ZAMBIA lost yet three more of the last standing veteran journalists in Bill Saidi, Fackson Nkandu and Vincent Mijoni recently.
Both Mr Saidi and Mr Nkandu worked for Times of Zambia, the former ending up as deputy editor-in chief while the latter being the first Zambian journalist at then white dominated media house.
The latest veteran journalist to die, Mr Vincent Mijoni, who died at the Coptic Hospital in Lusaka on Tuesday, was a former Zambia Daily Mail managing editor from 1970 to 1979.
Much as the pang of death breaks hearts each time it strikes, loss of experienced scribes robs the industry of the valuable skills that are needed to shape the younger crop of journalists.
It can be said that the radio broadcasting industry has continued to plummet in standards compared to the levels that departed journalists accomplished.
Among the departed broadcasters whose abilities remain unmatched to this day is 5FM Radio owner, Matteo Phiri.
Matty P, as he was fondly known had a unique voice, sense of humour, sharp intellect and captivating vibes each time he was on air.
It is sad to note that only a few budding broadcasters today posses such skillset.
The cry of this column is that veteran scribes continue to die with broadcasting values the upcoming crop is failing to retain.
In one interesting Bible account of the prophet Elijah and Elisha found in 2 Kings 2, the latter asked to inherit a double portion of spirit and mantle from his mentor.
Upcoming radio broadcasters seem to have let the airwaves veterans die without learning and retaining valuable skills from them.
It is a fact that the departed airwaves veterans where not born with the broadcasting skills implanted in them, but picked them up along the way from their predecessors.
If the above statement is true, upcoming broadcasters are obliged to learn and inherit valuable skills from the remaining few veterans.
RADIO 4
This column recently questioned the presentation of ‘all sports’ programmes in succession on Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation.
Having listened to Radio 4 last Friday morning, it has come to our attention that the programmes are actually different, the first one being ‘Feel every moment DStv radio show, Supersport and Bola yapa Zed later.
Kalumba Chikonde otherwise known as K-Smash appeared on DStv radio show on Radio 4 last week in his capacity as public relations officer.
Much as K-Smash was articulating DStv issues, radio listeners appreciated his rich radio voice and eloquence.
K-Smash like Chishala Chitoshi who is Gesh Groove of Flava FM radio in Kitwe have picked up exceptional skills of broadcasting over the years.
If we have to get to our earlier discussion of learning from veterans, Gesh has always acknowledged the impact old time broadcasters have had on his career on radio.
PHOENIX
Radio Phoenix on its ‘Pulse’ programme last Tuesday let listeners discuss Zambia’s soccer icon Kalusha Bwalya’s voting against Rainford Kalaba for Ugandan and Zimbabwean players.
As expected, callers had a field day getting at what they termed as Kalusha’s double standards in his various dealings.
It would be a good idea to accord Kalusha himself an opportunity to explain on a number of issues among them his relations with current Football Association of Zambia president Andrew Kamanga.
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How good that ‘Let the People Talk’ programme on Radio Phoenix can be followed on facebook, again. This is yet another progressive advantage guests have embraced to expand their campaigns. Stay tuned, if you can. jackmwewa@gmail.com – 0955115777