How will you be remembered?

By Winston Muleba II 

INSIDE all of us there is a need and the desire to be heard, to have our innermost thoughts, feelings and desires expressed for others to hear, to see and to understand. We all want to matter to someone, to leave a mark, writers just take those thoughts, feelings, and desire and express them in such a way that readers not only read but feel them as well. 

Life is so complex in that there are many aspects of our lives which require our time and attention. With the limited time and resources available to us, it is not possible to pay attention to everything that goes on in our lives. 

Some people have opted to work very hard to dedicate their personal and professional life to principle centered living such that they are always driven by a passion and conscience. As such, they are dedicated to lives of no sacrifice but to lives of passionate, relentless commitment to their work, family, community and church to make a lasting difference. 

Very few of people think much about how they might want to be remembered by peers after they retire or die but sooner or later this thought comes to all of us, usually as we reach the later years of our careers or when we are faced with the untimely death of a colleague. 

How will you be remembered? If you left your school, work or church tomorrow, how would you be remembered there? Will they remember you as the person who wrote a policy manual or a training program or a disaster plan? Or has somebody who chanted songs in a praise choir? Or possibly has somebody who got A pluses in every test you wrote. You can be remembered for in so many ways, this could be through a child or a book, or painting, or a house or a wall you built or a pair of shoes made. It is therefore, wise and effective, to focus on certain areas of our lives and work on them to improve the chances of our success and maintain the momentum of our lives. 

Recently our country was Mourning the passing on of our Zambia’s president Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, not too long ago Zambian football and the country at large were mourning the passing on of legendary commentator Dennis Liwewe, who died at the age of 78. Liwewe who was known as the 'Voice of Zambian football' Liwewe succumbed to liver complications in a Lusaka hospital. In his 41-year illustrious career; broadcasting from different stadiums to millions of people who enjoyed his distinct voice on the airwaves. At his peak, Liwewe who coined the nickname "KK 11" in reference to the Zambian team that died in the 1993 Gabon Crash became so popular that fans would troop to stadia to watch live games whilst listening to his commentaries on radio. In his event of death people remembered him as a man who dedicated all his life to football that he had such a passion for football that sometimes he even used his personal money to follow the national team. Others remembered him as a man who was an inspiration and brand of Zambian football. Everything about Liwewe, from his private life to social discussions, revolved around football. 

Just recently the late Father Miha Derevenski was post-humously awarded a life time achievement award at the Zambia Music Awards for 2014.This was in accordance with his commitment to hard work. Father Miha is remembered as a father of the poor and who assisted countless orphans to complete their education. He was a voice of the oppressed and championed justice; he spoke out strongly and boldly on matters of good governance and freedom of the press, especially through icengelo and challenge magazine of which he was the editor. During his time on earth, Father Miha also remembered Dr. FTJ Chiluba through his written paper titled Zambia presidency legacies, has a man who brought back some internal freedoms, gave full swing to private initiative, liberalized market, gave importance to personal choices of thinking, allowed independent mass media, repaired a number of dilapidated schools and roads, furnished schools with teachers and even empowered (not without a certain personal campaigning advantage) a good number of poor people with houses and private property. Despite the enormous difficulties at the very beginning of MMD rule. He further stated that the former, were a sympathetic evaluation of whatever positive Chiluba managed to contribute to the Country; unfortunately, there could be quite a lot of negative factors too. In the same paper titled Zambia presidency legacies the late father Miha also remembered and pointed out that Dr. Levy Patrick Mwanawasa was surely an outspoken person on corruption issues. He did win back some international confidence of investment, security and positive relations. He tried his level best to influence SADC neighbors to accept a fully democratic process in their political and economic policies. He had called the SADC meeting right because he was very much aware of the fact that the neighbor’s troubles soon become your own if you ignore them. He therefore spared no time to do something about it, despite the most difficult uphill battles. His HIV/AIDS policies surely bore also good results. Let us therefore remember Mwanawasa for his good actions, but also learn from his many mistakes, he said. Among other gallant sons of Africa who are remembered for their good works are the likes of Nelson Madiba Mandela who is remembered for his belief in youth-led social structures: While living in Johannesburg, he immersed himself in anti-apartheid politics by joining the African National Congress (ANC). Dissatisfied with the ANC’s inability to mobilize youth, Mandela helped form the ANC Youth League in 1944. His determination: He failed to obtain a law degree from the University of Witwatersrand. But he never gave up. Mandela studied while imprisoned and graduated from the University of South Africa in 1988. With his knowledge, he offered low-cost services for individuals seeking justice. His non-violence as a means of change: Like Mahatma Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr., he practiced a “surrender-without-a-fight strategy” to promote peace and unity in his racially divided country. Mandela received the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize for his promotion of peaceful rehabilitation in South Africa. Madiba is also remembered as a man who was results-oriented and an anti-poverty campaigner: Mandela taught us that “overcoming poverty is not a task of charity; it is an act of justice.” To honor his vision, let’s prioritize investment in quality education for all. 

For the fact that every decision we make and every interaction leaves an impact. The late Cardinal Merdado Mazombwe, was the first local ordinary for the diocese of Chipata. Cardinal Mazombwe is remembered as an icon of the priest ministry and he was also a shepherd of the local church. 

This question poses a great challenge to many people therefore, take some time to think long and hard about what you want to leave behind and be remembered for. Are you doing the right things to achieve your desired vision? 

Well, to be remembered for a good and noble cause one must embrace love for one another; accept everyone as their brothers and sisters no matter what race, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or culture. Be respectful, companionate to mention a few. 

May the souls of the mentioned departed, rest in peace!