MTF Director Christopher Puta
By DERRICK SINJELA and Muleya Idaho Chongo
MINISTRY of Information and Media (MIM) Permanent Secretary (PS) Kennedy Kalunga says Zambia is on a transformative journey seeking to elevate quality of television programmes and content done by Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC).
Opening a week-long training workshop for programmes, engineering, marketing, and sales directorate at Mass Media Complex, on Alick NKHATA Road, Mr. Kalunga reiterated Government desire to birth a professional public broadcaster.
Flanked by ZNBC Board Chairperson, Jack Kalala, Director General, Berry Lwando, Multichoice Zambia Managing Director, Ms. Leah Kooma and Multichoice Zambia Talent Factory Director Christopher Puta, Kalunga appreciated Talent Factory Training facilitators Freshly Minced of South Africa, who donated two tool boxes to ZNBC management.
“This training will empower ZNBC staff to be at the forefront of innovation in the broadcasting industry. With the rapid advancement in technology, it is essential that our team remains adaptable and well-versed in the latest tools and methodologies,” said Kalunga
On his part, Mr. Kalala described the gesture by Freshly Minced as a wake-up call to ZNBC board and management to find money and purchase such logistics on its own instead of going around with a begging bowl.
“This donation to me is a learning curve, inspiring us as ZNBC to find the money and source equipment on our own. Please, do not misunderstand me, as I am not opposed to this gesture by Fleshly Minced and Multichoice Zambia Limite, all I am advising that aside from jealously guarding these two tool, we too on our own, can purchase them,” prodded Kalala.
The ZNBC Board Chairperson, Kalala expressed gratitude to MultiChoice Zambia for organising the training.
“For the next one week our staff will be undergoing intensive training on studio and on-location programme production, facilitated by the Multichoice Talent Factory. Let me thank Multichoice Zambia, who has facilitated this training for ZNBC staff. The liberalisation of the media industry in the 1990’s witnessed the establishment of hundreds of media houses. This development has brought about competition that dictates that broadcasting institutions that want to stay afloat, be steps ahead in the manner they serve the public,” an elated Kalala said
“Training is an integral part of every profession. In broadcasting, training should be continuous as the industry is faced with a large audience whose information needs are growing on a daily basis. The need to deliver or broadcast relevant news and current affairs to the public in an efficient manner becomes crucial, and covers not only the dissemination of news, but the quality in terms of balance, relevance to the audience as well as quality in audio and video content,” remarked Mr. Kalunga.
Earlier, Kalunga had asked Fleshly Minced to consider extending a similar gesture throughout Zambia with Chinsali (Muchinga) Chipata (Eastern, and Mansa (Luapula), whose district studios are nearing completion deserve a tool box each.
MultiChoice Zambia and ZNBC say it is a first-ever intensive training programme designed to enhance the quality of work done by ZNBC staff.
The training, a collaborative initiative between MultiChoice and ZNBC seeks to grow talent and boost local content production through industry expert-led skills training. It will also emphasize the adoption of strategies that will increase revenue generation.
MTF Academy Director, Christopher Puta said the training was meant to leverage partnership and improve production skills.
“The training we are launching today is part of our MTF Expansion program that was launched last year. The program is intended to leverage on the partnerships we have formed to enhance capabilities and skills,” said Mr. Puta, in a Monday 19th June 2023 Press Release circulated by Chilufya Mwelwa, Head of Corporate Affairs at Multichoice Zambia Limited.
The training is conducted by leading African and international industry experts from Freshly Minced and offers holistic learning through courses with a focus on studio and on-location programme production.
The programme will equally focus on areas cutting across marketing, sales, and engineering.
The MultiChoice Talent Factory is MultiChoice’s Corporate Social Responsibility. It is a shared-value initiative that provides a platform for creative industries to develop their talent and engage with one another through their shared passions.
Flanked by ZNBC Board Chairperson, Jack Kalala, Director General, Berry Lwando, Multichoice Zambia Managing Director, Ms. Leah Kooma and Multichoice Zambia Talent Factory Director Christopher Puta, Ministry of Information and Media (MIM) Permanent Secretary (PS) Kennedy Kalunga appreciated Talent Factory Training facilitators Freshly Minced of South Africa, who donated two tool boxes to ZNBC management.
