Dropping out of University, a devastating blow –Banda

By Winston Muleba II, Zambia

Being a University/College drop put can be a devastating blow and recovery can seem impossible to others even those of a strongest will.

 

Wilson Banda is a man who has never looked back, after dropping out of University of Zambia because of eye problem.

Banda,42,born and bred in Lubuto township of Ndola and is a fifth born in a family of 7 children, 4 brothers and 3 sisters. He is also a proud father of four children. The first born has already completed secondary school, the second born is in grade 4, the third born is in grade 4 and the last born is in grade 2.

Banda says he developed eye problems in grade 7.

“I went to Lubuto primary school in Ndola but then in grade 7, I developed eye problem .Successfully I qualified to grade 8 and offered admission at Masala Secondary School. I was at Masala Secondary School from grade 8 to 12.” he says.

Banda explains that while at school, he always wanted to go to University to study Electrical Engineering or Education.

“In 1991 it was a dream comes true, I was accepted at the University of Zambian in the School of Natural Sciences. I remember this year we were only five of us from Masala Secondary School who were offered admission at the University of Zambia. Bursaries then, were not a problem unlike the system today. In those years it was automatic when one is offered admission at a University then 100% bursaries was an assurance.” he says.

He says his eye problem resurfaced in his first year at UNZA.

“My eye problem resurfaced just there in my first year, I ended withdrawing and came back home for some medical attention.I was taken to Kitwe Central Hospital for checkups and the doctor advised that an operation be done. My family and I had no option but to accept. An operation was done, unfortunately the condition worsened such that I almost became blind. I was admitted in Kitwe central hospital for 2 months. When I got better I went back to UNZA to continue my studies though, I was behind by a year because of my eye problem. During this same period my father died. 1992 when I went back to UNZA to continue my studies, my eye medical condition resurfaced again for the second time while in the University premises. This time I decided to stop school because my eyes could not allow me to study rather look at a white paper.” he says.

“1992 was my rough year in society seeing that I had nowhere to start from when I left campus.”

Banda explains how he got his first capital.

“One day as I was home in Ndola, two people came with brand new mini buses to ask for were they could find another man who knew upholstery following that my father had died by then. My father used to be a carpenter, so in my free time I used to help him in the workshop. He was so open that he taught me carpentry and upholstery at a very tender age.This was my starting point; I told the men that I could do it. I had to make the number of bus seats they wanted for the two buses. The money I realized from this work was my start-up capital. I left Ndola for Mkushi district to venture in a cattle business which my older brother was doing. I decided to leave Ndola for Mkushi because there was no assurance that another customer could possibly come.”

“My brother used to buy cattle from southern province so I became part of his business though I could only buy two cattle per trip at that particular time and sometimes one whereas my brother could buy in large numbers seeing that he had enough capital. After slaughter we could sell the meat in our butchery in Lubuto, Ndola. He adds that the cattle business could not work out for me so I decided to stop and start selling charcoal.Eventually I got married while doing the charcoal business. I used to buy bags of charcoal from tug ar gan, in Ndola along Kabwe Road.After my family started growing, the charcoal business stopped meeting our demands. Therefore, I decided to put up an upholstery workshop at home lucky enough customers started coming. Since then this has been my business besides my poultry business and have never looked back. I rear chickens because it’s not every day that I get upholstery tenders and during harvest time like this period of the year in May/June I have a 3 tonnes Toyota Dyna which I hire to the farmers who are harvesting their produce and those who are shifting from one place to another.” he says.

Banda says, the main challenge he faces in his business is labour.

“I do not have enough manpower as a result sometimes I end up spending 5 working days to finish up making seats for one hiace minibus. Upholstery basically involves, welding, tailoring and carpentry.Some time back I could do some carpentry jobs separately but in 2011 campaign period when I went to buy some timber, sadly I was fractured by some political cadres so I no longer do that because my right hand no longer lifts very heavy stuffs. In times when my children are on school holidays they help me do some minor works besides some two guys that I normally work with.” he says.

He says, his quality seats of are of high standard.

“I refurbish and make all sort of vehicle seats ranging from buses, cars and trucks” he says. The qualities of seats I make are not just any ordinary seats, they are of high standard and I’m proud that all my clients appreciate the quality of seats I make.” he says.

“I am yet to register my company with PACRA but very soon I will register it in the name yet to be decided.”

He urges young people not to mistake laziness for leisure.

“My advice to the young people basically is just on leisure and laziness. Banda observes that young people mistake laziness for leisure. Most young people of nowadays do not go out and look for what to keep them busy for instance jobs or possibly start their own business projects. They enjoy staying home, drinking beer and watching TV; I wonder why lazy people do not want to work for whatever reasons” he says.

“I perceive leisure as when one is just chilling and taking a break but still getting done with what has to be done. I further wish to state that lazy people live off benefits and are not bothered to work for money.It takes a focused individual to realize that Laziness is a secret ingredient that goes into failure. But, it is only kept a secret from the person who fails and basically what we do during our working hours determines what we have and what we do in our leisure hours determines what we are.”

Banda says he doesn’t regret dropping out of school.

“I don’t regret dropping out of University because I think that wasn’t just my way of making it in life and besides I accepted the situation in its infancy. Thank God, I make ends meet with my upholstery, poultry and care hire business.Normally people drop out of school for various reasons some which include lack of finances; basically this is the biggest factor that makes people drop out of Universities/Colleges. Among other factors high expenses, sickness, work load, pregnancies, failing and others.Anyway dropping out of University is not an easy issue to handle though.” he says.

Banda appeals to school dropouts.

“My humble appeal basically goes to the school dropouts especially at tertiary levels. I do understand that people drop out of school for various reasons as earlier alluded to but on a sad note others lose hope in themselves and end up on the streets or doing some other unproductive things. Being a living testimony I can testify that it’s really painful to dropout from school especially at University/College even then one must realize that there is more to life, he emphasized.” he says.

He adds “If one keeps on reflecting on wasted investment which is time spent at University/College little progress is made in life. The best one can do is to keep the head up and stay focused; just because you dropped out of school doesn’t mean you are not smart. Banda adds that as far as he knows, a person who has stepped into University/College and drops out for whatever reasons is never the same in terms of thinking, this points to the fact that our primitive way of thinking minimizes and to some extent ceases because of different people one might come across and the environment itself instill some changes in the way we approach issues. Brain is the startup capital in some way, if used properly.”

Banda says, dropping out of school is not a road block to success.

“School dropouts have all it takes to succeed, they must understand that they are worth it and can do wonders in life even after dropping out of school.” he says.

“I have been inspired by so many people to mention just a few of them, the likes of the late Dr. Mwanawasa Patrick, Mr Elias Chipimo and many others.” he says.

Banda says in his free time he likes taking some lagers because the nature of his job is very tiresome.

“I get tired after work so I like taking some lagers after work. I would want people to remember me as just a man who worked hard to provide for his family” he says.

For comments; mwenyamuleba@gmail.com / 0966 461 943/0950 594 050