Brenda Muntemba, a woman of inspiration

By Winston Muleba II
YOU CAN DO IT!

IN case you have been wondering why it is worthwhile to find your life passion, for those already living their passion, they understand the "why" aspect of it. 

But if you have never found your life passion then it's hard to know exactly what you have been missing.

Today, we feature Brenda Muntemba, a woman of inspiration who has discovered her passion and has been unleashing her potential. 

Muntemba is renowned for her past designation as Zambia Police Service spokesperson. She is married to Reverend Sulanji Sichilembe. 

Who is Brenda Muntemba? 

I would say Brenda Muntemba is a woman who enjoys doing what she is passionate about, whether she is paid for it or not. She doesn't give up on what she believes in and most importantly she doesn't easily let go of what she already holds. 

Are you still serving as a police officer? 

I anticipated that question. Well, I served as a police officer in the Zambian Police Service in various capacities, but currently, I serve as chief programmes officer for Zambia National Commission for UNESCO in the Ministry of Education. 

Why are you still known by Brenda Muntemba though you are married? 

Well, as it is known by many people, I am married to Rev Sulanji Sichilembe. We celebrate eight years this October. However, the name Brenda Muntemba found its place when I served as Zambia Police Spokesperson from June 2002 to Jan 2006. It has become my pen name. I had already started writing for the Police News Magazine and for the Educational Post, and it has proved less cumbersome to maintain the name for professional reasons. 

Tell me how one can discover their passion and unleash their potential? 

That has been the question down all the ages! What have I been put on earth for? Who am I and where am I going? I think we each know what drives us, what steams our engine, what gives us the energy for the next day. If we don't, at least we know what we don't like, we know what saps the life out of us and we know where we don't want to go! One of the easiest ways to find your passion is to go back to your childhood. Apart from making those wire cars and the baby dolls, what were you imagining yourself to be when you played 'pretend', in those moments when all things were possible! What has taken away that courage? Is it reality? Who defines reality anyway? To live life without passion is to waste life. To be engaged in an activity you don't enjoy, even if you are paid millions for it, is most to be pitied and to be where you don't wish to be, with one you haven't chosen for yourself is one of life's greatest tragedies. We all need to keep alive the dream of our desired future and to daily work towards it. That desire, that dream is what keeps even a prisoner alive and hopeful that maybe one day the presidential prerogative of mercy will rescue them. 

Talking about your writing, how many books have you published and what is your style of writing?

I have published two books so far: Off Duty in 2011 and In Retrospect in 2013. Both are motivational, inspirational books. In Off Duty, I talk about the mind never being off duty. The mind will take you where your body has never been. The main point of the book is that you only need one moment in time: in that moment, all courage is yours and you can be all that you were meant to be. Not that you will be transformed in that one moment, but it will be a moment of reckoning, a decisive moment for you. To be or not to be! Some moments come by only once. Therefore, be alert to your time and to your season. The second book is a narration of short, inspirational stories. Each one of us will find ourselves in one or more of those stories and situations of life. The main point of the book is to remind each reader that, 'you are someone'. We are all a masterpiece in the hands of the Creator. We are each unique, as ordinary as some may think themselves to be. We each have the task to unleash our full potential before we reach the finish line. We must give life our all. 

How were you expecting the general public to receive your first book? 

I wasn't so sure, how it would be received but I went ahead anyway such is life. I thank God it was well received and both works have been tremendously well received. 

Apart from writing, what is or are your other passions? 

I enjoy music! Making music, listening to good music, as well as singing. My parents used to sing to us. I am exploring my musical side even further but more about that at the proper time! 

I also enjoy travelling. Travelling has taught me tolerance and beyond that, it has taught me to fall in love with life over and over again! I keep in touch with people across the horizon and their different expressions of love have helped refine my sometimes introverted nature. I have learnt to appreciate different foods and have learnt to prepare better meals as a result. We always look forward to travelling and actually save up for it as a family. Being out of our normal confines renews and rejuvenates our love for life, for each other and reminds us that we have many brothers and sisters out there. I also enjoy driving long distances. I am a good long distance driver, believe me. I wouldn't mind a job as a tour guide! I have visited our country widely and visited around the world. For sure God is love! He alone can do such wonderful things as cross-culture marriages, transcontinental business partnerships and even Zambians wearing Brazilian hair!

Is there any reason you have opted to keep your hair natural and how would you keep your fashion sense? 

My hair is natural, not for any specific reason except that natural ended up being my choice! My mum has accepted it, finally! 

Hmm, fashion sense… I am more oriented towards the French culture although I like a little something that identifies me as Zambian. The winning Chipolopolo T-shirt doesn't miss from my travelling bag! I like well-picked dressings and if I am in a hurry, I would rather be in jeans or a tracksuit. I appreciate fashion and art and so I dress with care. 

Finally Brenda, what would you say is the key to success? If ever a door had many keys to it, success would be that door! Except that the lock has a combination. You cannot use the key of determination without the key of love and consideration for family and others. This combination sometimes puts breaks to some of our desires and ambitions. The key of truthfulness goes with gentleness. Speak the truth, but speak it in love and with gentleness knowing that some have a weak frame. And the list of key combinations goes on. Even the key of faith in God cannot be turned without respect for others' beliefs and opinions. We have all fallen short of the glory of God and it is by His grace that we have come to believe. Therefore, I must live by love, pray for the others and ask God to open their eyes to the truth that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

No one comes to the Father if it is not through Him. In conclusion, I will say in the words of the wise king Solomon, "The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor does bread come to the wise, nor wealth to the man of understanding. But time and chance happen to us all." Do not miss your time. Every thought you produce, anything you say, any action you do it bears your signature. 

Remember one isn't necessarily born with courage, but is born with potential therefore, discover your passion and unleash your potential. It's possible you can also do it! She has discovered her passion, have you? For comments; mwenyamuleba@gmail.com / 0966 461 943/0950 594 050