Maureen Nkandu: Difference between revisions

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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"/>


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.
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"/>
In 2010, Maureen worked with the [[Electoral Commission of Zambia|Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ)]] to develop their communications strategy.<ref name="dailymail"/>


In December 2014, she came back home to Zambia working for the World Bank as a Senior Communications Expert.
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. 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 in the outskirts of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),
In 1998 in the outskirts of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Maureen and her TV crew were 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.<ref name="dailymail"




Maureen Nkandu by the arm and tells her that he is ready to have a 'good time' with her. Victor, the cameraman, is in tears. He pleads with their aggressor to let her go claiming that Maureen has a terrible disease that makes her shake and sweat all the time. Miraculously, he backs down but minutes later they are locked up in a damp dark cell littered with human faeces.
Maureen Nkandu by the arm and tells her that he is ready to have a 'good time' with her. Miraculously, he backs down but minutes later they are locked up in a damp dark cell littered with human faeces.


"I was working for the SABC and had gone to interview Laurent Kabila at the height of the civil war following a rebellion in the east," Maureen recalls as we sit poolside at her Sunninghill residence. "We happened to catch on camera some of his security forces beating up innocent people which is what landed us in trouble."
"I was working for the SABC and had gone to interview Laurent Kabila at the height of the civil war following a rebellion in the east," Maureen recalls as we sit poolside at her Sunninghill residence. "We happened to catch on camera some of his security forces beating up innocent people which is what landed us in trouble."
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Maureen was head hunted in 1993 by BOP TV in the former Bophutatswana in South Africa for their flagship programme Panorama. She did the show for a year before heading to the University of Wales to pursue a Masters degree in Journalism. Afterwards she travelled around Europe, doing freelance work for Radio Netherlands International and later lecturing part time at the Danish School of Journalism.
"On completing my studies I joined the public relations department at MNET and did some field reporting for Carte Blanche. In 1997 I joined the SABC where I used to read the 5p.m. news and later became quite involved in covering stories on the rest of the African continent."
While in Zambia and at BOP, Maureen had won various journalism awards and her fearless reporting at the SABC attracted more praise and recognition. The BBC Africa Service noticed her work and offered her a position as presenter and producer of the flagship Focus on Africa programme.
She returned to South Africa in 2007, citing fatigue from the western lifestyle.
"I felt that I had a greater role to play on my continent by being here and not in London."
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.


She then decided it was time to hang up the notebook and microphone and took up a senior position at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as communications adviser for east and southern Africa, a role she served in until May 2012 when she joined the NEPAD Agency of the African Union as Head of Communications.
She then decided it was time to hang up the notebook and microphone and took up a senior position at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as communications adviser for east and southern Africa, a role she served in until May 2012 when she joined the NEPAD Agency of the African Union as Head of Communications.
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"I have been blessed all my life to achieve that which I set out for. That is God's great plan for me. Without mincing my words, I see myself in the highest office on the land, be it nationally in Zambia or in an international organisation. I am keen on servant leadership and not the prestige of these positions. I think I could really effect change, being an African woman who has travelled and lived around the world and has had first-hand experience in issues of poverty, under-development, human rights violations, prejudice, opulence and dictatorship. I believe I have a greater understanding of the fundamental issues to serve at the highest level of leadership."
"I have been blessed all my life to achieve that which I set out for. That is God's great plan for me. Without mincing my words, I see myself in the highest office on the land, be it nationally in Zambia or in an international organisation. I am keen on servant leadership and not the prestige of these positions. I think I could really effect change, being an African woman who has travelled and lived around the world and has had first-hand experience in issues of poverty, under-development, human rights violations, prejudice, opulence and dictatorship. I believe I have a greater understanding of the fundamental issues to serve at the highest level of leadership."


Maureen confesses that she has a few profound regrets which she will reveal in a book about her life that she hopes to pen at the appropriate moment.


, where my TV crew and I were kidnapped by government soldiers, robbed and nearly raped!…during the war in 1998 ,” Maureen evokes.
That is not enough,


==Awards==
==Awards==
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