“Visit to Zambia in 1991 by Yasser Arafat, the first president of the Palestinian Authority (1996 – 2004) who was also chairman of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), marked the beginning of the major transformation in my career as a journalist,’’ recalls Nosiku Mwalye Muyawa who has retired in the civil service after serving for 36 years.
Nosiku started work at the then Zambia Information Services ZIS now Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in April 1989 as an Assistant Sound Recordist and two years later, she was blessed by first President Kenneth Kaunda, and became the great recordist and radio producer of all times at ZANIS.
After working for 10 years, Nosiku was promoted to become a Sound Recordist, a position she held for several years producing the famous Zambia Today, a radio programme produced in-conjunction with the Ministry of Information and Media that is aired on the national broadcaster, Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Radio 2 every Thursday at 21:05 hours.
She recalls, one day in the course of her duty, during the visit of President Arafat, she fell to the ground while carrying a heavy recorder called Nagra.
A Nagra is a brand of portable audio recorders produced from 1951 in Switzerland and in the early days of radio and television broadcasting; the video camera picture was totally dependent on sound from the NAGRA recorder to be mixed with picture and later be aired on tv or radio.
Nosiku was assigned to cover the visiting Palestinian leader and her job was to record audio.
At the Hindu hall, at the end of the event where she was recording the two President’s speeches (Yasser Arafat and KK), she hurriedly packed her equipment rushing to State House, to set up the equipment in readiness for the next talks.
However, as she was rushing to the vehicle, she fell down together with the heavy Nagra recorder in full view of the two presidents and security personnel.
“President Kaunda immediately instructed the security personnel to help me get up and I quickly rose to my feet and picked up the recorder and headed to the waiting vehicle to take us to State House,” said Nosiku.
The following day, Nosiku was again assigned to work from State House to cover President Arafat during a Working Breakfast and it was here that Nosiku would receive the blessings from President Kaunda that would energise and completely boost her commitment and love for her job.
“President Kaunda, upon seeing me at State House in the morning during the Working Breakfast, he stopped me as I was passing and said that young lady, you are here after that fall of determination. Its shows how courageous you are towards your duties. I bless you and may the Almighty God continue blessing you throughout your career,” recalls Nosiku.
Nosiku said after Dr Kaunda blessed her, he proceeded to serve snacks to all the journalists who were present at State House on that morning.
“It was the habit of KK to talk to each Journalist and utter words of blessings to them and other people working at State House. And those words of encouragement and blessings worked differently upon each officer,’’ she claimed.
Having a Blessing can have a positive impact on a person receiving it. According to Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA) Pastor Frazer Chisha, a Blessing is an act of kindness that is intended to bring good luck, positive energy, and protection to the recipient. It can also provide strength, courage, and be a motivation factor for the recipient to do good things.
This is exactly the impact the blessing Nosiku received from Dr Kaunda has done to her. Nosiku did not take the blessings and encouragement she got while at State House from President Kaunda lightly but embraced them and ran with them throughout her journey until she retired as a role model who believed in both team work and working hard.
In 2012, another promotion of Senior Radio Producer, was given to her and continued producing Zambia Today programme with passion until 2025 when she hung her boots.
Nosiku retired as a Senior Radio Producer last month at 60 years normal retirement.
During the 36 years of service, she worked with passion and dedication to duties and she positively impacted her fellow work mates at ZANIS.
This is why on the eve of the International Women’s Day, a day set aside to recognise works done by women in various spheres, ZANIS female staff decided to give Nosiku a befitting send off by holding a farewell gathering in her honour which was graced by acting Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary.
The legacy of hard-work and dedication to duty that Nosiku leaves at ZANIS will continue to inspire everyone and above all, motivate women journalists in the country to work even harder.
As noted by the Ministry of Information and Media, throughout her career Nosiku exhibited resilience plus an unusual commitment to telling stories that need to be told.
Speaking at a farewell send off, Acting Permanent Secretary Bernard Domingo said Nosiku’s career in the field of journalism is worth celebrating as she rendered unbroken service to the country.
Mr Domingo said Nosiku rendered 36 years of outstanding service to the government through her commitment to work.
The Acting PS implored ZANIS staff to emulate Nosiku’s dedication and zeal to duty.
He expressed that the upcoming journalists must follow suit in her path of unbroken service to the public service and nation at large.
“The performance of Nosiku is remarkable and outstanding,’’ said Mr Domingo.
ZANIS Director Loyce Saili described Nosiku as a smart, hard-working former radio producer.
Mrs Saili said Nosiku was an amazing person who gave all her best to the radio programmes she produced.
“Am urging journalists to emulate such a dedicated officer who always wanted to do the job to the best of her ability,” said Mrs Saili.
And speaking at the farewell gathering, Nosiku, the woman of the moment narrated her journey, having worked in all regimes of Zambia’s seven Presidents to date with a call to the journalists to be professional in their work.
Indeed, the significance of inspirational women such as Nosiku cannot be overstated. Women who have achieved success in their personal and professional lives serve as role models and mentors for others in the newsroom and beyond.
Therefore, everyone must take a leaf from the well served 36 years of unbroken service to duty by Nosiku.
