IT has been quite a while since Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Radio was heard in Ndola.
Man Chilu was on air last Wednesday with the Gospel Wednesday Night Show. The reception was as clear one would even pick any hissing.
At least last Thursday we surprisingly ‘bumped’ into Radio 4 again, broadcasting on 88.2 FM just in good time to catch Jack ‘The Hot Stepper’ Mwale doing his thing in style.
It was not the Hot Stepper special we have known, as he played songs he said were coming from his heart. It was not reggae, but slow mellow tunes.
A little slip-up occurred on this channel when a closing news bulletin signal was played at the start of the news cast, instead of vice versa.
It was something like “The news bulletin was brought to you by Zanaco.” Obviously anyone tuning to the radio station at that moment might have thought the news bulletin had just finished.
Later on that channel, Patrick Nyangulu was to present a sports programme ‘Zam Inter Sport’ which is sponsored by Kachema meat producers. The earlier part of this presentation was not clear.
Suffice to say that without ZNBC being heard in Ndola, this column is restricted to monitor the available community and private radio stations being heard around.
ZNBC being the national broadcaster undoubtedly has superior presenters and organised programmes which upcoming radio stations could learn from.
HUMBLE PIE
Eat a humble pie is a common usage to simply mean that one had apologised and faced humiliation for the wrong and mistakes made.
With the above reference, connecting that phrase with something like, “eating a pie from a restaurant’ is totally misplaced.
That is what we heard on one radio station where a guest rightly said he has eaten a humble pie, the host followed that with: “From what restaurant?”
ICENGELO
One song that has not played on radio in a very long time was played by Angel Mwasha on his ‘Golden Oldies’ programme last Thursday.
Remember Anna Mwale? Then you should also remember one of her hit songs titled Kabuku. In that song Anna complained about missing her small secret book.
Composed and released in the 1980s, Kabuku song has not been played, at least on most community and private radio stations today.
What is of interest is the quality of sound that comes from most of songs, Angel plays on his programme, considering that they (songs) play from records’ vinyl material.
KENYA
There is a lot of development happening on Kenyan airwaves, Zambian radio stations can learn from them: “The government of Kenya is  defending new broadcast regulations, saying they were not meant to limit freedom of expression.
The new broadcast regulations announced today place strict limits on sexual content and ban preachers from soliciting money on air.
Broadcast regulatory authority say the country has seen a proliferation of obscene content being aired on radio stations while the banning of clerics from using mainstream media to raise money is  to forestall citizens  being taken advantage by clerics
The ban on discussions about sex and relationships on daytime radio in Kenya and on clerics raising money on air has thrown the Kenyan public into two factions.
While one group sees the ban as an an infringement of people’s right to freedom of expression, others see it as a move to introduce responsible broadcasting in the country.”
Much as Zambia may not identify with open sex talk on air, we have the clergy preaching, (though not asking for money) on air but some tailor their sermons woo listeners into ‘planting a seed’.
This column has in the past discussed how some radio stations feature one pastor after another throughout the day.
We appreciate Zambia being a Christian nation, but running sermons throughout the day is unprofessional.
Stay tuned, don’t touch that dial! – jackmwewa@gmail.com   0955115777