My graduation

Speech by Andrew H. Phiri: Journalist and Communicator
On behalf of the graduating journalists and communicators during the 4th Graduation Ceremony of the
Zambia Institute of Mass Communication in Lusaka
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All protocols observed.

Comerades, collegues and confidants,

The journey we started together was too long a time due to the insurmountable setbacks we met on the way.

Again, it was too short a time as we shared interesting moments together. We belonged to each other, faught each other's battles...that pushed us.

Our dream of becoming journalists was to be achieved and ZAMCOM happened to be that catalyst in transforming meager minds of mare wishful thinkers into mega minds of goal-getters. This has indeed been a worthwhile experience.

Parents and guardians, lecturers, management, ZAMCOM workforce and indeed family and friends you've absolutely been marvellous. The lecturers were absolutely amazing. They taught in love and sacrificed much of their time, talents and at times treasures in turbulent times of a student journalist in order to develop our knowledge base thereby broadening our horizon in today's competitive world.
In silence, we ponder on these good times and remember how good you've been to all of us.

I know time will not permit me to point out at all the remarkable efforts each one of you have graciously contributed. But, for sure, we know that your efforts have moulded us into journalists and communicators we are today.

ZAMCOM is like a bakery, with best bakers called lecturers and dough called students.
We the students tended to feel the heat like in an oven. We cried and shouted against the bakers time and again. Patiently you let us heat. Until today, we are finally out of the oven, put on the market for all to hear, see, smell, taste and feel the produce.

We appreciate for that.

ZAMCOM management under director Oliver Kanene, past and present staffs and a cadre of workers herein have simply been the best. We had a successful academic journey under your leadership. God bless you!

Our parents, guardians and supporters in all forms cannot go unnoticed. Your help in decision making in pursuing journalism has played a significant part in our journalism career. You carried us through with your love. When the going got tough financially, you panicked to fix it.

Your support is seven-fold: spiritual, physical and emotional and you didnt end at that. You went further to offer us social, professional, intellectual and financial support amounting to an wholesome well-being we've all enjoyed.

To the government and the populace,

JOURNALISM is key to our well-being as a country. At times like this when things are reportedly and seemingly tough, we need to create awareness to the general citizenry that it will be well with us. This also stresses the power of information and knowlege in today's society.

Therefore, hear the outcry of professionals in journalism and resolve to protect all journalists and preserve the integrity and importance of the profession.

Our job simply is to gather, analyse, process and disseminate information to large and diverse audiences. Meaning that we have the power to influence the world faster and better.

On the other hand is public relations:
The process of analysing trends, predicting their consequences, counselling leaders and helping in making informed decisions.

We call for creation of employment in the journalism field and communication in general. In addition, create an enabling environment for media and communication entrepreneurship. Zambia needs just that.

To my fellow graduands,
"The LEVEL of your INSPIRATION determines the METER of your ASPIRATION" W. F Kumuyi

In conclusion,
Like the great writer, thinker and phylosopher William Shakespeare
"All is well that ends well"

I thank you and God bless you all!
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END.

Wedding Fanta

...I call it 'wedding fanta

I hear sounds that are so silent to many at wedding ceremonies
_Sounds produced by singles

"Delightsome singles" I mean

Surely, a wedding day is like the beginning of a journey taken by train

At the station, many people called singles say 'bye' and those with faith add 'see you' as the newly wed board the train.

As the newly wed enter the train, old couples are so welcoming....those inside already

This train is long enough, only that it requires a little bit of patience to see your door, point of entry...critical eye differentiate strokes for some it makes no difference

Buy your ticket over the counter via your knees, attentively confer, especially with the experienced "match maker"_GOD

Am told its the way to 'nuptial bliss"

For me its Fanta....

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_AHP

8,760 days old baby Andrew

As my birthday clocked, I was alarmed by a new silence that noised in the early hours.

What is even more gratifying is to be connected to the two who gave birth to me on that yesterday of that year!

No sooner did my birthday clock than I received my first complementary text...

Flooding my inbox are messages from family, friends, followers and fellow labourers in Christ. Thanks for the fellowship!

Since it was a working day, it started with a serious introspection during the routine but rich quiet time. The ordinary practice that initiates extraordinary targets and eventually builds me into a victorious baby.

Pulling out from the tens of text messages that hit my media pad screen, an interesting anecdotal reflection by Bertha, mother to baby Andrew could be worthy sharing.

