Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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nation at 20
Decades of excellence
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EPHRAIM NYONDO News ANAlyst
n the beginning there was an ideanot money, just an idea. It was lifeless and void, of course; just floating, separately, in the brains of a powerful father and a visionary daughter. At night, they couldnt sleep. Deep in their brains, the idea could rumble and rumble yearning to be unleashed and shared. Defeated, Mbumba Achuthan and her father, Aleke Banda, sometime in 1993, approached Dr Ken Lipenga, now Finance Minister, and in their triangle, they sat down, at least, on a bottle or two. Let us come up with a newspaper, they unleashed and shared the idea. And that was the genesis of Nation Publications Limited (NPL). It began like a small seed: a family car, a single printer, a single computer brought in by Lipenga, yes, just small things. Even on adverts, it started with few clientsmost of them contacted as individual friends. But every small thing, like a mustard seed perhaps, grows vast with time, to provide shelter to people and animals. So was The Nation, and the first symbol of growth was the team. Lipenga brought in Alfred Ntonga from Blantyre Newspapers Limited (BNL). Achuthan roped in Billy Mphande who retired. Then Alfred Mtaula joined the team. He was from the UDF News. Bertha Masiku, formerly MP for Blantyre City West headed the advertising section. Mphande brought in Masauko Chiomba, former Mzuzu Bureau manager and a messenger, Stanley Chiwanda. That, unarguably, meant that a vibrant team was now in place to bestride the media world like a colossus in years to come. And with Lipengathe first editor-in-chief of The Nation, then a bi-weekly newspaper it really did. The Nation became an instant hit when in 1993 it carried deeper investigative series on the Mwanza murder of Aaron Gadama, Dick Matenje, Twaibu Sangala and David Chiwanga. Once the stories were out, The Nation became a giant of the streets. The Bakili Muluzi administration instituted a commission of inquiry and the result was the house arrest of first president Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda and some of his close associates. Yet that was not all. Operation Bwenzani, aimed at disarming the Malawi Young Pioneers, was another series that heightened the newspapers glory. In fact, they were stories that, again, defined NPLs team work. We all spread out to different parts of the country and covered the event as it unfolded, and when it came to production time, we all worked as a team to put everything together. Some of us even went on delivery, served coffee and tea to people, sold advertswe did everything, recalls Achuthan. True, with years, NPL, like that mustard seed grew into a big, big tree with many branches. In 1995, Saturday Nation now Weekend Nation, was born. Nation Online followed in 1998 and Nation on Sunday stormed the streets in 2006. Just two years ago, FUKO, a free fortnightly bilingual newspaper, was launched. FUKO is the first free newspaper from a private media institution in Malawi. Today, reckon the circulation of NPL products, they are unbeaten. Listen to 66 percent of advertisers and readers, they rate it the best. Not only that. We boast an assembly of a cream of credible journalists PAGE 3
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Moving with the times: The new machine opens a new window of opportunities
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Reporter Aubrey Mchulu, now Deputy Editor The Nation, with Editor, the late Jika Nkolokosa
Nation Online Editor Elizabeth Banda interviewing former first lady Shanil Muluzi during her reporting days
Sales Executive Albert Banda delivering his speech at the NPL Open Day
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Block Ads Supervisor Chitatata Mdina working on the state-of-the-art image setter
Sports Senior News Analyst Garry Chirwa showing off his awards
The former Nation head office off Johnstone Road, Ginnery Corner
Quotable Quotes
There are problems in Zambia, there are problems in Malawi, there are problems everywhere. So politicians must come together, talk to each other, across political divisions, that will help us together. Kenneth Kaunda, speaking during his Presidential visit to Malawi on 14th July 2005. Let us remember that an import is a job exported and we need to be creating those jobs here. Matthews Chikaonda, 25th February 1998, speaking on the rise of interest rates in his capacity as Reserve Bank Governor. Firms in commanding heights should be conscious of their responsibilities towards their customers and smaller firms. D.D.Phiri, 15th July 2005, in his column, responsibilities of dominant firm in market.
