By HAPPY MULOLANI
MOST civil servants tend
to be gripped with fear for their lives once they retire from the civil service.
In particular, once they reach their 50s years, they begin to engage in self-introspection
of whether they invested adequately or devoted their energies towards a better
life once they exit public office.
This is not the case with
Mutukelwa Mukelabai who joined the civil service in the Ministry of Agriculture
in 1982. He felt ready to leave the stage while people were still clapping at
the initial 55 years retirement, if it was not for the change in retirement
ages in 2015, which at the time needed clarity. Against all odds, he began
pursuing his Master’s Degree in Peace and Conflict Resolution at the University
of Zambia in 2018 when he
was 57 years. His thematic area of focus was marriage and conflicts, a unique
field he explored which saw him graduate virtually in 2020 amid the dreaded
Corona Virus (COVID-19).
He entered the service in
1982 as an Agricultural Commodity Demonstrator after undergoing an Agricultural
Induction training at Kanchomba Farm Institute in Pemba. The job entailed
working closely with farmers demonstrating basic production techniques in
specific commodities which included maize, sunflower, cotton, groundnuts and
livestock. After serving for one and half years at Senkobo camp in Livingstone,
he enrolled for a two year Certificate in Agriculture at Monze School of
Agriculture. Upon graduation, he was appointed as an Agricultural Assistant.
Later, he was elevated to District Agricultural Information Officer, thereafter
pursued a Diploma in Agriculture at the Natural Resources Development College
in Lusaka. At this point, he rose to the position of Radio Producer in Lusaka
where he produced English radio programmes and was commonly known as “AgroMan.”
“I was happy to meet people who
testified that they were influenced by my programmes as radio producer…to take up farming, take agriculture as a career, farmers
improving their production by applying technology from radio broadcasts,
students too that were helped with agricultural information in their training
through the radio programmes,” says Mr Mukelabai.
He was elevated to Provincial
Agricultural Information Officer based in Eastern province. While serving in
Eastern province, a project under African Development Bank (ADB) began a four
year project aimed at supporting agriculture interventions in the province
among smallholder farmers. Ordinarily he would have stayed on and worked with
the project, for both experience and also earn himself some money for his own
personal investments, but he opted to pursue a four year, Bachelor of Arts in
Media Studies at the University of Namibia at what he describes “late in life.”
“I
entered University at 39 years of age but worked hard, applied myself well
and deservedly graduated with Cumlaude, as Best Student in the School of
Humanities, and awarded the Chancellors Medal for outstanding academic
performance,” revealed Mr Mukelabai.
His academic trajectory typically
shows his ambition, determination and value for education despite the many
opportunities of pursuing other attractive renumerating options.
A blend of the two professions is a
rare attribute of holding agriculture and journalism but a vital combination
which positioned him for effective communication to farmers for better
extension work using mass media.
When he returned to Eastern
province, the ADB project had phased out. Unsurprisingly, his career path took
shape within a short space, as he was recommended to take over the position of
Head-NAIS, now re-titled to Deputy Director, a position, he gladly accepted.
He admits that the
position came with enormous responsibilities to shoulder, at the same time had
its own set of challenges. It also provided a learning curve as he interacted
with high level officials in the Ministry and key stakeholders engaged in
agriculture development. He also faced a daunting task of image building of the
Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and also
strengthening its linkage with the external media.
Mr Mukelabai is one of
the few who has served NAIS for 39 years, from the lowest structure of the
Ministry from camp, district, provincial and national headquarters. This provided
the required experience at all levels including the field for effective
discharge of duties, which made him a suitable candidate for the post.
As he explains, “I rose
through the ranks, on merit, a combination of attaining required
qualifications, while serving and work experience at all levels, from Commodity
Demonstrator to Deputy Director.”
Married with three
children, Mr Mukelabai has shown leadership also to his family even through his
academic pursuits which has seen his children emulate his value for education by
pursuing their studies at the University of Namibia in Electrical Engineering,
Economics and Science respectively.
Being at the helm of NAIS
has been characterized with a set of challenges mainly centred on programming
given its mandate to provide timely agricultural and extension messages to
farmers and key players in the agriculture value chain through the different available
forms of media.
Mr Mukelabai observed that
paying for airtime on the national broadcaster, Zambia National Broadcasting
Corporation (ZNBC) to air documentaries and radio programmes has been strenuous
amidst its limited resource envelope.
For almost a year, NAIS
only relied on the Press and Public Relations and Publications section covering
and disseminating agriculture and technical information through various avenues
of the print and broadcast media which mainly focused on news, news packages
and feature articles. Partly, this affected the operations of NAIS for a while and
its relevance to the farmers.
For instance, in 2019 all
programming for radio programmes and documentaries were suspended due to a staggering
bill of over K3, 000,000. Fortunately, the Ministry of Finance rescued NAIS by
clearing off the bill. Evidently, such an amount is beyond NAIS’s allocated operational
funds in the yellow book every year.
A better way of
navigating this problem led to the birth of a Radio Station to continue serving
the farmers whose objectives and goals NAIS strives to meet, given that farmers
mostly rely on radio as the most available and cheapest medium of
communication. Over the years, NAIS’s utmost priority has been to promote
agriculture information and innovation through the integrated mass media meant
to support the stressed extension service in information dissemination to
farmers and stakeholders.
As part of his legacy, Mr
Mukelabai is elated to exit NAIS having pioneered Lima Radio 106.9 Fm, which is
cost effective and more interactive with farmers. The radio station is one of
NAIS’s landmark achievements as it will widely air agricultural radio programmes
to farmers and all players countrywide. Besides, he also advocated and lobbied
for NAIS to be elevated to a full department in order to better serve farmers,
though only achieved the elevation of Head NAIS to Deputy Director, one step to
achieving directory status. Having presided over a cadre of highly specialized
and qualified journalists, the attainment of department status remains his
desire.
