Political Scientist Dr. Alex Ngoma has cautioned third-world countries, particularly Zambia, against relying solely on assessments conducted by western countries. In an interview with Flava News, Dr. Ngoma emphasised the need for African nations to utilise their own capacity to assess pressing issues on home soil, rather than depending on foreign evaluations.
Dr. Ngoma highlighted the discrepancy between foreign assessments, which often portray Zambia as the fastest-growing democracy, and the reality of how the country upholds principles of good governance. He pointed out that while foreign perspectives may praise Zambia’s democratic progress; credible Zambian critics offer a different view that challenges the notion of Zambia as a model of democratic excellence.
Expressing skepticism over the reliance on foreigners to document the state of the country, Dr. Ngoma urged citizens not to blindly celebrate foreign assessments but instead utilize local capacity to establish the truth about Zambia’s governance and development.
Dr. Ngoma observes a concerning trend where negative reports about the country are dismissed by the government, while positive reports are readily justified without considering the credibility of the sources. This selective approach to evaluating reports, according to Dr. Ngoma, undermines the objective assessment of Zambia’s progress and challenges the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
