GREETINGS as we enter the New Year of 2017 in which a number of plans are expected to be offloaded on various competing television platforms. I can’t wait to see what they have to offer.
Now, for a long time I have observed with great interest how one Misheck Moyo from Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) has been packaging his mine related stories.
As a reporter based on the Copperbelt, Misheck seems to understand issues to do with mining very well judging from the way he researches, packages and delivers his reports.
In as much as mine reporting would not be of great interest to many, Misheck tries hard to put life into his stories to draw viewers’ interest. This is good and this platform commends him.
It was because of his appealing style of reporting that I started following his reports keenly such that it was easy to even notice some flaws in his presentations.
The first one was a picture error which I believe many viewers and even ZNBC did not notice where the footage showed the orange presidential flag when actually the person featured in the footage was Finance Minister Felix Mutati.
At first when I saw the presidential and national flag as Misheck was narrating on the Government’s commitment on VAT refunds to the mines, I thought what would follow was President Edgar Lungu’s footage but it wasn’t.
The other mistake Misheck made on Friday night when he gave a report on President Lungu’s inspection of maize fields that had been attacked by the notorious ‘army worms’.
Listening to the report, there was absolutely nothing wrong with it only that the reporter under review forgot that he was the same person who the previous day clarified during a live morning show that the maize-eating pests were actually not ‘army worms’ but fall worms.
Anyway, those are the two notable mistakes that my good friend Misheck made but all in all, he stands out as an asset for the national broadcaster.
Away from Misheck Moyo let me turn to Lusaka main studios where on Wednesday I was so delighted to see the return of Jack Mwale.
A lot of concern was raised by both this platform and viewers when he let slip the casting of the 19:00 main news because of eyesight.
It was not good and I was positive that he would soon bounce back to do what he knows best and for sure in a blue jacket and white shirt he re-appeared on the screen with that excellent voice projection and good casting.
I will always remember Jack Mwale for leading the ZNBC newscasters with the right pronunciation of the name of Secretary to Cabinet Roland Msiska.
Every newscaster used to pronounce his surname the way it is written but it was Jack Mwale who pronounced it correctly as “Musisha.”
Talking of the disappearance of newscasters from regular casting, I have for a long time not seen Claudette Sindaza Jonga and her counterpart Mary Mwikisa.
Apparently, both Mary recently got married and coincidentally diapered from the screens almost at the same time.
However, with the return of Jack Mwale on set, it is hoped that the two ladies who have been known for their prolific news casting would follow suit.
Away from ZNBC, we turn to the World of Champions Superspot on DStv. On Thursday night, I had all the reasons to stay awake up to midnight to make sure I follow the proceedings of the Glo CAF Awards.
Zambia’s captain Rainford Kalaba was actually the real reason I stayed alone in the living room glued to Supersport 9.
I did not want to be told by anyone but see for myself. To be honest, I was so geared that I even swore to myself that should Kalaba be announced winner, I would make enough noise in jubilation to awaken everyone.
Unfortunately, things did not turn out that way but went the opposite direction of even muting me further.
However, even if Kalaba got the third position, he has a richer football CV than the two.
Personally, I have great respect for Kalaba and will always be proud of him despite being voted third.
However, it is so disheartening to learn that our own Kalusha Bwalya whom I personally held in very high esteem, not until this day, voted for the Ugandan and South African over his own countryman.
It is so unbelievable and up to now I have failed to find an answer as to why Kalu would go that way. Really?
I can’t write beyond this because of what I am feeling about this whole thing.  I am simply hurt and extremely disappointed!
Samphiri77@gmail.com text 0974372181