JOURNALISM IS FASCINATING AND REWARDING – BUUMBA CHIMBULU

 

By ANNIE ZULU

Buumba Chimbulu recently scooped the Media Award at the 2022 Stanbic Anakazi Banking Recognition Awards, which was set up back in 2014 to celebrate and recognise outstanding women who excel and have made a positive impact in various fields such as Media, Agriculture, ICT, Sports, Education, Mining and many more.

Buumba is currently a  Business Reporter for one of Zambia’s biggest private-owned Newspapers-  Daily Nation, where she reports on business and economic stories of  local, African  and global interest  in the country.

She has covered intriguing business stories,  top business events, and has interviewed several high profile personalities in the business circles. 

With such  track records of success in the business beat, there is definitely no doubt  that she deserved the award  and even many more.

In this exclusive interview with Zambian Feminine  Pages, Buumba lets us into her world as she shares her experience in business reporting, excitements about the award and more.

Buumba after receiving her Award at the Stanbic Anakazi Banking Recognition Awards

WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE BUSINESS AS A BEAT?

I find it a bit funny how I got to start business reporting. When I joined Daily Zambia in 2015, I applied as a news reporter but I was told the Managing Director had suggested that I should take up the business beat due to my background of working with some business associations. And so, that is how I found myself taking up the business beat. I always joke that I did not choose the business beat, it instead chose me.

AS A BUSINESS REPORTER, CAN YOU DESCRIBE A TYPICAL WORKING DAY? WHAT KIND OF HOURS DO YOU PUT IN?

On certain days, my day starts as early as 06:00hrs. There are some people in the corporate world who would prefer meeting up with you before 07:00hrs for a one-on one interview. There are other corporate organisation who believe in engaging with other stakeholders before 07:00hrs so, if they have a function and they have requested for coverage, you are expected to be there before 07:00hrs.

It is quite difficult to state the specific hours I put in because there are some business engagements which starts at 18:00hrs and finish late.

ARE YOU THE FIRST JOURNALIST IN YOUR FAMILY?

Yes, I am. My siblings have taken up other professions such as Banking and Finance as well as Accounts.

OF THE BUSINESS STORIES YOU’VE REPORTED, WHICH HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE?

I have been able to work on investigative stories. I think one which stands out is how a certain officer from the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) was cunning taxpayers who were applying for Value Added Tax (VAT) refund. The officer was using the name of the then Commissioner General. I was able to gather evidence and that story made sparked some reactions from stakeholders.

HOW COMPETITIVE IS THE BUSINESS REPORTING BEAT? MORE SO FOR WOMEN? HOW DID YOU MAKE YOURSELF STAND OUT?

This is a very interesting beat and there is so much to learn. Business reporting is not so much common, others find It boring while others find it difficult because of the certain terms used when reporting. It took me years and years to be able to understand what goes on the beat and which specific stakeholders to work with and build trust. The corporate world is not easily convinced and business sources will take forever to trust you and freely give you the information you are looking for.

The business beat in Zambia is mostly handled by women and this makes it easier for us to work together and connect each other to news sources. I honestly do not know how I have made myself to stand out because all I do is work, work and work. All in all, I think informative business stories have helped me to stand out.

 

HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET BUSINESS NEWS TIPS FROM THE PUBLIC USING SOCIAL MEDIA? ANY STAND OUT AS HAVING LED TO GREAT STORIES?

Tips from social media, not so much, but I have gotten some from there before. I usually get tips from organisations themselves.

 

HOW DO YOU FEEL SCOOPING THE 2022 STANBIC BANK ANAKAZI WOMEN IN MEDIA AWARD?

 This is amazing! I never saw it coming. I just cannot describe the feeling. What makes it more special is that it is a recognition award. Such awards challenge me do work even more and leave me speechless. This is the second recognition award I have received so far from the one I was awarded in 2019 by the Economic Association of Zambia as the Most Supporting Journalist of the Year. I have won other awards, but I have had to apply, very different from the recognition awards.

WHAT OTHER AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS HAVE YOU RECEIVED FOR YOUR WORK?

On two occasions, I have won a third prize in print media for best reporting on the Agriculture and commercial Show. I have also scooped the second best print media award from the Agriculture and commercial Show.

ANY HOBBIES OR INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF YOUR JOB?

I enjoy boat cruising and game viewing. I also enjoy going out for movies. That helps me to refresh my mind from a busy week.

 

ADVICE TO BUDDING BUSINESS JOURNALISTS?

The power of a pen is mightier than a sword. This describes the power which journalists have. There is a reason the profession is called the fourth estate. It is a profession where you not only care for yourself, but you are there for the large masses. Journalism is a craft, a profession where your proficiency and command over language will make you a stunning journalist.

It is therefore important to be informed about what is happening around you – read, watch the news (local and international) and even on social media. The learning process is not a walk in the park. New Journalists have a lot to learn before becoming true professionals.

As a profession, journalism is truly fascinating and rewarding, you get to meet hundreds of people from a common man to presidents, ministers, sports stars, and movie stars and learn new things about people and get familiar with a subject or field you know little about. So believe in yourself that you will turn out to be a superb journalist for the people and in the larger interests of society.

 

LIFE ADVICE IN GENERAL?

In life you are going to hear a lot of advice; some that you want and some that you don’t. Some of it will inspire you, and some may make you rethink everything you know. So I think the best advice is having the courage to live a life true to yourself, not the life others expect of you. There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.

 

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

All I can say is thank you for this opportunity to highlight my success. Thank you for your interest.