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nation at 20 Michael MMeya Staff Writer
he success story of Nation Publications Limiteds 20 years at the service of Malawians is and will always be incomplete, if it excludes the contributions of the many selfless men and women who now sleep in their graves. If life after death were a continuation of life on earth, and it allowed NPLs departed colleagues to continue working in their respective roles; and the same NPL banner, one would say they would be in an equally competitive establishment as among them were highly qualified staff. The number of our departed colleagues in the 20 years is beyond 30. Some died in NPL service ,while others died after leaving the establishment. But no one can take away their credit for the contribution they made to what NPL is today. They were and will always be part of NPLs history. As we celebrate NPLs 20 years of existence, it is imperative that the families of our departed workmates join us in celebrating the selfless lives of those men and women. Each one of them is fondly remembered by someone living and still working here at Nation and a lot is often said about them, that bears testimony to the value of their contribution to NPLs growth. The newsroom, which is where stories are cooked is one crazy place where without lighter moments, reporters and editors find life unbearable. It is for such a conducive working atmosphere that workmates have fond memories of the likes of Jika Nkolokosa, Edward Chisambo, Daring Chirwa, Rankin Nyekanyeka, Frazer Nazombe, Chimwemwe Festino, Prince Shonga, Bester Matemba and Alexander Newa. Alongside their professional skills, they created a friendly working environment as well as being tutors in their own right. Senior News Analyst, Garry Chirwa, remembers sports editor Daring as a motivator who always wanted things done properly. It was a joy working with him, says Garry, who often recounts how Daring would spoil his
edward chisambo
Prince Shonga
Brian hara
Newton chikadzakwani
Jika Nkolokosa
day when he came back from the usual morning meetings, with feedback of his story idea, which would either require of him to re-do the story or change it entirely, to feature in the Weekend Nation or Nation on Sunday. He often joked about it, but he sent the message across all the same, recalls Garry. The late Prince Shonga was pioneer editor for Fuko. Colleagues still remember that he died at his house after a sudden illness, which started while he was working on his Fuko production in the night. He was a veteran editor of the calibre of Nkolokosa and Chisambo. Some nicknamed him the clinician because of his clinical editing. Technical editor, Andrew Mtupanyama,
lloyd Kankosya
Dick chiwaya
Kesten Muhapateya
who previously worked with Shonga at Moni Magazine, remembers him as a charming person who made him take up publishing as a career. He used every opportunity to share with me his experience in publishing, says Mtupanyama. The NPL family misses Zabweka as a cartoon the same way you our valued readers do. That was the late Brian Haras contribution towards NPL, which is now 20 years old. The newsroom is just one department in the newspaper business .It relies on the support of other departments such as administration, accounts, sales, advertising and production which death has also not spared in the PAGE 7
Frazer Nazombe
Jonathan Banda
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I joined Nation Publications Limited as a librarian assistant on 10 April 2002. I was promoted to the current position in 2010. My job involves collecting publications both in print and digital for referencing purposes. This information is used as background information for newsroom staff and other members of staff. We also allow outsiders to use our library resources for research on special arrangement with management. During my stay I have witnessed several technological changes that have made storage and retrieval of information easier. For instance, in 2005 we started a digital library where we keep pictures, audios and videos. This has saved us from the headache of space required to keep pictures in hardcopy. The automation is on-going and we hope to expand to newspaper cuttings. Our library is a source of knowledge and information and I am pleased to be part of it. Maurice Njawala, Librarian
attention by the speed with which he carried his clerical duties while the expertise of Olive Nyasulu, who was the CEOs personal assistant also left an indelible mark. The contribution of these departed colleagues, alongside that of those living, still at NPL or away from it, is what will make the 20th anniversary celebrations worthwhile.
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Cartoons