MONEY HAS A PRICE
We can’t live without money. We need it. It comes with a price. Chibamba Kanyama says that money is a scarce resource. That got me thinking. I now look at money closely. When it comes in there seems to be so much to pay out and before one knows it – it has gone. I used to love reading the conspiracy theory books about how we are trapped in the cycle of work, money, debt, overload of expenses and responsibilities and the rat race continues while the rich get richer. There is some truth in that because for many people it is a hand to mouth existence. Don’t think that it is only the poor people that are affected.
There is a thin façade, a veneer of material prosperity in the middle to lower income group. The status symbols are a must have when there is money coming in yet it isn’t sustainable. The trappings of life cost money, effort and maintenance. A young 20 year old well schooled lady was asked by an older man what she would do with ZMK8million. Her response was she would do her hair and nails. That’s the problem with the girls they aim to0 low – if that were invested in a small business, buying rice in bulk and repackaging it, buying chitenge’s at Kasumbalesa and selling them in the towns or even learning how to do nails that would be productive.
So the money comes and goes and men pay for important things like talk time, hair and nails and some provisions. The girls are excited by this. How long does it last? It’s a flash in the pan and becomes an addiction – having nice things that men pay for in exchange for sexual favour.
Everyone has a sell by date and for men and women money earned on a regular basis that is sustainable is the way to go.
Human Trafficking for prostitution is a serious and real issue. I had an interesting conversation with an English man who has lived in Zambia for 30 years. His take was that the girls are up for it and the men provide the necessary money to keep the economy going. He said that its part of life and that men need sex often and so that’s why the girls are making money. Well I am not old fashioned by any means but this shocked me. Is it that men want to pretend that there is nothing wrong with their actions, that if they pay then the transaction is credible. Poverty is just a silly excuse and the girls that are going into prostitution at an early age are the girls in the towns, who have had schooling and are in colleges.
Men also think that if girls are willing to engage in sex with a man in return for money that its fair game. I was shocked even further to hear that a man of 30 years old in Lusaka has made 3 girls pregnant – within months of each other. He is educated and has a good job and businesses. What nonsense is this. So this means unprotected sex with at least 3 confirmed sources. What about the others. Too many young girls are having abortions. Girls from good families.
Further if over age people are willing to exchange money for sex let there be an element of respect and regard for their own lives. Protect, prevent and be in charge.
The Englishman commented further that there are enough willing woman to sell their wares that he doesn’t believe that there is torture or mistreatment. Whilst this may be true there is exploitation and women and men that are being trafficked against their will are mistreated.
Whatever adults want to do is one thing however have respect for yourself and ask questions and learn more about the too good to be true job, man, destination.
A young girl of 17 years old – pretty and not so innocent flew to Dubai with a man she didn’t know for ZMK500 000. She was proudly showing off to her friends. One day if she is not careful the wrong man, the wrong situation could happen.
Interestingly the younger men have their lives sorted out because the girls and women are going for older men. So the young men focus on their families and are building houses and getting their education. They are also more interesting because they have to use their personality.
Why are women chasing cars and material things, why not partner with a man that you can grow with and will be your husband. Some of these short frogs that women go with just for money is a shocker.
Culturally a woman expects to be provided for. This is taken to the extreme here and men are stretched because of this. Expectations, peer pressure, showing off to friends needs managing.
Money comes only when you work for it, the daily grind for many people and that’s how life is.
The materialism is destroying lives and investing in bus fare for next week instead of wanting to be at a pub that you can’t afford for one evening are the choices. It isn’t fun to be without talk time and transport and food for the day. How can we look after our resources better?
Money has a price and the price of money are your needs and wants in life, they are the things that money is able to buy for you, that’s the value of money and the price is you have to live according to what you have.
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