THOSE who have listened to ZNBC’s Kodi Muziba, a ‘Radio One’ Nyanja presentation of stories that make headlines in the media, will agree the programme’s identification tune sounds rather serious than the stories therein.
Kodi Muziba starts with identification tune suitable for serious current affairs stories, yet hosts; Humphrey Mwale and Obster Mbewe present stories of human interest.
Some of the stories that featured on Monday August 25, evening were that a family having dinner with mice on the menu was shocked that the eastern delicacy, though fried, started making movements on the pan.
The other item was that of two people arrested and convicted for stealing an Occurrence Book, commonly known as OB book from a Police Station reception.
Interesting things happen in this world, how can someone think of stealing an OB from the Police Station?
On the same programme was a narration of a Kitwe Bishop who was said to have abused his flock, appeared in court and was later reported to have committed suicide.
Explaining that adulterous behavior of the said Bishop in ci-Nyanja was said this way; “Abishop anali kugona malo amodzi  ndi akadzi amu chalichi.” (Bishop was sleeping with his female church members).

. Mwale

The funny part of the above sentence is that if translated literary would mean that the bishop was merely sharing a bed with female members and nothing happened.
On the same programme, some pastors who were recently arrested for ‘selling’ prayers to their flock in Solwezi explained they only encouraged members not to go empty-handed before men of God.
The two pastors’ explanation said to be Biblical was not, however, convincing.
Nothing seriously wrong with the few highlighted excepts, otherwise Kodi Muziba presenters; Humphrey and Obster are a lively pair.
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When one Ndola-based radio fan complained of ZNBC’s bad signal a few weeks ago, we did not agree, now we do.
From some parts of Ndola, one needs to be patient twisting the radio set and aerial from one corner to the other before getting a clear signal.
RCV
If only those who seek the Lord in prayer listened to Reverend Gary Sidle’s devotion on Radio Christian Voice (RCV)’s August 26, 2014, they would have been schooled.
That it is not always that one needs to see signs and miracles to believe God has answered prayers, rather it is by FAITH which comes about after repentance and believing.
Maybe, against a backdrop of some church members being duped into paying money and to some extent, female members sexually abused to be prayed for, such devotions would enlighten believers.
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RCV remains the number one early morning wakeup call, going by the tempo of music Choolwe Mweemba plays, her voice rapt listeners, giving them hope for the day ahead.
What more with the listeners’ Morning Prayer partner, Zondi Mwale? In line with Rev Sidle’s presentation that day, Zondi gave hints of how to pray.
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Eva Hatontola has the ability to read news better than other readers on RCV, why she is not given to read main news as more often?
PHOENIX
Hearing Topsy Sikalinda, who is Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company Public Relations Manager explain recent water shortages in Lusaka, doesn’t he has a good voice for radio?
Topsy has a good radio voice, he is articulate and clear, he would definitely make an exceptional radio presenter.
DEAR JACK
Nickson Malunga, one ardent radio fan heard unidentified radio DJ crack a joke which he thought bordered on stigma.
In that joke, the DJ said; “I would rather marry a bemba woman, who, when I am sick of AIDS would tell me to mind the way I cough.”
Whether the DJ was playing ‘chimbuya’ (Traditional cousinship) or not, some jokes are not supposed to be said on air. One would think, he or she is trying to be funny or excite listeners, yet sound offensive.
TIPS
For the tips this week, we look at how to write for radio.
Very little broadcast material reaches the air without first having been written down. This is because of the technical nature of radio production, the strict time limits observed by most stations and the fact that good extemporaneous speaking at the microphone is a rare skill.
For some kinds of broadcasting, such as the documentary and drama, a script is almost always essential.
The producer is concerned with radio script, sometimes as the author and always as the editor of a broadcast.
Radio writing differs from writing for publication imprint because the medium is different. Broadcasting is a form of living publication; it is not static but something which moves forward in present time. This calls for a different approach-a difference in style.
The reader of a newspaper or a magazine can select or reject paragraphs or whole stories as the fancy takes him. When he is not clear in his understanding of the author’s meaning he can always re-read.
This is not so of radio.
The listener has to take everything as it comes or not listen at all. When he is unclear, he has no means of referring back to clarify a point.
A radio-script writer must therefore, seek to hold the listener’s rapt attention and go to considerable pains to ensure that the meaning is clear and understandable at every stage of a talk or story as it progresses.
Another distinctive characteristic of radio writing is that things heard on the radio appear to the listener to be happening now.
A broadcast is not a report of something past and gone-even the act of news reading is something taking place at the same time as it is heard.
Above all radio writing is writing for the spoken word and everyday speech should be the guide to the words we use and the manner in which we use them. In talking with one another we use familiar words. W e assemble what we have to say in short phrases and seldom put our ideas together in the kind of lengthy paragraphs which we may write. W e put forward our ideas directly, not cluttered with small details nor involved in rambling parenthesis.
For comments, observations and contributions; jackmwewa@gmail.com – 0955115777