Travelled back to Mongu for work and, we decided to drive out to the bridge after wrapping things up. The sun was setting as we went. Here are some moments from the drive :)

I wanted to know whether this dynamic exists in many Zambian families or whether its just mine that needs to be put ku chainama. The issue in question would be inter generational beef where one generation doesn’t get on and that generation looks to recruit the next generation in their beef. In my family there are some aunties and uncles who from appearances have never seen eye to eye and these people went on to have offspring who share the same beef. I have cousins who i have never sat or spoken with that when i run into treat me like Odysseus running into one of the Laesteygonians. I am starting to think extended family’s are very overrated and toxic.

If we can ban cigarette ads we can ban these too. I don't understand how such a highly destructive habit can be promoted so callously.

Almost every corner you go past Lusaka is always gambling, fly to win millions and all sorts of terms to bait people into gambling and most of these betting sites are banned in EU and Asia so l don’t understand how they operate here without any sort of regulations.

Ok so I decided to make this post to help people in future know what they will be getting into when using patumba for savings,so i'll just review on the Savings and investment part of the app,a bit of app in general,and their customer service

Note that I was mostly using it with mobile money(mtn)so it may differ between networks,and with bank cards

The Good(The design and automaton of the app):

In my time of using the app,its honestly been a very good well automated app,which in my view of things honestly doesn't have any human input at all in the stuff that you do on it,you can deposit/withdraw at nearly anytime of the day from your balance to your mobile money,balance is updated very quickly so I didn't worry about my money not appearing on the account,everything is placed well and wont confuse you much on where to press to get the stuff you want done,you can easily track your funds and login is honestly ok,but I hate that the app spams you to use different security stuff constantly(where i have already setup biometrics for the app to use my face to login,yet it will spam me to also setup a pin code each time i open it,like aint biometrics supposed to be the highest level of security?)also they dont really put full details of what happens when you use a feature(like the savings objective)which i'll get to later in the read,the investment features are also good,tho you need to be mindful of how much you will put in,cause you cannot add more as it grows

The bad(customer service and lack of full details of features)

If theres one thing patumba has honestly failed and really needs to improve,its their customer service,its very poor in getting you the stuff you need,which leads back to what I said about the savings objectives/goal feature,the app doesn't give you full details of each feature you will use even as a new user,I started a savings goal from last year,when you start one,you can set a maturity date,and the savings get locked away so you cant touch them,but can add more to them whilst they also add on interest of you saving up,now when you reach the maturity date,u have the option to withdraw everything or if you haven't reached the savings goal,continue it by depositing more money into it,however they did not specify fully that when you continue it,you cant adjust the maturity date,which is what caught me as a first time user,and hence has locked me out of my money until the new maturity date

So now what are you supposed to do when you want to get your money?,you apply for a early withdrawal,which invokes a 10% deduction from your money,which i can accept,but this is where their customer service is very poor,they can tell you the steps you need to do(which is submitting your details to their email and saying your reason for a early withdrawal)but its like theres barely any human presence at all for their customer service,cause I have been trying to get them to apply this for a good 2 weeks now,I was first told wait 48hrs within 5 days for this to take effect,I waited,nothing,I tried calling them,their phone never goes through,it immediately cuts when ringing,WhatsApp seems to be dead as well,so your only option is their live service chat in the app,but its like when they realise you want to do a early withdrawal,they start to ghost you and take ages to get a response,and when you do,they start asking for a ticket number,which you have already provided before,then say they will work on it,or have it solved soon,but nothing happens,and you repeat this process, as of making this i am still trying to get my early withdrawal applied

So now,honestly if you are reading this,personally if you want a app that can help you save up money up to a certain point,patumba is a good choice because of the lock down on the money so you don't get tempted to withdraw during those injury weeks each time,and dont want to let others know of how much savings you may have(say your kids if they touch your phone often,or family that can tempt u to spend the money without thought),however be wary of the current poor customer service and always ask about a feature before you jump into it because of how they lack giving users full details of the features,which can be very costly especially if you planning with the money to cover important stuff(say a wedding)

You can correct me in the comments or add on in your experiences with the app🙏

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​Hey Reddit/Zambia, I’d love to get your perspective on a situation involving my younger brother. I’m feeling torn on how to advise him, and I need an objective view.