"It was on this day at night when I was blessed with a very handsome baby boy and I was so happy" Mother wrote, obviously from the Registry desk, since she was working all-night long "by then there were no readily available mobile phones, so I had to wait for the father to come and pick me up. I could see a smile on his face holding the baby in his arms. We walked to our small house on foot very happy. So we had two daughters and two sons. What a wonderful day we had! May His name be honoured....happy birthday my handsome baby boy. Be blessed always and protection be on you in the name of the Lord."

Thanks dad and mum for being the vessels in conceiving, developing and inspiring baby Andrew... you are such an amazing couple.

Obviously, when you entered the Home Caring Fellowship that led to your salvation, I was on your back....as a baby! Since then you hold on to the faith you found and have passed on spiritual values and all-around counsel that define Andrew H. PHIRI today.

Thanks for the academic push and continued inspiration, support and encouragement in discouraging times....I love you!

To all my friends, everywhere and all times, I appreciate you so much. Your fellowship has been very helpful.

Thanks to all my spiritual parents, brothers and sisters for the encouragement and support. The Deeper Christian Life Ministry through the Children's Church, Youth Ministry, Women Ministry and Campus Fellowship, led by John U. Amoni and the entire leadership....you've contributed greatly to my growth. You are all amazing in this journey leading to eternal glory. I send a holy kiss with godly affection to all of you!

To the Ministry of Health, Muvi TV, ZNBC, Times of Zambia and all the media platforms that have offered me a chance to work as journalist, writer, analyst or communicator in general, I thank you!

Hector Sinfukwe, thanks for showing me that it was possible to enter and succeed in journalism as sharedh stories by my lovely and caring sister, Anastazia Phiri-Sakala.

To all the organizations who offered me leadership roles in my early development: Kamulanga Secondary School (School High Level Rep), Anti-Corruption Commission (President), Drug Enforcement Commission (Lusaka South Schools, Anti-Drug Abusers Movement, Chairperson), Human Rights Commission, (President) and a host of others.

The National Forum for Child Rights Executives, thanks for giving me chance to serve as the youngest executive member.

Not forgetting, Kidz Kameraz Media Association, as Secretary General, Best Enterprises as Communications Director and Young Writers Magazine as Marketing Manager. Wiseman Banda, you are amazing.

The Zambian High Commission in Botswana and specifically Mrs. Rose Zimba, former First Secretary for helping me understand diplomatic work when I spent time as a general worker in that country (2011-2012).

To all the men, women, children...both living and dead, I appreciated. GOD richly bless you!

I take a new shape, stance and service in life as one of my favorite writers and former US president Abraham Lincoln wrote "In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years"

What makes me even happy in what has taken place in the last 8,760 days is the discovery that:
Divine purpose formed me, God
Deceiving power deformed me, sin
Developing process informed me, school and,
Delivering power transformed me, Jesus.

Thanks and God bless you!
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_AHP

“Make your Passion your Profession”

A few years ago, while addressing young people during a Mindset Operation Meeting in Lusaka South, a friend shared with me his thought about the subject. 

Being a first year student, the man said he initially didn’t understand what he was to study. Hence he went into the said school. He was had since made up his mind to switch to a different school in a bid to “Make his Passion his Profession.” I tried to convince him to proceed with his studies considering the resources both financial, material and above all time he had wasted. He insisted that he would follow his passion hence he switched to his school of choice.

Good enough, every time I meet him he is so excited about his studies. He does it without much ado.
Life can sometimes be frustrating, capable of knocking you down especially if you are wrongly engaged in a career coupled with engulfing oneself with wrong people.

The world has more to offer to enterprising minds today as we continue to live in this highly complicated and demanding society. Its ever-increasing needs can only be met by expert or specialized knowledge. 

This calls for personal development and advancing ones knowledge base. This I have discovered over the years as I run up and down in the business of reporting and analyzing society both as a journalist and communicator.

One thing that makes my journey interesting and exciting, is my passionate approach to journalism. I admit, I do meet discouraging times…but I love what I do. Therefore, I don’t regret developing my passion in journalism and subsequently making it my profession.
_AHP

Happy birthday Sister Mummy _"Celebration of togetherness"

Today marks yet another significant phase in your wonderful life. The two of you with dad are such an amazing couple. Your love is just exciting…I mean contagious!

