GBM's BRAGGADOCIO

THE story carried in the Sunday edition of The Post where defence minister Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba otherwise known as GBM claimed to be the powerhouse of the country and bragged about his wealth made a sad reading.

It is quite unfortunate that this came from someone who is supposed to be called "honourable".

For GBM to publicly boast about his riches or rather wealth in a country that has 70% of its population living in abject poverty is not only shameful but immoral.

I would like to believe the minister is a Christian and has obviously come across Jeremiah 9:23 which reads and I quote:

“Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches."

The parable of the rich fool is told in Luke 12:13-21 (KJV). While the rich man was saying, 'And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry...", God said unto him, "thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?"

In saying all this, I'm not here wishing death upon our minister, but to remind him that in the history of mankind no man has ever used his wealth to buy life.

GBM should take a lesson in humility from the likes of America's richest man Bill Gates.

In March 2012 the world renowned Microsoft Corporation founder made a relatively low key visit to Zambia with a pledge to finance HIV, malaria and child vaccination programmes.

At no point during his visit did the billionaire talk about his wealth or even claim to be the powerhouse of the US.

In all his speeches we never heard boastful statements like, "Bill Gates name whether in Zambia or everywhere is known" and what not.

GBM shouldn't overrate himself and think every Zambian know him and that we all envy his wealth because that is far from the truth.

I'm reminded of a quote from one great son of Zambia who once said, "If one had an opportunity to come in close contact with history and analyze these matters, one would realize that human beings tend to make a fool of themselves if they think too much about positions they should occupy in life, in politics, in things."

There are so many people in this country who are not obsessed with personal glory and  never torment themselves thinking about what positions they have to occupy in life.

We have fellow citizens who would rather aspire for an anonymous place in life.

GBM need and should get off his high horse because pride goes before a fall.