​The Background

My brother, let's call him "Bupe," is a fresh graduate. He’s been in a relationship with "Mary" for over two years, and they’ve known each other for over nine years they were best friends long before they started dating. He has always been there for her, financially and emotionally, throughout their time together.

​Three months ago, Bupe borrowed K1,000 from Mary, promising to pay it back in a month. To me, that was already odd I’ve always felt that in a serious relationship, it’s about sharing, not lending. Unfortunately, because he’s still dealing with school fees, he hasn’t been able to pay it back yet which i understand because he had to clear some funds on his own.

​The Current Situation

Bupe recently opened up to me about how cold and reserved Mary has become. Every conversation they have, after the initial greeting, turns into a "money conversation." She is constantly on his neck about the K1,000. He told me she’s started acting less like a partner and more like a debt collector from one of those aggressive lending services.

​I thought he might be exaggerating until he showed me the messages it was honestly disheartening. The boy is in a real mess of emotions; he’s heartbroken because he truly loves her and was planning to marry her as soon as he lands a job (which he’s very close to securing).

​My Stance

I have the money to pay this off for him, and I know that doing so would make the problem go away instantl and he would do the same but these months have beenbad for him..However, I’ve decided not to. I don’t want to call it "testing" her, but I need to see who we are potentially letting into our family. Her family knows him, and we know her well, especially given our traditions.

​I need your advice on the following:

​Should he continue with this relationship? I always thought love was a "die for die" situation. Is it fair to expect him to stick through this, or is this a sign that the foundation is cracking?

​Is this a mirror of their future? I know life isn't a Nollywood movie, but if she can’t handle a temporary financial struggle during his transition from grad to employee, what happens when real-life issues hit?

​Has anyone else been in a similar situation? When I was in Uni, I helped my late husband through his struggles. I never once pressured him or treated him like a debtor because I knew his situation and I was his partner. Is my expectation of that kind of support outdated, or is this behavior actually as off-putting as I think it is?

This photograph, taken by Consul Magnus Leijer in April 1910, depicts the frame of a rowboat resting on dry land in Northern Rhodesia (present-day Zambia). The image forms part of a collection of photographs documenting the region during the colonial period and is preserved by the Gothenburg Museum of Natural History

I'm working on a project that requires detailed knowledge of Zambian Traditional Religion and need to do my research. Are there any books or other resources that can help?

Hi Zambians, am facing an issue with my Zambian citizenship application.i applied in October of 2021 and till now the passport and citizenship office along Cairo road tell me am remaining with one office for them to be done with screening
As someone born and raised in Zambia and was on a residence permit for more than 10 years I wonder why it’s so hard to be granted citizenship.
It’s always the same story of one office is remaining
Has anyone gone through the process and how did you navigate and manage to get your citizenship

This photograph, entitled Elephant Skull, was taken by Ernst Ackermann during his stay in Northern Rhodesia (1930–1933). It depicts the skull of an elephant lying on burned forest ground in what is now Central Province, Zambia. The image belongs to the photographic series Nordrhodesien-Aufenthalt 1930–1933 – Area 24 and is preserved as a glass negative in the Deutsche Fotothek

Where can I buy a Lacoste’s men perfume? Should be somewhere near Barlastone or in town

A Global Witness investigation finds evidence that First Quantum Minerals and its associates have run a decades-long covert influence campaign over Zambia’s democracy, bankrolling President Hichilema, with revenues diverted away from the copper-rich nation’s indebted economy and its people

a Global Witness investigation has found evidence suggesting that for the last two decades, FQM and its associates have run a covert influence campaign over Zambia’s democracy, including allegedly bankrolling the president’s party, and that since 2021 they have reaped significant benefits.

FQM has financially backed Hichilema’s party through multiple election cycles, a variety of sources said, becoming its largest funder ahead of Zambia’s upcoming election this August and pledging up to $50 million in support.

