Former ZNBC Director of Programs, former Deputy Ambassador at Zambian Mission in Washington, Ben Kangwa has died.
Mr Kangwa collapsed last week, after suffering a suspected stroke and was rushed to Fairview Hospital where his condition deteriorated this week.
Funeral gathering at his house in Lusaka’s Makeni area.
As media strategist and political analyst, Mr 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.
With over 10,000 hours of broadcasting to his credit, Ben was the only known journalist at some point in Zambia who had produced and presented a business program called ‘Business Review’ for 12 consecutive years.
He was also credited for having produced and presented ‘one-on-one’ 90 minute political interviews with each of the eleven Presidential candidates in the Zambia 2001 tripartite elections on ZNBC.
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), Mr 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 2006 Presidential elections, Mr Kangwa yet again interviewed five Presidential candidates: Mr. Levy P. Mwanawasa SC – Movement for Multi Party Movement (MMD), Mr. Michael Sata – Patriotic Front (PF), Mr. Hakainde Hichilema – United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda – Heritage Party (HP), and Mr. Winwright N’gondo – All People’s Congress (APC)
Mr 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.
Mr Kangwa earned his Master’s Degree in Journalism and Culture from Cardiff University in Wales. In 1996, the Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) presented him with the ‘Best Financial Journalist Award’ of the year.
In September, 2010, he was recognized by the Cambridge “Who’s Who’ for demonstrating dedication, leadership and excellence in his career.
Mr 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.
How sad. MHSRIP.
Gosh!!!!! What a loss.
Never heard of him. Never
Why abuse the word veteran ?
RIP though
Thanks
BB2014,2016
RIP Mr Ben
I recall those teenage days when Disco started u and Timmy Mvula would spin the Shalamar , Dynasty , George Benson , Atlantic star on radio to name a few !!
“Mr Kangwa collapsed last week, after suffering a suspected stroke and was rushed to Fairview Hospital where his condition deteriorated this week.”HIV infection is the leading risk factor for stroke in African adults, a new study by the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Infection and Global Health has found.Dr Laura Benjamin, who led the study said: “The link between HIV infection and stroke is now more convincing than ever. “
SOFT SPOKEN VET.
MHSRIP
No no no no no NOT him please.
Wrong guy has died, and PF still alive. …. Hooo Jesus help us!! Not Ba Ben please.
Your National PF-Day of fasting should be dedicated to Ben Kangwa, and not to Edgar.
DR Mavwalo, or whatever you are, unless you know something that we don’t know, I don’t see how you are connecting HIV to Mr Kangwa’s death. Cardiovascular accidents or strokes have always been there. The case of Mushota is that of taking someone out of the village but the village remains in them. Mushota always wants to attract attention by saying stupid things. Yes, you probably never heard of Ben because you were brought up in rural Zambia, in a poor family where you never even had access to a simple two band radio
@Mwansa original…Any person or Bemba chap who is Mwansa original must be from the village coz you can’t find them in town.If you have HIV yourself am sorry stroke is just on your door and might strike even before 2021 but today being a National prayer day we shall put you in our prayers….
HE WAS ALSO A JAZZ MUSIC LOVER AND GENTLEMAN LIKE ME.
CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY
@Mushota you extremely naive, even after information has been put before your nose, it cant “sink”. Then how did you get your phd or stands for something else.
To reduce your ignorance, refer to the following;
TRIBUTES TO BEN KANGWA – **********
@Mushota you extremely naive, even after information has been put before your nose, it cant “sink”. Then how did you get your phd or stands for something else.
To reduce your ignorance, refer to the following; TRIBUTES TO BEN KANGWA – zambianobserver
How sad! I remember Ben when he presided at the official opening of the IndoZambia Bank, Indeco House Branch, Lusaka, as MC and I was the first Branch Manager. He was up there among the few!
Yes, he was a people’s man throughout his career. We lost touch when he took up the appointment as Deputy Ambassador, Washington. Ben was indeed a people’s man and knew his trade! We’ll miss him!
May God bless and comfort his bereaved family.
I convey my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved Kangwa family. May His Soul Rest In Perfect Peace I pray. What a refined Broadcaster we have lost! His death sadly reminds me of other refined Broadcasters like Mario Mario, Charles Mandi, Matti P (Matteo Phiri), Peter Mweemba, Fred Chunga, Joseph Kuluneta, Sarah ‘Sassy’ Mubanga, Lawson Chishimba, Harold Besa, Mama Emeldah Yumbe, Gorreti Mapulanga…..etc. MYSRIP ALL OF YOU MY HEROES\HEROINES.
I met him in the USA. Great man he was. God comfort his family.
MHSRIP.When reporting a death, you indicate how old that person was.Thats journalism.
True
@Wajimona, how old are you?
Go ye well brother
@ Nostradamus am as old as your grandfather in the remote area of Chinyama Litapi.!