Your togetherness…is seen in; walking together, smiling together, worshiping together, counselling together, praying together, teaching together, visiting together and sharing together amounting to the above-the-line traits coupled with the below-the-line activities of washing together, farming together, sweeping together, ironing together that even spice up you beautiful relationship.

I am blessed to be a product of your kitchen of love and godliness.
You have defined true love in your relationship with Brother Daddy, you have defined true love to us your children, true love to the body of Christ and true love to the world around you!

Every time I see you attend to scores of patients recorded on that window, every day I see you pray with the women, every day I see you offer counsel, every day I see you run when your phone rings calling for your hand during emergencies-anytime, any day, anywhere…I see a purpose driven woman with a special agenda.
I wish you a blessed, happy and exciting life as you begin this new age.

I wish you a new revival, new power, new energy, new opportunities, new vision and a new hand of industry in service in the family, community and kingdom.

In addition, I wish my nieces Vanessa and Vivian happy birthday...you are growing up to be the best...I love you babies!

…..So I shower on you more happy years in protection, progress, prosperity and power….
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Happy birthday baby Mummy!

....Young Journalist on the move

...She had just reached the pick of her childhood dream of being a journalist. People had already made her a household name as a regular reporter at a local TV station in the capital of Zambia.

Rising to the apex of the profession requires a lot of effort which in turn calls for training in the field of choice. So, to spice up her talent, she had studied Mass Communication in a country within Southern Africa. Other dreams were awakened after completing her first degree. Thus, she proceeded to study Criminal Law in another country to give her an edge on the competitive job market. Due to good interpersonal communication, she won a number of people around her.

A young talented and vibrant journalist she was. Full of hopes and wishes to get somewhere.
One day, she woke up in the morning like any other day. This time with a few days standing program that would take her to the Southern part of the country. Oh! It was a great assignment. So she left her two boys to report for work on that day.

Planning was the order of the day. Seizing opportunities was a daily enterprise just like any other big thinker striving to dig out gold. As she proceeded in her profession she discovered that her environment had more to offer for a hardworking journalist. She defined her job as the process of gathering, writing, processing and disseminating information to various and diverse audiences. So she knew how best to maneuver and make the difference.

She knew she would soon be a candidate for awards.

She left her house for a scheduled assignment. Upon arrival, she immediately got to work...filming, interviews, writing...

The following day she was to join German Dentists who were slated to attend to rural communities with dental challenges. So they took off.

Like any other assignment it was well with her. But this time around a different turn would occur in her life-the deadline of life! The evaluation would occur on the other side of life beyond the grave.
The Toyota Prado they were travelling on was fit. Fit to run all errands. The German driver was reported fit and qualified to drive to their destination. However, the time came.

“Life is a journey- it starts at birth, pose at death and continues in eternity.” Its birth is usually prepared for and anticipated but at death, less is known. So many are the ushered into eternity unprepared.

The story goes ...An oncoming Construction vehicle on the opposite side was destined for its own place. So, it was recorded that the Prado that carried the three German nationals (two dentist and a driver) and a Zambian Journalist drove them to their fate.

With all the plans to serve humanity in their head.... they drove past hills on a stretch that would lead to the health Center were women, men and children waited on the other side to receive treatment…
Unfortunately, they were no where to be seen.

So the journey of life can be cut off anywhere? Yes. And so it was. Muyumbwe was the spot were an oncoming construction vehicle rammed into the Prado to be remembered as the death point of three German nationals and a vibrant young journalist. The end it was! So painful to hear.

So I went into the Booth to do a voice over. Not of a political story, a business item, court issue or community diary. The death of a friend....close colleague indeed.

"God forms man, sin deforms him, the school informs him but only CHRIST can transform him"
...It is transformation that translates us to enjoy the best from God.

Realize your sinful state,
Confess all your sins...
Repent from your sinful past and begin a close and intimate relationship with GOD.

Now is the time because no negotiation at death. So they died to pose and be ushered into eternity, prepared or not.

Andrew H. PHIRI, Saved by grace.

Congratulations Mr. Edgar C. Lungu!

 "It's a challenge you have put upon me to bring One Zambia, One Nation," Said President-elect, Mr. Edgar C. Lungu "We should be the last people to put a knife on Zambia"

As Mr. Lungu produced these words at the thanksgiving rally at Woodlands stadium in Lusaka today, a few memories with my former neighbor were triggered.

 I first knew Edgar Lungu in 2003 after we moved to our current residence on Plot # 424/22, Jack Compund in Lusaka South.

