Read, Read, Read.......

by Harvard Chinyemba
(Lusaka, Zambia.)

I once read that if you want to hide anything from an African, simply put it in a book.

This has proved to be very true in today's society where many, especially us youths are very lazy when it comes to reading. We prefer watching that 'one-eyed-devil' we have come to know as television to spending some time in a library or at home reading a book.

I remember seeing a lot of my friends coming with all sorts of video tapes at school during my secondary school days. Nowadays I see many of these young people carrying expensive phones to school.

Of course, we must enjoy life and buy anything we want if we can afford it. Beside, we only live once, hence we must enjoy life to the fullest. But many of you would agree with me that most often than not, these phones are used to communicate with so called lovers who they pay so much attention to than school, thereby putting their future in jeopardy.

Remember, you are yourself plus the books you have read. When we read, we listen to great minds.We listen to people who have made it in life. While putting our ear on their chests, we listen to their hearts, because when someone sits down to pen something, they think not with their minds but with their heart, churning out the best within them.

As the saying goes, "walk with the wise and you will be wiser." Read books that will change your life. Books like the Bible, Think big, Gifted Hands, Newspaper articles and many more.

Many have written about this topic, hence it might be a bore to some of you, but I have also learnt that when a song is played over and over again, some begin to hate it, but some begin to appreciate it. Great minds see big in small things.

So, if we are to see poverty alleviation and meaningful development in Africa, this is the starting point.

Parents also play an important role in the early stages of a child's education.I am glad that we have made great strides in teaching our children how to speak English, but we must also emphasize the importance of reading and writing.

Also, monitor how much time your children spend watching TV. Some months ago I told a friend of mine that I am becoming dull because I watch too much TV.I hardly read proverbs when I wake up and when I go to bed. But I am working on my attitude.

Lastly, a human mind is elastic. When you read, it begins to stretch because you start making pictures in your mind as opposed to watching TV which already has them.

It is therefore,my dream that Africa will be known
as a continent of great thinkers, readers, and writers; not a disease, war and hunger-stricken continent.

It all starts with you and me.
God richly bless you.