Sad indeed.. MHSRIP
Truly sad a life cut short while promising for country! High time the Zambian authorities especially those who manage national health care to double their efforts by a home grown categorization of what ailments to prioritize for preventive management and care! Diabetes and blood pressure are a deadly combination especially as age progresses otherwise also termed as ‘silent killer’ need proper understanding care and treatment by the affected patient with medical assistance. However the tools needed are out of the patient’s reach! Malaria, cholera tuberculosis are among those that can be contained by an informed citizenry. How much proactive is the Health Ministry at conducting national health research to enable appropriate interventions than just adapting data generated by self interest…
contd…..researchers elsewhere with preset hypotheses to promote? May it be well with your soul Mr. Kangwa.
Oh shame, what a true icon of television a great loss for Zambia.
I am very much sad and touched. Ben rest in peace.
Very sad indeed, i grew up watching and listening to the programs he presented. MHSRIP.
Ben, you always woke up me to that song “Gloria” on your Saturday breakfast show. You fought a good fight. Rest in Peace, bro.
Go well.
May your soul rest in peace.
Tell me I am just dreaming. Very sad indeed. Don”t what to say at the moment.
Ben was a professional journalist, different from these vama cadres we are left with
Ben was 63. He attended Roan Antelope Secondary School (RASS), together with Hon Kambwili.
Sad development indeed. One great journalist
MHSRIP….accomplished quiet a lot
What a loss for Zambia. The man had so much institutional memory. I will miss hearing his stories about his first hand experiences of historic events in Zambia. Go well big man. You touch many lives positively.
MHSRIP
Mr Kangwa collapsed last week, after suffering a suspected stroke and was rushed to Fairview Hospital where his condition deteriorated this week.”HIV infection is the leading risk factor for stroke in African adults, a new study by the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Infection and Global Health has found.Dr Laura Benjamin, who led the study said; “The link between HIV infection and stroke is now more convincing than ever. “
is this really necessary at a time like this?
Captain Banks ask him
Mavwalo nini, it sounds like you had something personal against Ben. Please grow up and take your stupidity somewhere else
@ Please learn to address me as a Dr.And for your own information Ben Kangwa was my mulamu who married my sister .Nothing personal .Like I said if you are HIV positive worry not you are in our prayers as a National Prayer day….
Silly.
and CHILDISH.
There are many factors in strokes that you want to ignore. The elderly are more prone. As an elderly African living in the US your risk of stroke is very high because your sources of vakudya are in Junk food outlets and booze is abundant. Even you Dr Yinu are quite vulnerable to it if you never exercise and love your meat. So stop smears and stigma hunting on LT and go look after yourself!
Unbeatable and unmatchable achievements and professional aptitudes. A great loss to the Nation.
Sad. MHSRIP.
How old is this Mushota who does not know Ben Kangwa. RIP; Other veterans Hagai Chisulo, Joseph Kuluneta, Mr. Charles Mando, Mark Boti
Ok, I thought Briaaaaaaaaaan Mwaleeeeeeeeeeee was the son.
RIP
Yes veteran broadcaster like Manns Sichalwe, Harold Besa, Frank Mutubila, Joseph Kuluneta, Magritte Zimba, Constaus Chisota, Emeldah Yumbe, Lawson Chishimba, Dawson Mwendafilumba, Leonard Katumoya, Mark Tabu, Peter Mweemba, Friday Mutelo, Mario Mario, Lazarous Kanyungu, Mutafela Lubinda, Kenneth Maduma, David Kabindi Chipoya, Alufonsho Kashule, George Mubanga. These folks did their best when we used to have two stations only, HOME SERVICE & GENERAL SERVICE.
The pic looks like Briaaaaaaaaan Mwaleeeeeeeeeee.
Yes veteran broadcasters like Kenneth Maduma, Frank Mutubila, Emelda Yumbe, Margret Zimba, Constous Chisota, Mark Tabu, Mike Boti, Lawson Chishimba, Dawson Mwandafilumba, Leonard Katumoya, Mario Mario, Harold Besa, Peter Mweemba, Alufonsho Kashule, Charles Mando. These folks did their best when we had two stations only, home service & general service.
Its must be a young guy born yesterday trying to attract attention.
RIP
Sad story a great son of Africa. I hope he gave his life to Jesus, MHSRIP
Rest in peace ba Ben you were indeed an icon in the media industry.God bless.
Sad news.
My good friend rest in peace buddy
MHSRIP! A true veteran. God bless you sir and thank you for your admirable contribution.
People should select vocabulary on such sad moment to the bereavement family. Note that the bereavement family also reads our bad and good messages of condolences. It is highly time to connect the death of our great man Ben kangwa to the types of diseases that have caused him to die. In fact the medical practitioners have clearly mentioned that Ben has died after a short ill of stroke a disease that can also find us at any time. Let’s not look at political phenomena and tribe. But as a country has lost a veteran in media industry. MHSRIEP.
Sad news
Sad indeed. After prayers today are we going to see dialogue among political parties, Are they going to start talking to each other, are opposition parties now going to be allowed to hold meetings like it is in a true democracy, and is ZNBC and public media which is run by all tax payers in Zambia going to start covering opposition parties which are entitled to news coverage, and is state house spokesperson going to be reminded that he is a civil servant and should not be insulting elders. I hope these prayers work please. I mean well
Sorry Ben.Condolences to the family. Ba LT was he the one blogging as Senior Citizen ?
