A Zambian Journalist: In Pursuit of Three Freedoms

Mike Daka

Description

Mike Daka’s story is a fascinating account that is at once the story of an extraordinary journalist, and rich insight into the history of the media and journalism in Zambia and Southern Africa. Born into humble circumstances, his journey took him into journalism as reporter and editor and then to shaping and leading the Zambia Institute of Mass Communication which taught generations of journalists through changing political circumstances. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Daka retired from Zamcom to start Breeze FM in Chipata, a radio station that became internationally renowned for its unique character as a commercial operation that provides community and public service.

Sujets

• Editors
• Autobiography
• Journalist
• Publishing
• Biography
• Publishers
• Journalists

Informations

• Publié par: Gadsden Publishers
• Date de parution: 06 décembre 2019
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9789982241328
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 11 Mo

Extrait

A Zambian Journalist – in pursuit of three freedoms
Mike Daka
A Zambian
“Mike Daka’s story is a fascinating account that is at once the story
of an extraordinary journalist, and rich insight into the history of
the media and journalism in Zambia and Southern Africa. Born into
humble circumstances, his journey took him into journalism as Journalist –
reporter and editor and then to shaping and leading the Zambia
Institute of Mass Communication which taught generations of in pursuit of three freedoms
journalists through changing political circumstances. Never one to
shy away from a challenge, Daka retired from Zamcom to start
Breeze FM in Chipata, a radio station that became internationally
renowned for its unique character as a commercial operation that
provides community and public service.
The story is a rich one, moving from the toughest neighbourhoods
of Lusaka to the capitals of the world and finally to the Zambian
countryside; covering everything from bureaucratic obstacles that
needed to be overcome to high honours obtained. Few have done
more to shape the current media landscape in Zambia than Mike
Daka: readers of his book will be richly rewarded.”
Dr Franz Kruger
ISBN 978-9982-24-117-5
Mike Daka
9 789982 241175A Zambian journalist –
in pursuit of
three freedoms
Mike DakaGadsden Publishers
P O Box 32581, Lusaka, Zambia
Copyright © Mike Daka, 2019
All rights reserved. No part of this publication
may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system
or transmitted, in any form or by an means
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording
or otherwise, without the prior permission of the
publisher.
ISBN 978 9982 24 1175Dedication
This book is dedicated to my father, Saulo Daka, my mother, Nelly
Tikambenji Mwale and my children: Gerald, Dalitso,
Chimfwembe and Dabwitso.*URZWKDQGHDUO\UHVSRQVLELOLWLHVDWWKH+HDG2I¿FH

