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'''Ben Kangwa''' (1955 - 18 October 2018) was a [[Zambian]] media strategist, political analyst, journalist and broadcaster. He was former [[ZNBC]] Director of Programs and former Deputy Ambassador at Zambian Mission in Washington.<ref>[https://www.lusakatimes.com/2018/10/18/veteran-broadcaster-ben-kangwa-has-died/ Veteran Broadcaster Ben Kangwa has died], [[Lusaka Times]], 18 October 2018</ref>
{{Infobox person
| name        = Ben Kangwa
| image        = <!-- Add image file if available -->
| caption      =
| birth_date  = 1955
| birth_place  = Zambia
| death_date  = 18 October 2018
| death_place  = Lusaka, Zambia
| occupation  = Broadcaster, journalist, media strategist, diplomat
| years_active = c. 1983–2018
}}


==Early life and education==
'''Ben Kangwa''' (1955 – 18 October 2018) was a renowned [[Zambia]]n [[broadcaster]], [[journalist]], media strategist and [[diplomat]]. He worked at the [[Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation]] (ZNBC) for 25 years, rising to the position of Director of Programs, and later served as Deputy Ambassador at the Zambian Mission in Washington, D.C.<ref>[https://www.lusakatimes.com/2018/10/18/veteran-broadcaster-ben-kangwa-has-died/ Veteran Broadcaster Ben Kangwa has died], [[Lusaka Times]], 18 October 2018</ref>
Kangwa earned his Master’s Degree in Journalism and Culture from Cardiff University in Wales. He was buried at his farm in [[Makeni]] with hundreds of people in attendance.<ref>[https://www.znbc.co.zm/hundreds-bid-farewell-to-ben-kangwa/ Ben Kangwa Interred], [[ZNBC]], 20 October 2018</ref>  


==Career==
==Education and early life==
As media strategist and political analyst, Kangwa had full electronic and print media career, having worked in both radio and television at the [[Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation]] (ZNBC) for a period spanning 25 years and rising to the position of Director of Programs. He was responsible for the running of Radio, Television, News, the core business of broadcasting.
Kangwa earned a Master’s in Journalism and Culture from Cardiff University in Wales.<ref>[https://chalochatu.org/Ben_Kangwa "Ben Kangwa – Chalo Chatu"]</ref>


With over 10,000 hours of broadcasting to his credit, Kangwa was the only known journalist at some point in Zambia who had produced and presented a business program called ‘[[Business Review (TV programme)|Business Review]]’ for 12 consecutive years.
==Broadcasting career==
Kangwa’s 25-year tenure at ZNBC included producing and presenting major programs:
* Hosted a daily financial show, ''Business Review'', for 12 years.<ref>[https://chalochatu.org/Ben_Kangwa "Ben Kangwa – Chalo Chatu"]</ref>
* Led 90-minute live political interviews with nearly every candidate in Zambia’s 2001 presidential elections, in partnership with ECZ, EU, and ZAMCOM.<ref>[https://chalochatu.org/Ben_Kangwa "Ben Kangwa – Chalo Chatu"]</ref>
* Produced a “live” phone-in programme on media reforms for four years, collaborating with MISA Zambia.<ref>[https://misa.org/news/ben-kangwa-dies "MISA Zambia mourns the death of veteran broadcaster Ben Kangwa"]</ref>
 
Kangwa also produced and presented live programs for both radio and television on the [[National Constitution]] sponsored by the [[Willa Mu’ngomba Constitution Review Commission]] where he sat on the Publicity Committee.
 
In collaboration with the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Zambia Chapter, he also produced and presented a live phone-in program on Media Reforms on both radio and television for a stretch of four years running.
 
He also served on boards including [[Evelyn Hone College]], [[Zambia Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS]], [[Yatsani Catholic Radio]], [[Zambezi FM]], Salvation Army and Keep Lusaka Clean Committee.<ref>[https://chalochatu.org/Ben_Kangwa "Ben Kangwa – Chalo Chatu"]</ref>


===Political and policy analysis===
===Political and policy analysis===
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Additionally, in collaboration with the [[Electoral Commission of Zambia]] (ECZ), the European Union (EU), the Freedom Forum of the USA and the [[Zambia Institute of Mass Communication]] (ZAMCOM), Kangwa produced and presented a “live” debate style 90 minute TV program featuring 10 of the 11 presidential candidates at the same time at the [[Mulungushi International Conference Center]] (MICC) during the 2001 elections.
Additionally, in collaboration with the [[Electoral Commission of Zambia]] (ECZ), the European Union (EU), the Freedom Forum of the USA and the [[Zambia Institute of Mass Communication]] (ZAMCOM), Kangwa produced and presented a “live” debate style 90 minute TV program featuring 10 of the 11 presidential candidates at the same time at the [[Mulungushi International Conference Center]] (MICC) during the 2001 elections.