His farm has flats were some friends were renting hence we could visit and spend some time with them. Little did we know that the landlord I knew would later be republican president in 2015 and be re-elected in 2016.

I learned of his political involvement in 2006 when late President Michael Sata was addressing a rally at Chawama Primary School Grounds were he was interpreting the message from English to Bemba. His energy and charisma in the local language spiced up the rally that put Chawama on a standstill.

 In my eleventh grade I started conducting Behavioral Change Motivational Shows and Talks for youths at Lusaka City Council Office in Jack. The aim was to inspire and offer career guidance to pupils and school leavers.

 One day I sat to plan for the next activity. To make my effort more effective, I decided to invite a professional to talk to the participants-at least for a change. I searched my contacts and the best person I could settle on was a lawyer few meters away from home. Thus I took a step to his house.

 I found Auntie Lungu (Mrs. Esther Lungu) preparing to go to the shop. She explained that her husband was too busy that period thus it was somewhat impossible to make it for the event that week. I became busy with school and the next time I met Mr. Lungu in Jack, he had since been elevated to the position of Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice President besides being Member of Parliament for Chawama Constituency.

 I left Lusaka for Goborone in December 2011 and the time I was coming back in 2012 the man had gained ground in the PF Government.

 I know him to have a like for his area, Jack Compound. One day as I walked home, a day after the Mr. Lungu had just stopped acting as republican president at the return of late President Sata, I met him in Jack Compund were he made an impromptu stopover at a house greting people.

 I know him to be amazing and his work culture is worth emulating.

 He planted trees at Jack Round About and supported funerals in the area those days. I saw him drive his green Rav4 and sometimes driven by his wife and friend Esther Lungu.

 Congratulations president-elect, Mr. Edgar C. LUNGU! God bless you, God bless Zambia!

AHP.

                                                                       

ICT FOR CHILDREN: Don't deny them!

By Andrew H. PHIRI

-The Mindset Operator

LUSAKA-In 2014, I visited Life Community School located at Deeper Life Bible Church National Headquarters in Lusaka to see how the computer age was approached. Good enough, I was impressed with the investment made and the roadmap developed on ICT for pupils at the school.

Today, work is done on computer and online-

I saw children from underprivileged backgrounds playing with the mouse. These children wore a face with great hope for the future; in turn this triggered their happiness. So I sat down to analyze the importance of ICT for children.

To all of us, Information Computer Technology (ICT) is both pertinent and urgent matter requiring the needed attention. Serious enough, focusing it on ICT for children.

Currently, it is probable that the economy is not performing up to expectation. This trend has shifted the attention of many form various socio-economic pursuits. Little wonder economists and other relevant professionals are laboring to make a point known, and probably corrected in reference to what went wrong in the past. It is said that the older generation missed a point in their preparation for the future (present).

However, at the heart of this memory tasking, energy supping and time consuming economic effort, ICT for children specifically is the way to go. Because the future must be brighter.

The ministry of General Education has also admitted facing innumerable challenges hence the need for various stakeholders to get involved and help build a better ICT generation.

Indeed, Zambia needs a built safe and friendly ICT environment than ever before. Denying it now will mean that the future will miss on novelty and eventually sustainable national development.

An investment into the sector is what is needed to help young people get exposed to various cause  in both their short and long term development. ICT will open minds to new knowledge, equip hands with new skills and combine efforts for a better society.

It is a science that establishes cause of lagging in innovation and effect of backwardness in diversity of political, social, cultural and economic stand of the nation, Zambia.

Life School pupils enjoying computer time.

It is an art that simply will teach the young generation in the country ‘to do’ hence a necessary door for all-round youth empowerment.

ICT will bring up girls in the country who will decide to use information to exit the shell of inferiority complex and give them a better stand in society. Culture and tradition will be refined to meet common ground for sustained unity, togetherness and collaboration.

Young people will bring home that which our citizens go for to other countries, create a greener pasture, those who have left to see sense in the country and think of returning.

With ICT prioritized in our education system, learning will make sense. It will lead us into the said realm of the impossible and conquer all setbacks for lasting progress, prosperity and power. Education will then create us a standard which propels our own to believe our own to achieve great.

Every day that passes by leaves us in a gap. A gap that sometimes makes us regret that we did not do enough in the past to have a better today.It is a haunt which if not dealt with today, will make every today wasted and the future denied.

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