election. The email addresses recorded will enable ZIPPA to maintain and strengthen contacts made with the students and staff who participated.
