If there is one area of disagreement between shareholders and the Board, it is in the choice of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the company. In most cases, the two parties have unmatched expectations. Shareholders on one hand want a CEO who can drive results and ensure the business declares profits. That is a...

It is a sobering reality to comprehend that the economic value and scarce resource that we seek in Lusaka is actually outside of it. If you only lived in Lusaka you would think our country has a shortage of prime land – more and more, houses are built close together in this city – an...

A central bank, reserve bank, or monetary authority is an institution that manages the currency and interest rates of a country or formal monetary union and oversees the financial system. Central Banks are therefore essential institutions and well known for their power to print money! Since money can be said to be the blood of...

Last year, I was 30 seconds late for a scheduled board meeting at one of the local organisations. The Chairman greeted me warmly and as I took my seat, he expressed his displeasure about keeping everyone waiting, ‘Director Kanyama, we value your busy schedule though you kept us waiting. The meeting was scheduled to start...

In times of crisis, disruptions or significant challenges, transformational leaders holding public office should:  Demonstrate competence to resolve the challenge at hand in a way that does not worsen the problem. Now, competence involves wisdom in judgement, dignity in action, soundness in decision making, ideally founded on the best knowledge available at the time,...

On 19 August 2008, Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, the third President of Zambia, died in a French hospital after reportedly suffering a stroke. Twelve years later, Mwanawasa remains as vivid in death as he was in public life. He is widely regarded as one of Zambia’s most effective leaders, who secured debt relief, steered the country...

A few years ago, I closely followed a story where management decided to transfer the marketing manager (who reported to the Marketing and Sales Director) to another department. The decision was purely strategic but did not seem to go well with the individual involved. The following day, the Company Secretary received an instruction from the...

The Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) which comes to an end in 2021 has been the primary guiding document underpinning Zambia’s development agenda since 2017. Since we are inching towards the end of the plan, it is important that a critique is conducted using the evidence that is currently obtaining on the ground. The pillar...

In April 1952, a 26-year old man stood before the Northern Rhodesia Chief Justice, who had been asked by the Attorney General to consider whether this young man was ‘a danger to peace and good order’ and whether he had been ‘inciting Africans against Europeans’. The judge was further asked to consider whether he found...

My view is that busy organisations want to bring on board busy people to join their rank as directors, but these individuals are just too busy to want to be engaged in another busy organization. The result is that individuals who are fully deserving to be directors are not easily available. They are already engaged...