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{{Featured article}} | |||
{{Infobox person | |||
| name = Maureen Nkandu | |||
| image = Maureen_Nkandu.jpg | |||
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| birth_name = Maureen Mumbi Nkandu | |||
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|05|01}} | |||
| birth_place = [[Lusaka]] | |||
| death_date = | |||
| death_place = | |||
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| spouse = | |||
| children = | |||
| relatives = | |||
*[[Faxon Nkandu]] (father) | |||
| other_names = | |||
| occupation = Journalist <br> TV presenter <br>Communication expert | |||
| years_active = | |||
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}} | |||
'''Maureen Mumbi Nkandu''' (born 1st May 1967 in [[Lusaka]]) is a [[Zambia]]n international [[journalist]] and communications expert. She began her career at the [[ZNBC|Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC)]] aged 18. She is daughter of the late veteran journalist and lecturer, [[Faxon Nkandu]], a former News Editor of the [[Times of Zambia]]. | |||
==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
Maureen was born in 1968 in [[Lusaka]] to Faxon Nkandu and Grace Chakulunta. She was influenced by her father Faxon Nkandu, former News Editor of the Times of Zambia, and one of very few African journalists to cover the Vietnam War. Out of all of his children, she was the one who showed the most interest in his work. She was nicknamed a reporter both at home and at school because she frequently told on her peers and siblings whenever they did something wrong. At age 11, Maureen read [[Maureen Nkandu speech at 1979 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting|a speech]] on behalf of all Commonwealth children to the Queen of England and other British and Zambian government leaders at the [[1979 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting]] in Lusaka. | Maureen was born in 1968 in [[Lusaka]] to Faxon Nkandu and Grace Chakulunta. She was influenced by her father [[Faxon Nkandu]], former News Editor of the Times of Zambia, and one of very few African journalists to cover the Vietnam War. Out of all of his children, she was the one who showed the most interest in his work. She was nicknamed a reporter both at home and at school because she frequently told on her peers and siblings whenever they did something wrong. At age 11, Maureen read [[Maureen Nkandu speech at 1979 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting|a speech]] on behalf of all Commonwealth children to the Queen of England and other British and Zambian government leaders at the [[1979 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting]] in Lusaka. | ||
==Education== | ==Education== | ||
She started nursery school at Kilimani Primary School in Nairobi, Kenya, where her father worked as communications director for the All Africa Conference of Churches. She later attended Northmead and Woodlands primary schools briefly, then [[Lusaka Girls Primary School]], and later [[Leopards Hill Secondary School]]. | She started nursery school at Kilimani Primary School in Nairobi, Kenya, where her father worked as communications director for the All Africa Conference of Churches. She later attended Northmead and Woodlands primary schools briefly, then [[Lusaka Girls Primary School]], and later [[Leopards Hill Secondary School]]. | ||
At age 17, after completing high school, she walked into the then [[Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation|Zambia Broadcasting Service]] (now ZNBC) to plead for a job but they could not hire her because of her age and inexperience. Because she was persistent, she was put in a pool of about ten candidates. All the others at the interview were journalism college graduates who laughed off her chances. Little did they know that she had been practicing for the job in front of the mirror for five years and they were all stunned when she got the job. | At age 17, after completing high school, she walked into the then [[Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation|Zambia Broadcasting Service]] (now [[ZNBC]]) to plead for a job but they could not hire her because of her age and inexperience. Because she was persistent, she was put in a pool of about ten candidates. All the others at the interview were journalism college graduates who laughed off her chances. Little did they know that she had been practicing for the job in front of the mirror for five years and they were all stunned when she got the job. | ||
==Professional career== | ==Professional career== | ||
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After studying for her master’s degree, she worked for the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) as chief international correspondent and TV news anchor. It was through her elaborate work as a roving reporter, covering civil war and conflicts, elections, humanitarian and developmental issues that Maureen was spotted by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in 2001 to work as their Africa specialist and presenter of the flagship programme, Focus on Africa.<ref name="dailymail"/> | After studying for her master’s degree, she worked for the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) as chief international correspondent and TV news anchor. It was through her elaborate work as a roving reporter, covering civil war and conflicts, elections, humanitarian and developmental issues that Maureen was spotted by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in 2001 to work as their Africa specialist and presenter of the flagship programme, Focus on Africa.<ref name="dailymail"/> | ||
Maureen returned to the SABC, when she reported on the volatile elections in Kenya in December 2007. She brought out the key political and social aspects of the tension in Kenya, while also showcasing how the violence and all the flawed processes impacted on the people there. | |||
In 2010, Maureen worked with the [[Electoral Commission of Zambia|Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ)]] to develop their communications strategy.<ref name="dailymail"/> | |||
Six years later, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) appointed Maureen as Regional Communications Adviser for East and Southern Africa. And after nearly four years at the UNDP, Maureen was again head-hunted in 2012 by the African Union’s NEPAD Agency as Head of Communications. | Six years later, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) appointed Maureen as Regional Communications Adviser for East and Southern Africa. And after nearly four years at the UNDP, Maureen was again head-hunted in 2012 by the African Union’s NEPAD Agency as Head of Communications. | ||
In December 2014, she came back home to Zambia working for the World Bank as a Senior Communications Expert. | In December 2014, she came back home to Zambia working for the World Bank as a Senior Communications Expert. She has also conducted training for public relations practitioners and under the Airtel Media Excellence programme. | ||
==Personal life== | ==Personal life== | ||
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==Kidnapping in Congo DR== | ==Kidnapping in Congo DR== | ||
In 1998 while working for SABC, she went to the outskirts of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to interview President Laurent Kabila at the height of the civil war following a rebellion in the east. Maureen and her TV crew catch on camera some of Kabila's security forces beating up innocent people, and this led to them being kidnapped by government soldiers, robbed and nearly raped. Victor, the cameraman, pleaded with the soldiers to let her go claiming that Maureen has a terrible disease that makes her shake and sweat all the time. They were then locked up in a dump dark cell littered with human faeces. <ref name="dailymail"/> | |||
That evening, the SABC reported on the evening news that its crew was missing in Kinshasa. Shortly after, the BBC picked up the story and before long, it became international news which led to their eventual release and repatriation. | That evening, the SABC reported on the evening news that its crew was missing in Kinshasa. Shortly after, the BBC picked up the story and before long, it became international news which led to their eventual release and repatriation. | ||
==Awards== | ==Awards== | ||
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* [http://www.drutechmedia.co.za/clients/africanpro2/index.php/professionals/item/215-maureen-nkandu-award-winning-journalist-now-head-of-nepad-communications The African Professional] | * [http://www.drutechmedia.co.za/clients/africanpro2/index.php/professionals/item/215-maureen-nkandu-award-winning-journalist-now-head-of-nepad-communications The African Professional] | ||
== | ==Related biographies== | ||
* [[Kalusha Bwalya]] | |||
* [[Ben Kangwa]] | |||
* [[Doreen Mukanzo]] | |||
* [[Kenneth Maduma]] | |||
* [[Innocent Kalaluka]] | |||
==Main references== | |||
{{Reflist}} | |||
[[Category:Zambian journalists]] | [[Category:Zambian journalists]] | ||
[[Category:Zambian TV personalities]] | |||
[[Category:1968 births]] | [[Category:1968 births]] | ||
[[Category:People of Zambia]] | |||
[[Category:Zambian broadcasters]] |
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