Set goals: The value of an idea lies in the using of it {Case of media gurus in Zambia}

By Winston Muleba Junior 

If you have thought of something, at least other people might have it as well. 

There's a big leap between an "idea" and a successful execution + commercialization, so unless you show that you can drive the idea all the way home - the idea is worth nothing. However, the value of an idea lies in the using of it. 

Set your goals high, and don't stop till you get there. Successful people maintain a positive focus in life no matter what is going on around them. 

They stay focused on their past successes rather than their past failures, and on the next action steps they need to take to get them closer to the fulfillment of their goals rather than all the other distractions that life presents to them. In light this, let's look at some media practitioners who set goals first as a step in turning the invisible into the visible. 

Fred M'membe, a man behind a paper regarded as a leading newspaper in Zambia. It is also known as a paper which digs deeper. 

He is among the most powerful and influential Lawyers and Journalist in Zambia. M'membe is not only an accountant and Journalist but a qualified lawyer and entrepreneur. 

He was born in Mongu on 11 March 1959. M'membe is a Zambian journalist known for his editorship of the Zambia Post. He has received numerous international awards for his reporting, and in 2000, the International Press Institute named him one of its World Press Freedom Heroes. Among other awards he has accumulated in the media industry include MISA's Press Freedom Award (1995), International Press Freedom Award (1995) and World Press Freedom Hero (2000). 

Although he started his career as an Accountant, against all odds M'membe was the third recipient of the Media Institute of Southern Africa's Press Freedom Award in 1995. MISA described him as "the most persecuted journalists in his country and the rest of the region."Previous awardees include Onesimo Makani Kabweza and Basildon Peta. 

In 1995, M'membe won the International Press Freedom Award of the Committee to Protect Journalists, " an annual recognition of courageous journalism". 

In 2000, he was selected by the International Press Institute as one of 50 "World Press Freedom Heroes" of organisation's fifty years of existence. 

He studied accounting and worked for a time as an accountant before moving into journalism in November 1990, when he met Mike Hall, a Malawi-born journalist who covered Southern Africa for the BBC, UK and US newspapers. 

At the time, Zambia had only two newspapers, both of them controlled by the government of Kenneth Kaunda, and the pair felt that an independent news source was long overdue. With Hall's help, M'membe went on to found Post Newspapers Limited in 1991, as well as a printing company, Independent Printers Limited, which would be responsible for printing The Zambia Post, Post Newspapers' flagship publication. The pair modelled the paper's design on South Africa's liberal Weekly Mail and Lisbon, Portugal's daily Público. Despite a modest circulation of 40,000 and Zambia's "anemic" economy, the paper quickly proved a financial success. 

Ironically, M’membe was an active player in the founding of the MMD in July 1990. His paper helped to oust President Kenneth Kuanda and install the country’s first democratically elected president, Frederick Chiluba, who now leads the vendetta against M’membe. 

What am I saying? M’membe left his job at KPMG because he was motivated by goals that he set that had deep meaning. 

Another Zambian media practitioner who set small goals and build upon them is Richard Sakala, a former State house press aide in Chiluba's administration. 

He is a veteran journalist and former Chairman of the, now, abolished PHI. The Presidential Housing Initiative (PHI) was an initiative targeted for the poor and all those who did not have quality shelter at the moment. 

It is suffice to say Sakala is a seasoned journalist in his own right, he is also a former president of the Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) and director of the once prestigious Africa Literature Centre in Kitwe which trained a chain of Zambian and other African journalists. 

Despite facing different charges and testing jail Sakala never forgot the goals he set before he went to jail. Sakala is now the owner and Managing Editor of the Daily Nation Newspaper. 

Daily Nation is a fast growing and leading independent Zambian daily newspaper, issuing a widely circulated print edition in the Lusaka capital area every Monday through Saturday. 

He founded the newspaper in early 2012 to offer the Zambian people and the international community new perspectives that would be independent of the vested interests which have impacted the national media environment. 

Be it he went to jail, Sakala did not loose track and sit on his beautiful and awesome goals. 

Talk of Ben Kangwa, a broadcast and print journalist with broad experience in a wide range of reporting such as in politics, business health and religion. 

He has extensive knowledge in programme production as well as solid skills in co-production, marketing, advertising and public relations. 

Kangwa produced and presented over eight thousand hours of both radio and television programmes of different genres.

This man has a strong international links with major international and local media outlets in Africa, Europe, America and the Far East. 

It is suffice to say Kangwa is the only journalist in Zambia to have organized and presented a "live" debate programme featuring 11 of the 12 Presidential candidates during the 2006 Presidential and General elections. 

While at ZNBC he presented and produced a business prgramme called "Business Review" for twelve years nonstop on television. 

His goal before and during his time at ZNBC was to run a media consultancy as media strategist which he has done over time. 

In 1983 got a Diploma in Mass Communication at Union of Radio and Television Network in Africa (URTNA). In 1985 he enrolled for another Diploma in Journalism and Public Relations at Evelyn Hone College of Applied Arts and Commerce which he completed in 1987. 

As this was not enough he continued studying he obtained his Masters of Arts degree in Journalism and Cultural Studies in 1995 at Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd. 

Kangwa started his journalism career in 1983 at Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation as a Producer on the General Service - Radio Zambia. In 1988 he became Programme Manager for Radio Two (English Channel) at the National Broadcaster. 

This humble man rose in ranks as Controller Television then to Assistant to the Director-General then to Public Relations Manager until he became Director of Programmes. 

He was then appointed in foreign Missions as Press Secretary at the embassy of the Republic of Zambia in Washington DC/ Zambia High Commission in Canada. In 2012 he became Deputy Chief of Mission until 2014. Remember he set a goal of becoming a a consultant in future, Kangwa is now a Media Consultant at Lubuto Media Limited. 

Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of an idea converted to a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success. YOU CAN DO IT.