NO he did not, it was April 1, ‘FOOLS DAY’. A good number of radio fans who also return to this column phoned, sent messages and mails that they just heard that Radio Phoenix’s Luchi proposed to a lady live on radio. “Jack, I am a follower of your radio review column, I always find time to read it every Sunday, you have greatly improved it. What was interesting on Radio Phoenix on Tuesday morning was that Luchi proposed to his fiancée live on radio, it was like in a movie, I like Luchi’s courage, it was marvelous,” wrote PHK from Ndola. “Jack, Jack! Did you listen to Radio Phoenix’s morning chats? That guy Luchi proposed to a lady while on air, the lady also agreed, it was so romantic, hope you will follow up this to see if at all they will go all that way and marry,” said Mrs K. This column made an effort to contact Luchi after receiving such overwhelming interest and he responded; “Hi Jack, No, No, it wasn’t anything serious; it was April 1, FOOLS DAY! We were simply playing such.” Those keen followers must have heard the voice and real person who played Luchi’s fiencee when she was revealed the following morning, it was artiste Scarlet. *** The usual morning chit-chats on Radio Phoenix are never short of interesting topics with listeners now, wanting it allocated more time. Readers, however, wrote that they missed the ladies of the house; Roxy and Christine last week. Going by the number of callers and enquiries to this column, one would conclude that the show has become popular only that ‘time is not the best ally’. A discussion about how some knife-girls’ dances have become corrupt and wickedly suggestive was under-played by other mixed up topics that kept creeping through to the programme. ZNBC Residents at the Island of Chilubi in Northern Province ululated and danced when former Information and Broadcasting Minister Mwansa Kapeya officially launched Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC)’s Radio 1 and 2 on Frequency Modulation (FM). Their joy was acceptable because after being starved of radio entertainment and education, they got connected and could hear radio on the waters of Lake Bangweulu. That excitement was, however, short-lived as the broadcast cut just after one week of being exposed to the benefits of listening to the radio. It is, therefore, justifiable that our Chilubi kinfolk cried to be reconnected back to ZNBC for continued educative and informative feeding. ZNBC Corporate Affairs manager, Masuzyo Ndhlovu heard the Chilubi outcry and assured that engineers got on the ground to repair the burnt voltage regulator. Masuzyo is always prompt in responding, he wrote; “Jack, about Radio reception on Chilubi Island, after the installation of Radio One and Two transmitters weeks later, the transmitters got faulty because of fluctuations in the voltage supply from the power utility company Zesco, our power conditioning units got damaged and so we have now managed to buy a new power conditioning unit to replace the damaged one, and right now, our engineers are in Chilubi working on the transmitter meaning services will be restored within this week. We apologise to our listeners in Chilubi for the inconvenience this may have caused.” Maauzyo Ndhlovu Corporate Affairs Manager ICENGELO – ‘The station of light’ That Nkana Football Club attracts huge support in Zambia, every fan wanted to be updated on the actualities of their encounter against Zamalek last weekend. Radio Icengelo partnered with among others, Moba Hotel, Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) and members of Parliament to bring live commentaries by Amos Lombe and Valentine Mukuka. Interestingly, listeners from beyond Copperbelt depended on friends who updated them through facebook and short-message-systems (SMSs). This is not the first time Radio Icengelo is coming up with such innovations when no other radio station could give live soccer radio commentaries. *** Angel Mwasha has taken his ‘Golden Oldies’ programme to another level, his presentation last Thursday was exceptional featuring rare and unique golden old music by the ‘Butemwe Singers. The fact that he let the music play and spoke less made the whole show sound nostalgic. *** It was surprising that an audible phone conversation interrupted ‘Fwebena Kalale’ Icengelo radio drama last Tuesday night, it was a loud voice-over which ran along the drama for a few minutes before it was cut. KNC Radio There is a new radio station in Kabwe rocking the town on 101.7 FM. We are told that this radio is so clear that listeners from as far as Mkushi, Serenje and Chisamba are able to hear it. At least KNC will serve the radio-starved Kabwe residents who are deprived of other major broadcasters not heard in that town. TIPS Co-operating with engineers Broadcasting is essentially team-work and engineers are very important members of the team. Get to know your engineers and the mysteries of their own master control room. You may find that the master control room contains many items of equipment of added use in programme work. Every master control room contains some kind of equalizing equipment. This equipment is used to equalise-that is to build up or lower-the intensity of electrical currents at various frequencies. It can be used in radio programme production to simulate telephone effects in a drama by making a voice sound thin. It can also be used to clear up muddy recordings which you may have made on a portable tape recorder in poor acoustic surroundings or with a high level of low-frequency background noise. Some control mixing panels are equipped with equalising equipment but, if not, you are sure to find it in the master control room, and it is a simple matter to interconnect lines from the master control to the studio cubicle. In return for the co-operation of the engineers give them your co-operation, too. If in the opinion of an engineer the technical quality of a programme is too poor for broadcast you can be sure he knows what he is talking about. It is your job to make the message of radio but it is his job to broadcast it. MULTICHOICE NEWS FLASH What you can watch on DStv today Elephants in the Room Sunday April 6 2014 18:15 | Animal Planet (183) The largest creature that walks this planet is shrouded in mystery. The majestic, intelligent elephant is the subject of qualified guide and cinematographer Nathan Pilcher, who is in Zambia’s South Luangwa Valley to investigate elephants that are, quite literally, in the room. One elephant in particular, known as Wonky Tusk and her family happily co-exist in a lodge with human occupants and a whole host of other wildlife. Find out how this trailblazing elephant has broken all the rules regarding relationships with humans. Despite the civil war echoing around, these elephants live a fascinating life that contrasts the open land of the valley with the inside of the lodge across the river that separates them. Watch Elephants in the Room on Sunday April 6 at 18:15 on Animal Planet. *** Kevin Hart introduces the Real Husbands of Hollywood: The Story So Far Sunday April 6, 2014 14:00 | BET (135) Kevin Hart is back and he introduces season 2 after a bumper countdown to catch up with the entire story so far. Viewers can expect to re-live the laughs, tears and tantrums from every episode of series one plus get to hear all the inside gossip from Kevin Hart himself. Catch The Real Husbands of Hollywood: The Story So Far on Sunday April 6, at 14:00 on BET. Paris Marathon *** Sunday April 6,2014 08:30 | SuperSport 6 (206) The 38th Edition of the Paris Marathon promises plenty of entertainment as SuperSport airs all the action from start to finish of this popular race. Catch the action Sunday April 6, on SS6/SS6HD at 08:30 on your World of Champions. For comments, observations and contributions; jackmwewa@gmail.com – 0955115777