Joseph Kalimbwe: A young man determined to find his feet in the world

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By: Traore Iipinge Mulumbu

*As one of the writers of the Astute Conversations, we are proud of Joseph.

At a ripple young age, Joseph has written two books, writes several articles in the Namibian Sun and New Era Newspapers. He is now the President of the University of Namibia Student Representative Council (SRC) leading 25 000 students of all the 12 campuses of the university. What gives this young boy courage?

At the start of his 8th grade, he proved to be one of the most academically poor students. He had just lost his mother the previous year and says he never likes talking about the man whose surname he has carried on his shoulders courageously. "I don't blame my father's family for never wanting to know my existence. I think it’s a blessing in discurse, it had to be. I once considered changing surnames to that of my late mum but my granny mother and uncle decided not to" he says. However, my uncle & Aunt from the Copperbelt have filled with great distinction the role of parenthood in the absence of my long departed mum. My aunt Brenda in Khomasdal and my Brother on the Copperbelt have been central catalysts of all that’s happened over the past 23 years of my life”. Though Kalimbwe struggled academically in the 8th grade, he picked himself up and came out first towards at the start of the 9th grade. He would go on and represent his region, the Ndola, at a number of occasions. “Sometimes I do many regrettable things just like any other young man who falls into the temptations having fun, but I have chosen to never depart from the teachings of my mothers family”.

At 17 he decided to work and gain some basic income to relieve his parents. While working, he led a group of fellow young co-workers to stop his boss from corrupt practices after they complained of worker mistreatment. He went on a private television station main news and talked about the wrongs in the country’s biggest telecommunications company. His colleagues were rewarded with financial payment changes but Kalimbwe and his friends got fired for spearheading the end to the injustices. “I remember the reaction of my father, Mr. Lubinda, he got furious at my dismissal because he still wanted me to stay there and work but I couldn’t tell him the many injustices he didn’t know about that workplace. I couldn’t just seat and make thousands of money for a very corrupt man and keep quite, we had to act, fully aware of the consequences of our actions”. A year later, still troubled by the wrongs he saw, he wrote his first book titled "Teenage-hood & the impact of the Western World". In the book, the ambitious young man talks about his experiences on the streets of the Copperbelt city of Ndola. He explains about how he felt troubled by how young people get taken by what they saw on western television and try to implement them in Africa, all in the name of enjoying their youthful moments.

When he first came to the University of Namibia, he began writing another book titled, "The pain of An Empty Stomach". In the book, the 23 year old talks about the painful story of his mather’s passing in the preface. He also explains how, young people need to question the status quo and change things. He then met Job Amupanda who also happens to be his lecturer at the University of Namibia and he says, "Mr. Job taught and still teaches me things I cannot begin to imagine. His courage is admired by many". Kalimbwe also writes in the daily newspaper, Namibian Sun on a platform called the Astute Conversations where Amupanda gave him the role of junior editor, editing youth student articles. “We cannot live everyday complaining on social media and never willing to stand up. We have to do away from that notion if we are truly determined to see changes” Joseph states.

He joined the University of Namibia’s Student Representative Council last year breaking a five year record with 1000 plus votes, something which shocked many, including Kalimbwe himself. Those who followed student politics called it a fluke considering an outsider that Kalimbwe was. He however went on to represent students as SRC External Affairs and continued to write newspaper articles. Towards the end of the 2016 year, he was one of the 2016 SRC members who were very critical in the UNAM management’s decision to ban owing students from writing exams. Arguing students, “to stand up on behalf of others”.

But his most profound achievement comes after winning the SRC Presidency on Friday the 27th of January 2017. He becomes only the second international student to be the SRC President of the University of Namibia after facing fierce internal opposition. The first was Francine Muyumba from the DRC who now heads the Pan African Youth Council in Addis Ababa. Asked who inspires him, Kalimbwe responds, “I seek inspiration from the books I read each year, Obama and the fighting spirits of Job Amupanda keep me going”.

We don’t know how far Kalimbwe will go after UNAM but we know he will make a great leader someday and we wish him luck in his role of representing the over 25 000 University of Namibia students.

*Traore Iipinge Mulumbu - wrotes in Astute Conversation column.

30th January 2017

This is a satirical website. Don't take it Seriously. It's a joke.