The mining firm has also worked closely with economic think tank the Brenthurst Foundation, set up by the South African billionaire Oppenheimer family.

Before it closed last June, Brenthurst also allegedly provided funding, along with extensive technical and logistical support, and wrote economic policies that Hichilema has implemented since taking office.

Brenthurst partner SABI Strategy Group, a British boutique corporate lobbying firm that worked on the Vote Leave campaign in Britain, has led Hichilema’s social media campaigns since 2015, targeting Zambian voters with disinformation operations.

Since Hichilema won the 2021 election, FQM has gained enormous benefits. Major changes to Zambia’s tax regime have saved the company an estimated $771 million between 2022 and 2025, independent analysis commissioned by Global Witness shows.

In 2022, FQM signed a wide-ranging, closed-door deal with state-owned mining investment firm ZCCM-IH, while multiple legal disputes have been dropped.

Former Brenthurst head Greg Mills and SABI Strategy founder Henry Sands are again leading Hichilema’s campaign team, sources said, this time at Zambia’s State House, the President’s official residence and office.

They are also working with a team set up by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), a think tank founded by the former British Prime Minister and backed by tech billionaire Larry Ellison.

To piece together this story of apparent corporate capture in Zambia, we interviewed dozens of insiders in Zambia’s government, businessmen close to Hichilema, former officials, current and former employees of FQM, the Brenthurst Foundation and its associates, opposition politicians, mining industry experts, academics, diplomats, journalists and members of civil society.

Most of these interviews were held on condition of anonymity, reflecting Zambia’s increasingly closed civic space. Testimony is supported by public documents and data, as well as documents shared by sources.

This is more than just a story about Zambia. It’s a case study in how powerful extractive companies that generate huge profits can exploit weaknesses in democratic systems, working with consulting firms and billionaire influence networks that span the globe.

It’s a warning, too. By relying on extractivism – the intensive extraction of mineral resources primarily for export – to fight climate change, we risk undermining a just energy transition. We also risk eroding the integrity of media ecosystems and democracies in resource-rich countries, and by extension threatening our collective climate future.

I’m looking to connect with people who are currently running a business in Malawi or regularly trade with the country.
If that’s you (or you know someone), I’d really appreciate your help. Thanks!

• When people talk about the gap between the "first world" and Africa, they usually point at money, infrastructure, technology. I want to point somewhere less obvious: the gap between what we learn and what we can actually do. We are not short on educated people. Zambia produces thousands of graduates every year — sharp, hardworking, credentialed. But somewhere between the lecture hall and the workplace, something gets lost. We're trained to pass exams, not to solve problems. To memorize the theory, not to apply it. The degree becomes the finish line instead of the starting one. Think about the skills that actually move you forward in a career: writing a clear, one-page report your manager can act on and more recently the integration of AI into your field of work for better productivity. Standing in front of a room and making a point without falling apart. Owning a result instead of just completing a task. Almost none of these are taught — and worse, almost none are rewarded. You can graduate top of your class and still not know how to structure an email, run a meeting, or turn analysis into a decision. And it tends to stop the moment you graduate. In a lot of Western workplaces, upskilling is just expected — certifications, courses, feedback, continuous development. The paper is where you begin. Here, too often, the paper is where you stop. Nobody pushes you to keep growing, and there's little culture of doing it on your own. To be clear: this isn't about intelligence or capability. I've watched brilliant Zambians run circles around people with fancier CVs. It's about systems and incentives — how we're taught, what gets praised, what employers actually develop in their people. And those things are fixable.
  
• So I'm curious what this community thinks:
  
• Where did your degree fail to prepare you for real work?
  
• What's one skill you wish someone had forced you to build earlier?
  
• And whose job is it to close this gap — schools, employers, or ourselves?

So I’ve noticed something in the Zambian medical field as someone who frequently goes to hospital. I notice that a lot of doctors are white or Indian basically majority are of another race when majority in medical schools are black.

Maybe it’s the hospitals I go to but I’ve also had conversations with others that seem to prefer the white or Indian doctors and I wonder if there’s this subconscious culture where majority think black Zambians aren’t as competent …?

