THE pleasure is all mine, hoping you would have said, “Welcome back to the controversial but interesting art of putting ink to paper”.
Let me begin by highly acknowledging my colleague, Xavier Manchishi, whose input during the period he handled this column was terrific and unique or simply immeasurable!  The man raised standards!
Now, after a long time of not discussing television matters, I thought of bringing to the fore a topic that might draw the attention of mainly our dear female newscasters’ hair!
Hairdos constitute one of the unavoidable breakfast-like topics women like to delve in every time they meet especially in the morning.
Hair has turned out to be their usual central theme as it is laced with gossip depending on how it comes out on one’s head.
But let us critically consider hairstyles linked to professionalism notably those of our female newscasters …
There seems to be a long held notion that captivating hairstyles project a newscaster as trendy besides the professional poise it bestows on the caster of the news!
Before foraging deep into today’s topic, let me commend one ZNBC’s Ellen Hambuba who has so far impressed and maintained her distinctive business news desk hairstyle identity.
I know that many may argue that ladies are at liberty to change their hairstyles as and when they please and that this should never be an issue not even on the news desk!
Yes, ladies you are at liberty to change hairdos but off the news desk! Believe it or not, professionally newscasters are supposed to maintain a single distinctive modest signature hairstyle viewers will identify them with.
The appearance of a newscaster should not stun the viewer due to new astounding hairdos or loud make-up that will certainly spark a discussion especially among female viewers.
I remember one day when Pennipher Nyirenda changed her hairdo. Not that it was bad but that it was highly noticeable to an extent of sparking a loud debate between my beloved wife and my sister in-law Cecilia Sokoni.
My wife was of the view that the hair was beautiful but would have been done in a way she would have preferred while Cecilia stood on firm ground that Pennipher nailed the hairstyle as she saw nothing wrong with it.
What the two ladies forgot was that my main interest before the screen was to watch and listen to the news and not listen to analysis of the newscaster’s hairstyle! To be honest, I missed out on some very important news items in the process!
Worse still, I did not have a DStv special PVR decoder that could enable me rewind and catch-up on what I had missed. All because of hairstyle rhetoric!
I was almost getting impressed with one Chilufya Mwelwa’s consistency with her beautiful Afro-hairstyle but just few weeks ago, she decided to plait it down making her look off her signature …
Professionally, it is wrong for a newscaster to change hairstyles as one may not know how many people get affected negatively.
A newscaster should be like a good advert that sells the product and not itself.
I would like to challenge our local female newscasters to keenly observe their fellow  newscasters on  international channels like the BBC, CNN, Aljazeera, and Sky News to mention but a few and tell me if they will ever see a change in hairdos.
A news desk is a serious platform from which casters should strive to get viewers pay attention to the news and NOT get distracted by the casters abrupt new looks!
TV is vast, with enough room for those seeking a flamboyant signature laced with change of hairdos, makeup and dress codes, fitting well in talk shows or related platforms.
It is clear that no one has attempted to address the unprofessionalism of hair among female newscasters on ZNBC and many private Zambia television channels.
Apart from hair styles, these newscasters have equally failed to maintain professional mild make-up for the news desk.
Professional beauty and FX make-up artist Bwalya Nawa says from what she has seen on ZNBC newscasters so far, it is evident that there is no make-up artist specifically hired to take care of the casters’ face hence the self done make-up that in most cases comes out to ignite talk!
Bwalya’s observation can only be confirmed by my good friend Masuzyo Ndhlovu in whose hands the corporate image of ZNBC rests.
Let’s end here for now but remember your opinion matters.
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