Stop Waiting for Someone Else to Fix Lusaka — You’re Already Building Its Culture

Cities don’t get their personalities from some cosmic lottery. They get them from people making choices every single day about how they want to treat each other. And right now, too many people in Lusaka are choosing to be mediocre while fantasizing about being somewhere else.

Every time we travel, we come back raving about other cities. “Joburg is buzzing.” “Nairobi is alive.” “Cape Town is so beautiful.” Meanwhile, we act like Lusaka just exists — as if culture is something imported, not built. But those cities didn’t get their vibe from magic. People built them. People kept them alive. And whether we realize it or not, we’re building Lusaka too — with every small choice we make.

Everything about city culture is political, whether you realize it or not. When you’re consistently late, you’re making a political statement about whose time matters. When you provide poor service, you’re making a political statement about who deserves respect. When you don’t maintain shared spaces, you’re making a political statement about community responsibility.

Right now, the political statement most people in Lusaka are making is: “I don’t think this place or these people are worth my best effort.” And then we act surprised that the city doesn’t feel inspiring.

Everyday choices = Lusaka’s culture

Think about it. Show up late to work? That’s Lusaka culture. Cut corners and say “it’s good enough”? That’s Lusaka culture. Smile at a customer, or don’t? Still Lusaka culture.

Cities are nothing more than millions of micro-decisions stacked up over time. When enough of us start choosing pride over shortcuts, respect over apathy, and excellence over “just fine,” Lusaka changes. Not in 10 years. Not in 5. Immediately.

Why new places fizzle in Lusaka

We’ve all seen it. A new restaurant opens. A bar launches. A gallery puts on a show. For a few weeks, it feels like Lusaka is finally flexing. People line up, post photos, say, “finally, something cool.” And then… it fizzles—service dips. The staff lose energy. Customers drift away.

Why? Because novelty is easy. Consistency is hard. Without consistency, culture doesn’t stick. And when we stop showing up, when we stop rewarding the people and places that are doing it right, the flame goes out.

Reward what’s working in Lusaka

Here’s the thing: as humans, we love rewards. A “thank you.” A compliment. A tip. A return visit. They matter. They keep the spark alive.

If there’s a café where the staff always smile, reward them. If there’s a shop that treats you with respect, reward it. If an event is run well, reward the organizers by showing up again. Energy follows attention. The more we support the good, the more of it we’ll see. Culture grows where it’s watered.

Cutting corners kills culture

On the flip side, every time we cut corners, we chip away at the Lusaka we say we want. The reckless driving. The trash tossed on the roadside. The bare minimum at work. The shrugged shoulders at service.

Cutting corners feels small in the moment, but stack it up across a million people and it’s the difference between a city that feels alive and one that feels stuck. We can’t keep saying Lusaka has “no culture” while living like we have no stake in it.

Stop waiting for leaders — it starts with you

The most annoying thing about conversations around city culture is how they always end with someone saying we need “leadership” or “campaigns” or “awareness programs” to change anything. As if being decent to each other requires a government initiative.

Cities change because individuals change, not because committees make resolutions. Lusaka will change when Lusaka residents change — when we stop waiting for someone else to fix it and realize we’re already building it.

If you choose mediocrity, don’t act surprised when that’s what you get.

If you’re tired of the Lusaka you see…

If you’re tired of living in a Lusaka that feels flat, remember this: you change the culture every day. With your time. With your effort. With your smile. With the way you treat people. With the pride you put into your work.

Culture isn’t waiting for a big investor or flashy project. It’s waiting for you — and for me. So maybe it’s time to flip the script. Stop talking about what Lusaka “lacks.” Start rewarding what’s good. Stop cutting corners. Start showing up.

The bottom line

Lusaka isn’t a city that just happens to us. Lusaka is a city we’re shaping in real time. The only question is: what kind of Lusaka are we building? Whether you hype Lusaka or drag it down, you’re adding a brick either way.

Next time you catch yourself wishing Lusaka had more culture, ask: What did I do today to add to it? Then do that thing — and reward the people who are doing it too.

Don’t let Lusaka pass you by.
Find out what’s happening this week → click here

Catch the updates on Instagram → @lusaka365