Zambian expressions and buzzwords

Every culture has distinctive expressions – Zambia is no exception. All professions have their share of jargon too. In this post I thought I'd introduce you to some of the common expressions and buzzwords that make me either smile, laugh, frown or shake my head.

Are we together? = Do we agree? (or when said with authority: “This is settled. Next.”)

this side = somewhat close to where we are (e.g. I think the office is this side).

that side = somewhat farther away than where we are now (e.g. “Where is so-and so?” “Oh, he's gone that side.”)

just now = very soon

now now = now

“...and what what.” = and so on, and the like, and such.

“How did you move?” = “How was your trip?”

“Progress” = “Let's move to the next issue”

“What is the way forward?” = “What are the next steps?”

sensitisation* = public education and awareness building (sadly, projects appear to remain at this stage for years)

“Gender balance!” = an exclamation of “unfairness” made by some man in a meeting when women appear to be gaining some infinitesimal advantage for once (you can tell how much I love this one).

empowerment = at best: a concept Council would eventually like to embrace whereby disadvantaged people have some say in municipal decisions; at worst: the term some Council officers use to describe the generous sitting allowances they receive for meetings.

personal emoluments = salaries and benefits

mainstreaming (e.g. issues of gender, HIV/AIDS, environment) = making certain issues part of everyday policy discussions/decisions (in practice, often means that there is no clear lead person/department on the issue).

* The third "s" in sensitisation is not a spelling mistake in this former British colony.  :-)