CONTENTS
Preface 1
Last Phase
The end game – securing a farm 3
Phase One
1. Born in a village and brought up in an African township 7
2. Off to school 14
3. Away to secondary school and a bigger world 17
4. Matero, a detribalised environment 20
5.Introduction to the wonders of books and music 24
6. Clear career choice 26
7. Reporter on the Copperbelt 30
9. A student in India 35
10. Back home and away again and again 41
11. Recognition and promotion 42
12. Transfer to the North-Western region 47
13. Away to DDR 50
14. Return to Lusaka and to serious business 53
15. A student in the UK 57
16. The ZAMCOM project 63
17. Mann Sichalwe takes over 65
18. A new ZAMCOM is born 68
19. My transfer to ZAMCOM and back to ZANA 70
20 Leadership at ZANA 74
Phase 2
1. Back at ZAMCOM as CEO 77
2. From government department to statutory board 78
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A Zambian journalist – in pursuit of three freedoms
3.Retirement from government 81
4. ZAMCOM and FNF relations end 84
6. Work towards a trust continues 93
7. ZAMCOM bill is taken to Parliament 95
8. The Statutory Board is dissolved 97
9. The Trust is born 100
10 USAID Democratic Governance Project activities begin 105
11. Mid-term review 108
12. New broadcasting equipment arrived 110
13. Changes at USAID, good news for ZAMCOM 112
14. Study and marketing tour of USA and new activities 115
15. New training and production programmes 117
16. Complaints and accusations 121
17. Suspension from work 124
19. Media and donor interest 129
20 Back at ZAMCOM 132
21.Efforts to undermine ZAMCOM’s independence 135
22. Contract renewal 147
23. Training at ZAMCOM thrives 149
24. NORAD programme support 151
25. Winding down my work at ZAMCOM 153
26. The idea of going it alone is born 155
27. Radio, it is 158
28 Securing a building in Chipata 163
29. A home at home 167
30. Permit to construct 168
31. Audience Survey 171
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Contents
32. Feasibility study 174
33. Rezoning the building 176
Phase Three
1. Goodbye Lusaka and ZAMCOM 179
2. Staff Recruitment 181
3. Breeze FM, “Kamphepo ya kazi kazi” 185
4. Test transmissions begin 187
6 Breeze FM – Three types of radio 191
7. Geographical expansion 195
8. Challenges 204
9. Political cadres attack Breeze FM 206
10. Paving the way for the future 210
11. Awards 214
12. New emerging media sect 216
Selected Bibliography 219
Acknowledgements 223
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PREFACE
My journey from childhood to senior citizenship was like a rollercoaster
ride with a lot of exhilarating highs and many emotional lows. The
different phases of my life were all quite engaging in their own ways. This
book talks about the different stages of my life and the manner in which
I had to constantly reinvent myself in order to achieve longevity in my
professional work and in my life overall.
my primary and secondary school education, to the time I was introduced
to journalism at the Evelyn Hone College of Applied Arts and Commerce
in Lusaka, and to the time when I worked as a reporter and editor at the
Zambia News Agency, ZANA. That period lasted from 1952 to 1989.
The second phase covered the period of my reinvention from practising
journalist to media trainer after assuming the position of director and chief
At the height of my success at ZAMCOM, I quit to set up and operate a
commercial radio station in a rural part of my country.
This period lasted from 2002 to 2018. Towards the end of those sixteen
years I knew that it was a good time to move on again – this time to a much
The book largely explains how it was possible to achieve longevity
in a profession that is so demanding but, generally, not so rewarding,
especially in African countries such as Zambia.
Looking back over the forty-six years of my working life, I think that
what helped me to persevere, despite all the challenges I faced, was that
I was always clear about what I wanted to do. I also worked hard and
gave of my best all the time. This purposefulness started in school and
continued in my working life. When I was a reporter, I wanted to be a
senior reporter. When I was a senior reporter, I wanted to be the news
editor. Within four years, just twenty-eight years old, I was in the position
I had always aspired to, that of news editor. But my ambitious spirit was
still burning. I craved to be the editor-in-chief and to do so I obtained
returning from my studies.
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A Zambian journalist – in pursuit of three freedoms
thirteen years and during which time I transformed the organisation from a
small government training department into a semi-autonomous Statutory
Yearning for total operational freedom and independence, I decided
to set up my own radio station, Breeze FM, which I joyfully managed up
to the end of my working life. The journey ended in very peaceful and
relaxing circumstances in an area known as Kauzu Farm Block, about
30 kilometres from the village where I was born and where my journey
began. After an incredible working life I had come full circle and was in
a place where I felt that I truly belonged and was now living my dream.
Mike Daka,
Chipata, Zambia
2018
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LAST PHASE
The End Game – Securing a farm
Although I worked for so many years as a journalist I always wanted
to live on a farm of my own, perhaps because, in my teens whenever I
visited my father’s farm on the outskirts of Lusaka, I enjoyed the quiet
atmosphere.
But efforts to get farmland in and around Lusaka, Zambia’s capital
city, were frustratingly unsuccessful. It was not until I relocated to the
quite simple. I mentioned to a number of people what I was looking for
offers. I inspected two farms before I found the one I liked. This was truly
beautiful and undulating land which, although degraded in some parts from
the after-effects of tobacco cultivation, still had verdant areas with mature
assistance of my lawyer, I became the proud owner of one hundred acres
of prime land – wooded and well-watered.
What makes this piece of land really special for me is its beautiful
landscape, with two hills, Makangila and Musesa nearby and several more
on the southern and western horizons and a perennial spring that becomes
a small stream at the lower end of the land, feeding into a stream large
enough to have a name – the Lutembwe, that marks the western border
of the farm. As soon as I took possession of the farm, which I christened
“The Daka Estate” for it was truly a sanctuary after all that I had been
through, I approached the Soil Advisory Laboratory at the nearby Msekera
Research Station to carry out a soil analysis. I wanted to have a good idea
of what to grow and do at the farm. The results were useful. I was told
reliable perennial water sources.
Shortly after the farm survey, I recruited a farm supervisor and some
workers and started the initial farming activities. I took a cue from the
recommendations of the Soil Advisory Laboratory and planned to
3A Zambian journalist – in pursuit of three freedoms
utilise the farmland judiciously. Efforts to carry out reasonable fa