Big Brother Africa: Maxwell feels the heat

ZAMBIA’S Big Brother II housemate Maxwell Chongo has had a rough time of it in his home country.

First, there were no welcoming fans at the airport, then his girlfriend of four years dumped him and then the media had a go at him as well. Despite all this, at least one loyal fan seems to have emerged.It’s none other Zambia’s Energy Water and Development Deputy Minister, Gaston Sichilima, who last week criticised Zambians for not having welcomed Maxwell despite his efforts to promote Zambia to the outside world.The deputy minister felt so aggrieved at the negative publicity that he picked up the phone and called a local daily, Times Entertainment, to register his displeasure.He said Max did his best.He promoted the country by singing Zambian songs and also explained Zambia’s lifestyle to his housemates and the rest of the world.The deputy minister also said business houses had been disappointing for not having taken advantage of Max’s arrival to advertise their products and services because the former Big Brother housemate was now a celebrity in his own right.Although Max might have had his shortfalls in the house, he ended up being evicted from the house because Zambia is the current winner of the first Big Brother, the government official charged.”You know when you are a winner no one will like you and that it is why Africa ganged up and voted our Max out,” he said.He said Zambians should now think of how to help the talented Max advance in life.Compiled by Mukalya Nampito from the Times of Zambia, The Post (Zambia)Despite all this, at least one loyal fan seems to have emerged.It’s none other Zambia’s Energy Water and Development Deputy Minister, Gaston Sichilima, who last week criticised Zambians for not having welcomed Maxwell despite his efforts to promote Zambia to the outside world.The deputy minister felt so aggrieved at the negative publicity that he picked up the phone and called a local daily, Times Entertainment, to register his displeasure.He said Max did his best.He promoted the country by singing Zambian songs and also explained Zambia’s lifestyle to his housemates and the rest of the world.The deputy minister also said business houses had been disappointing for not having taken advantage of Max’s arrival to advertise their products and services because the former Big Brother housemate was now a celebrity in his own right.Although Max might have had his shortfalls in the house, he ended up being evicted from the house because Zambia is the current winner of the first Big Brother, the government official charged.”You know when you are a winner no one will like you and that it is why Africa ganged up and voted our Max out,” he said.He said Zambians should now think of how to help the talented Max advance in life.Compiled by Mukalya Nampito from the Times of Zambia, The Post (Zambia)