In [[Zambian general election, 2006|2006 Presidential elections]], Kangwa yet again interviewed five Presidential candidates: [[Levy Mwanawasa]] – [[Movement for Multi Party Democracy]] (MMD), [[Michael Sata]] – [[Patriotic Front]] (PF), [[Hakainde Hichilema]] – [[United Democratic Alliance]] (UDA), [[Godfrey Miyanda]] – [[Heritage Party]] (HP), and [[Winwright N’gondo]] – [[All People’s Congress]] (APC)
==Diplomatic service==
After retiring from ZNBC, Kangwa was appointed Deputy Ambassador at Zambia’s mission in Washington, D.C., contributing to cultural diplomacy and media outreach.<ref>[https://misa.org/news/ben-kangwa-dies "MISA Zambia mourns the death of veteran broadcaster Ben Kangwa"]</ref>


Kangwa also produced and presented live programs for both radio and television on the [[National Constitution]] sponsored by the [[Willa Mu’ngomba Constitution Review Commission]] where he sat on the Publicity Committee.
==Awards and honours==
 
* 1996 – Best Financial Journalist, [[Press Association of Zambia]] (PAZA).<ref>[https://chalochatu.org/Ben_Kangwa "Ben Kangwa – Chalo Chatu"]</ref>
In collaboration with the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Zambia Chapter, he also produced and presented a live phone-in program on Media Reforms on both radio and television for a stretch of four years running.
* 2010 – Recognized in Cambridge ‘Who’s Who’ for professional excellence.<ref>[https://chalochatu.org/Ben_Kangwa "Ben Kangwa – Chalo Chatu"]</ref>
 
===Others===
Kangwa served on several professional Boards such as the [[Evelyn Hone College]] School of Journalism Department Advisory Committee, the Zambia Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, the [[Yatsani Catholic Radio Station]], [[Zambezi FM]] in [[Livingstone]], the Salvation Army and the [[Keep Lusaka Clean Campaign]] Committee.


==Death==
==Death==
Kangwa collapsed after suffering a suspected stroke and was rushed to [[Fairview Hospital]] in [[Lusaka]] where his condition deteriorated and passed away a week later on 18 October 2018.
Kangwa died on 18 October 2018 at [[Fairview Hospital]] in [[Lusaka]] after an illness.<ref>[https://misa.org/news/ben-kangwa-dies "MISA Zambia mourns the death of veteran broadcaster Ben Kangwa"]</ref><ref>[https://lusakatimes.com/2018/10/18/veteran-broadcaster-ben-kangwa-has-died/ "Veteran Broadcaster Ben Kangwa has died"], Lusaka Times, 18 Oct 2018.</ref> He was buried at his [[Makeni]] farm, surrounded by family, friends and colleagues.<ref>[https://www.znbc.co.zm/hundreds-bid-farewell-to-ben-kangwa/ Ben Kangwa Interred], [[ZNBC]], 20 October 2018</ref>


==Awards and honours==
==Legacy==
* In 1996, the [[Press Association of Zambia]] (PAZA) presented him with the ‘Best Financial Journalist Award’ of the year.
MISA Zambia commemorated Kangwa as a “pillar of the media profession” who upheld high standards and championed freedom of expression.<ref>[https://misa.org/news/ben-kangwa-dies "MISA Zambia mourns the death of veteran broadcaster Ben Kangwa"]</ref> He is remembered for elevating broadcast journalism in Zambia through in-depth financial analysis, political interviews, and media policy forums.
* In September, 2010, he was recognized by the Cambridge “Who’s Who’ for demonstrating dedication, leadership and excellence in his career.


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
<references/>


[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:Zambian broadcasters]]
[[Category:Zambian journalists]]
[[Category:Zambian diplomats]]
[[Category:People of Zambia]]
[[Category:People of Zambia]]
[[Category:Zambian Ambassadors]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
Retrieved from "http://www.chalochatu.org/Ben_Kangwa"