A good journalist and well decorated in the media industry. MHSRIP
Extremely sad. Ben loved journalism. Whatever the cause of his death, we mourn him those of us who knew his journalism.
Sad news, may your soul rest in peace
Condolences. MHSRIEP
Don’t worry about little know mushota… She is a kid of yesterday… I wonder even the phd she hold is genuine!!!
Tal Ben of Ben, vet media Practitioner, with good reputation. We old senior citizens know him very well. MYSRIP my brother..
A veteran broadcaster indeed! MHSRIEP.
Rest in peace Ben. You ran your race and contributed so much in your major and other capacities.
Rest in eternal peace Mr Kangwa and thanks for yourcontribution to the journalism industry. Ka Mushota, just shut your mouth if you have nothing better to say.
@Mushota its either you must be very ignorant OR it seems you have not watched Zambian news for years. Ben kangwa is probably the most famous journalism at ZNBC.
@Nostradamus you don’t have to drag PF into this. You are one of those fools who utilize every opportunity to discredit PF government. don’t waste peoples time with such pathetic comments, keep them to you own subconscious.
So sad you are gone Ben. May our Creator give you room in His House of many rooms. May God guide your family during this very difficult time of grieving. I will always remember the days we used to meet at UTH after work when you were at ZBS (Zambia Broadcasting Services) and I was working at UTH then. You woke me up on that day when there was the failed military coup in the Chiluba era and I was in Kitwe at that time. I remember your charity work with an orphanage in Chawama. We last met at ZAMCOM two weeks before your departure for the USA and you said you would send me some music. Well the rest is now history. Rest in peace Ben. Homage to you Ben and my tribute to you next time I will be on air will be – “When will I see you again” by The Three degrees. Adieu
Rest in eternal peace Ben.You were a humble gentleman.We will miss you
I was waiting to see UPND big TRIBAL WIGS write words of CONDOLENCES and I saw none! Then I remembered, Ben Kangwa is a “THIEF,” therefore, they cannot write any good thing because UPND is a tribal H-organisation and their battle principally is TRIBALISM-based. “ONLY A TONGA CAN BE PRESIDENT OF UPND.” Ben was on the same platform as CHIBAMBA KANYAMA. These guys were great men in the history of the media in Zambia. Continue to hibernate Larry Mweetwa!
This guy will be missed. He was so professional that he would easily have become a cadre if he were like the crop of journalists we have now. You have indeed left a gap.
Whoow . @ 19, 19.1 19.2 above , you just sent me down memory lane. The ZBS days.
What about Goretti Mapulanga?
You made znbc news real after Ben Mweemba and Kenneth Maduma. RIP
Ba Ben was truly a humble man, May he rest in peace. It was always fun to have him around.
As at now, we do not need to know the connection btwn stroke and hiv. Let us mourn our man Ben.ubupuba tabufwaikwa. Even if he was you mulandu, you don’t have to show your bitterness in public. Napacililo I we kukutamfya.
I was hoping this news is one of thse FAKE SOCIAL MEDIA stories.
I had the previlege of meeting him home and abroad. He convinced me to come back home to work at ZNBC. What a great and humble person. RIP. CONDELENCES TO THE FAMILY
Zambia missed an opportunity with this man. Despite the usual political interference, he could have run ZNBC TV better than most DGs, would have made an excellent Minister of Information/GRZ Spokesperson. Sober mind, slow to anger and quick to think. Go well Ben, you were terribly underrated.
MY HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO U MR. KANGWA BEN-MYRIP.WE WILL MET BIG MAN.AND THE FAMILY LET GOD GUIDE YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS.IAM SO MUCH TOUCHED ALOT.
MHSRIEP AND MY CONDOLENCES TO THE ‘LATE KANGWA’S FAMILY AND FRIENDS
So sad Mr. Kangwa, May Your Soul Rest In Eternal Peace (MYSRIEP).
Mushota you a pain in the arsshoe were did you grow up from? Don’t be full of your self so you think we know who your father is…we don’t and we will never want to know the ma fcker..
There are two pictures of ZNBC news readers that have remained in my memory. I heard the national anthem playing on TV at an awkward time. Wondering what had happened I waited to see what was coming.I thought it was a press conference. No, it was Ben Kangwa. He announced the death of our soccer team. He looked very sad but well composed. The second one was Doreen Mukanzo reading the news on the day the body of President Mwanawasa arrived home. I guess when the task is hard, it has to be performed by a veteran.
There are two pictures of ZNBC news readers that have remained in my memory. I heard the national anthem playing on TV at an awkward time. Wondering what had happened I waited to see what was coming.I thought it was a press conference. No, it was Ben Kangwa. He announced the death of our soccer team. He looked very sad but well composed. The second one was Doreen Mukanzo reading the news on the day the body of President Mwanawasa arrived home. I guess when the task is hard, it has to be performed by a veteran. MHSRIP
A true professional a special person.
MHSRIP