By Patson Musumali
Introduction
This is a radio that is taking the world by storm; Zambia Blogtalk Radio aired its first internet radio waves to the Zambians at home and in Diaspora on May 16th, 2009. This unique digital Radio station, versatile and global, has since then not tarried to serve the Zambians at home and abroad. The radio has a freedom passage associated with the internet and so one can say another era of freedom has been born.
Background
Zambia Blogtalk Radio was pioneered by four gallant Zambians ; Rodger Chali (Alberta, Canada), Operations Director; Nathan Nkhama (Dallas, Texas), Executive Director; Titus Natala (St. Paul, Minnesota), Communications Director; and Beston Chitala (Akron, Pennsylvania). Listening to these Zambian men with the passion to positively engage this great nation of a cheerful people, they have harnessed the limitless and distance free abilities of the internet to inform, educate and to affirmatively transform the image of Zambia. This radio show, which airs its programmes from both Canada and the USA, is a look forward to every Saturday. It requires versatility and cooperation between people and bandwidths to ensure smooth running and as such has proved very coordinating and informatively useful between Zambians in the Diaspora and their homeland.
Dashboard Freedom
Unstoppable is this freedom and innovation of news through fibre optics seems to be the new way of guaranteeing hundreds of thousands of Zambians and sympathisers globally, at home and in the Diaspora, the freedom of expression to dawn this era of personal and collaborative liberties on which many nations have built their growth. As long as one has a phone or computer, they can make every effort to take part in the discussions within up to the peripherals of the Radio Station and before the dashboard manager-call waiting. What of the new technology? Voice over Internet Protocol, (VOIP) with so many varieties of free phones over the internet, Skype, VOIP, TESCO internet phone-UK, etc these phones are free from PC to PC and on phones to some countries including the USA one of the two bases of this radio show. What press freedom is better than this for Zambia? The freedom to be free is even broadened as callers have an absolute choice to make what they think known to global listeners on Zambia Blogtalk Radio and say how they feel about what’s going on in their country and making positive comparisons. Even just to make a contribution in discussions within the freedoms and comfort of their homes.
The Path and fame
ZBTR has sampled a variety of agendas and Zambian topics ranging from sport (golf ) with Madalitso Muthiya, (soccer) with Dennis and Ponga Liwewe and others, to politics, including other significant Zambian portfolios such as First republican President, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Minister of Finance, Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, BOZ Governor, Dr Caleb Fundanga, ZDA Chief, Mr Andrew Chipwende, FAZ Chief, Kalusha Bwalya and Celebrity Broadcasters such as Frank Mutubila, Maureen Nkandu and many others. The significance of this radio show is, obviously, its ability to free discussants from the psychologically inhibiting physical presence, eliminating the dynamics of body language and consequently affording a genuine focus on ‘issues rather than tissues’.
Highlights and Collaboration
Zambia Blogtalk Radio partnered with the Zambia Diaspora Connect to air an e-conference on ‘identity and skills’ and ‘Doing business in Zambia’ in October 2009. This successful conference continued on Google groups and as a result has brought synergies including an agenda in the African Diaspora Forum in the World Bank attended by Chasaya Sichilima. The radio has also embarked on linking experts to discuss solutions to Zambian Challenges through summits which have become popular in bringing experts together and offer them a liberal forum to share ideas on challenges facing Zambia. A ZDC/ZBTR initiated Education Summit, was held on the 16th of January 2010. The aim was to feature organisations in the United Kingdom interested in empowerment through education and other related positive life changing strategies through public and private partnerships. Another was a Health Summit featuring medical doctors from both urban and rural districts in Zambia and provided a liberal forum for doctors to interact and share progressive ideas. An Energy Summit also brought together energy experts to share ideas in the midst of an executive of a successful company called Grameen IT-Mr Islam. ZBTR has the capacity to connect resource personnel from their office phones or mobile phones to the show all over the globe. Despite inhibiting international call costs and which means some countries may find it costly to call, ZBTR has called participants from Zambia, Europe and Asia to enable them participate in the radio shows. The role of ZBTR in positively engaging the Zambian people cannot be over emphasised. Visit us also at www.zambiablogtalkradio.com to learn more about our past shows.
As a mouthpiece for citizens in the Diaspora
ZBTR has become a Zambian Diasporan citizen’s mouth piece as evidenced from the recent shows. Dr. Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika, in her capacity as Zambian Ambassador to the USA, gave an opportunity to the Zambians living in the USA to ask her questions on various issues affecting them whilst in the Diaspora. Dr. Nevers Mumba too, in his capacity as Zambian ambassador to Canada and some Caribbean Archipelago Islands, spoke to the Zambians in the Diaspora on ZBTR. An opportunity to speak to the citizens in those lands was availed and well received. Zambians had an opportunity to clarify a lot of issues through these programs that are being referred to as Ambassadors’ Forum.
Ms. Mwangala Zaloumis, the chairperson of the National Constitution Commission (NCC), had an opportunity to speak to the Zambians in the Diaspora via Zambia Blogtalk Radio. Issues such as dual citizenship and a broader representation on the constitution from members of the Diaspora were discussed.
Motivation and the future of Zambia Blogtalk Radio
The motivation behind the sustenance of ZBTR has been purely the love for Zambia the motherland which has throughout its twelve months of existence been funded by the personal resources of its founding members. In the words of the ZBTR Executive Director, “Every generation has its own ‘struggle’. With the growing Zambian Diaspora community, we face a unique struggle and ZBTR is the voice of that struggle.”
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