Zambian Proverb

Nothing beats self-reliance and preparedness when facing challenges. Relying chiefly on external assistance can leave you vulnerable when that aid is no longer available. This week’s proverb speaks to recent developments. The Trump administration issued a 90-day freeze on US foreign aid, including critical programmes for AIDS relief. This abrupt suspension has severely impacted HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention efforts in several African countries, such as Kenya and Nigeria. If our leaders prioritised taking control of our abundant resources and utilising them to benefit the African masses and not foreign multinational corporations, we would become stronger and less prone to outside shocks.