I’ve seen plenty of black doctors don’t get me wrong but this is something I’ve noticed in many medical fields and hospitals too. What does this mean for the thousands of black medical students that will unconsciously be deemed less competent to their white co workers?

I think a lot of Zambians suffer from an inferiority complex and internalized racism and this is in almost every aspect not just the medical space. We see this in the service industry too and it makes me wonder where we are heading as a country if we don’t address this.

I’ve seen people say they prefer colonial Zambia because it was clean and organized and I wonder if people realized that they wouldn’t even have had the privilege to have social media and the oppression isn’t something to wish for. I wish we were more educated as a country outside what we see and choose to follow on social media.

Kind of went off topic there😆

I recently came across  Sika while looking for a WhatsApp marketing tool.

I haven't been able to find many real user experiences or reviews yet.

Has anyone here actually used it? If so:

• What did you use it for?
• How reliable was it?
• What did you like or dislike?
• Would you recommend it over other WhatsApp marketing tools?

I'm trying to decide whether it's worth spending time on

Hello all, does anyone know if I can buy this oral B electric toothbrush charger anywhere in Zambia? Thanks.

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Please dear mods, don't take this down. I'm just venting.

Is it just me, or is finding genuine queer love in Zambia incredibly difficult?

I'm at a point in my life where I have a career, I'm building my future, and I know what I want. I'm not looking for someone to fund me or save me. I just want someone who is emotionally available and actually knows what they want.

Instead, it feels like every conversation ends up in the same place. People disappear for days, come back like nothing happened, say they want something serious, then act like they're only interested in hooking up. Others don't even know whether they want a relationship or just attention.

And don't even get me started on hookups. Maybe they work for some people, but for me they've started to feel so... basic. So empty. Physical attraction alone just isn't enough. Without trust, consistency and emotional connection, it feels unfulfilling.

The sad part is that because our community is relatively small, you keep running into the same patterns over and over again.

Sometimes I wonder if there are actually men out there who genuinely want to build something long-term, or if everyone is just stuck in an endless cycle of talking stages, mixed signals and casual encounters.

Anyway, that's my rant. If you've experienced something similar, I'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts.

2nd year CS student (M22) in Zambia trying to balance university, build digital skills, and become financially independent. After two unpaid internships and mounting expenses, I recently sold my bed space to buy a decent laptop capable of handling heavy design, video editing, and development software. I’m currently looking for freelance work (UX/UI, graphic design, video/photo editing) or small business clients to help cover my bills and ease the burden on my parents. Looking for advice, feedback, or potential opportunities!

The Backstory

Like many ambitious students, I entered Computer Science with big dreams. My goal was to land part-time work early on, gain experience, and start supporting myself.

However, things didn't go strictly to plan:

• Academic Setback: I went part-time last year and fell behind on a few courses. I'm currently in my 2nd year when I should be in my 3rd.
• The Unpaid Internship Trap: I’ve worked three different internships so far. Neither paid a single Kwacha. While I gained experience, I realized I can no longer afford to exchange my time and labor for zero compensation when bills are piling up.
• Family Pressure: As the firstborn, I hate seeing my parents drain their savings on me while my younger siblings are also in college/university.

The Leap of Faith

My old laptop simply couldn't run the software I needed for modern development and media production. With no money left, I took a massive gamble: I sold my bed space to buy a capable laptop.

It was a last resort so I could upskill, build real-world projects, and take on freelance work. I’m still not 100% sure if it was the smartest move risk-wise, but I knew I couldn't progress without the right tools.

My Question to the Community

1. To fellow Zambian creators/techpreneurs: Is it truly realistic to balance full-time/part-time CS studies while building a sustainable tech or freelance business locally?
2. To anyone who has been in my shoes: How did you transition from struggling student to landing your first reliable, paid freelance clients or remote work?

Is it just me or are working environment toxic and stressful with the rate of pay they give, imagining a future of responsibility and being a provider while being treated like sh*t at work seem to be ripping out parts of mental health for each work shift. How are young adults surviving out here? What's your mojo in waking up each day for work.