THIS column has in the past written about some radio presenters’ failure to pronounce names and words in ‘their’ mother tongues, listeners to Lesedi FM radio in South Africa took such a matter to another level.
Lesedi FM presenter Nonn Botha was under fire from listeners who complained to the Pan South African Language Board (Pansalb) that she did not speak good Sotho.
Pansalb then indicated that as a language board, it could get the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) to take Nonn off air.
Listeners did not only have an issue with Nonn’s language failure but also questioned her name and surname.
SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said he was not aware that Nonn was taken off air.
Kganyago said that what he knew was that there was a new station manager at the radio station who made changes to the line-up.
One of Nonn’s friends who spoke on condition of anonymity however, said the incident had affected her negatively and that she regrets leaving her former radio station Kaya FM.
We wonder how many of our radio presenters in Zambia would fall out on such grounds.
An example of one advert running on most radio stations in Zambia with a mispronounced bemba word ‘Ubuntungwa’ (Freedom), wrongly pronounced as ‘Ubuu’tungwa’ come to the fore.
In one of our reviews we shared the importance of vernacular or local languages in community broadcasting.
We noted that radio is the most popular mass medium in Zambia with a four tier broadcasting system that comprises public, commercial, community and religious broadcasting.
Community and religious broadcasting reflects the needs of the people in the community which includes the cultural language and demographic needs.
The emergence of local language usage as a central component of Community Radio is an outcome of a liberalised market that has shifted broadcasters’ attention to the rural audiences as the largest section of the population of Zambia.
Radio is being used to address issues focusing on agriculture, environment and tourism. Politically, ethnic tensions, human rights and corruption can be addressed and ‘digested’ fully in the usage of a local language on radio.
Local language on community radio can also contribute to a positive media step towards information, entertainment and education provision.
It is therefore, expected that Community Radio uses local language by carrying more local content relevant to their target population.
RCV
Radio Christian Voice (RCV)’s broadcasting of a prayer session dubbed ‘Standing in the Gap’ does not only provide a moment of worship to listeners, but is also an out of the usual radio programming.
On ‘Standing on the Gap’, a team of pastors lead by Pastor Sunday Sinyangwe takes to the airwaves in prayers, meeting listeners at their points of need.
In times when most men and women of the collar would use the radio to ask for financial support and sowing seeds to enhance their ministries, ‘Standing in the Gap’, which is aired every Sunday evenings, offer spiritual guidance.
Going by the number of callers requesting to be prayed for on various needs, the programme is as popular and helpful in a society dogged with copious challenges.
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Choolwe Mweemba has had different co-presenters joining her on breakfast shows at RCV, maybe she could do well to update listeners on what the ‘coming in and going out’ of her co presenters is all about.
We have had David, Chawana and now Dario, could it be that they are students who pass through RCV on attachments or what?
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Night Light, a late night presentation of music and devotion on RCV had a different presenter other than the usual Stephen Mdoma last week, where is he?
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The Friday edition of Money Matters, a financial update presentation on RCV failed to air the previous week, though the presenter Chella Silwamba made attempts to reconnect to the studio via Skype.
Brother Chella was back with Money Matters on Wednesday, April 29, this time as clear as though he was live in the studios.

PHOENIX
Radio Phoenix went off air in the middle of the 06:45 hour’s news last Friday, of great concern was that the news could not be continued after that.
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Dr Pelham who has been running a cancer awareness programme dubbed ‘Celebrating Life’ on Radio Phoenix for some time now, was given a rare treat last week.
Her presentation two weeks ago was unique in that some callers phoned in to simply acknowledge and appreciate her presentation.
What was worth noting however, was that listeners made efforts to call and simply appreciate her programme.

ICENGELO
On Radio Icengelo is what may be termed a bemba version of ‘Traffic Watch’ programme, called ‘Pamu sebo’ presented by Amos Lombe.
Last week’s presentation was not clear, with a hollow sound which made it difficult for listeners to hear the updates of that particular morning.
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. Caitriona

On ‘Health Talk’ Catriona Chisompola Phiri featured a Dr Mulele, a pathologist from Luanshya who enlightened most listeners about postmortems.
With such information given live on air, we believe most listeners had a clear understanding of what exactly goes on behind the scenes.

RADIO CHIMWEMWE
Last Monday morning’s ‘From the Community to the Community’ on Radio Chimwemwe was Ndola City Council public relations manager Roy Kuseka who outlined the role of residents in service delivery.
Apart from Mr Kuseka articulating both the council and residents role in service delivery, the programme anchored by Kelvin Chibale provided listeners’ awareness and sensitization platform.

SUN FM
Hearing one of Zambia’s fallen pioneers of Zamragga music Daddy Zemus’ song ‘Tizakaina liti’ (a lamentation of one who desires to grow fat like politicians) was refreshing.
Only when you listen to the lyrics today in which he mentioned the likes of late President Michael Sata, MMD president Nevers Mumba, former vice president Enock Kavindele and others, can one recognise Zemus’ ingenuity?
Stay tuned, don’t touch that dial!
Coments:jackmwewa@gmail.com, 0955115777