“All attributes for a Department are in place, geographical
spread and structure from district, province and national headquarters, variety
of specialized functions, press, public relations, radio, television,
publications, number of personnel, professionally qualified staff,” emphasizes Mr Mukelabai.
To strengthen its core
mandate, he proposes setting up a television station of its own, to present its
unique agriculture programmes to farmers and players affordably in order to
consistently provide service.
Fellow staff who worked with Mr Mukelabai during
his reign hold his contributions in high esteem; Chief Agricultural Information
Officer, Stubbs Malambo, a close colleague over the years reminiscences, “He
has been my travelling buddy since our early 20s at college and work. I will
forever remember him for pulling me back to the Ministry when I had almost left
for teaching at Evelyn Hone College. He really wanted us to complete the
journey together, but it has not to be…adieu Mukels!” Cameraman, Moses Katota
recalls; I traversed many parts of this country with Mr Mukelabai and had a
good working relationship over the years, I will greatly miss him as a
colleague and friend. Whereas, Senior Agricultural Information Officer, Natasha
Mhango says “For me I’d say he was a very humane boss who understood the
balance between work and home life. This made him very approachable and even
made someone comfortable enough to confide in him even in personal issues.”
While NAIS Senior
Reporter, Lillian Mumba says “Mr Mukelabai has been a good leader. Even when he
is not happy about something, he does not raise his voice in anger… He is like
an elder brother guiding his younger siblings. He does not forget to write or
make a radio interview despite his senior position.” And Reporter, Josiah Mpofu
recounts “Mr Mukelabai is a man with a heart to help those around him, he does
not look at whether you are related or not. For me, I can call him Father
because he is a father to everyone. The few years I have spent with him in
service he has been an encouragement to me and he has taught me that love
should be shown to everyone regardless of the circumstances.”
TV Producer, David
Chisanga feels sad at the departure of Mr Mukelabai but counts it all joy for
teaching him to be persistence in his work, “I count it a blessing to have Mr
Mukelabai as a boss. lnfact, he was my mentor and, more so, a father. He would
counsel me from time to time and cheer me on. It’s sad he’s retiring from civil
service, but I’m confident he’s not retiring from being a good father to me and
young people. My appeal to him is to find time and continue mentoring us young
men.”
And Southern Province
Provincial Agricultural Information Officer, Lawrence Kabutu explains “We
celebrate his departure from the civil service because we gained immensely from
his experience in the area of creation of a new radio station for NAIS for
dissemination of agriculture information to our clients the farmers, lobbying
for agro news in Times of Zambia with support from the Principal Agricultural
Information Officer In-charge of Press Happy Mulolani, lobbying for space also
in AgriCoop newspaper and Daily nation newspapers. Other television stations
include ABN were NAIS news has been established. All these special strides and
others not itemized are aimed at ensuring NAIS visibility in dissemination of
agriculture information and technologies to farmers aimed at ensuring household
food security, increased nutrition and income among rural farmers…he also ensured
public events such as National Agricultural and Commercial Show in Lusaka
between the Ministry of Agriculture and Show society was well handled and
coordinated between the society, ministry and provinces. The success of such
events was partly as a result of his contribution in that area.”
District Agricultural
Information Officer for Livingstone, Prisca Kabwe Nyirenda reflects “Mr
Mukelabai is a fair and just person, respectful of others whether old or young.
Mr Mukelabai was committed to developing a sense of community and team spirit
in the NAIS family. He knew how to connect with officers and engaged in open
communication and was very approachable. I feel close to him because I am
always free to call him and you can sense the respect and consideration in the
tone of his voice. He is one leader who believes in the growth of NAIS as he
believed and supported the structure on the ground. He recognized the presence
of DAIOs and their important role. I personally have covered a number of assignments
which Mr Mukelabai directed organisations to contact me for coverage. He encouraged
personal and professional development of officers…and also recognized the
potential of someone whether young or old. I remember when l was only a few
years in service, even though young and inexperienced he accorded me an
opportunity to head NAIS Western province…though I was unable to take up the
offer due to circumstances beyond my control at the time.” And District
Agricultural Information Officer for Chilanga, Dorcas Kabuuya states “Mr
Mukelabai was also passionate about NAIS becoming a department…he had a great
vision for NAIS and would take it to greater heights. It is suffice to note
that with his team at HQ, they have managed to deliver the much anticipated
radio station for NAIS. Though he has retired, we shall continue using the
radio station.”
Eastern Province
Agricultural Information Officer, Gloria Siwisha says “I feel so sorry sir to
learn that you’re leaving NAIS as I have never met anyone who believes so much
in the power that good agricultural reporting has towards societal
transformation as you do. I wish you the best in the next journey of your
career. Thank you for being a hardworking and fantastic boss.”
Radio Producer, Charity
Vuttah Chikumbe recalls “I have known Mr Mukelabai since 1985 at Monze College
of Agriculture where he was my senior little did I know he will be my deputy
Director. When I joined NAIS in 1987 I found him as an English Radio Producer
in Lusaka. In 2009, I was transferred to Lusaka to Act as Radio Producer then I
met him as Deputy Director (NAIS)...His commitment to duty and selfless behaviour
vividly portrayed in his humble leadership style, so unique indeed. Go well our
humble leader and may God prosper you as you start a new life in your
retirement.”
On a personal note, he
helped me achieve career growth while under his charge and I will greatly miss
him.
Mr Mukelabai’s tenacity,
vision, love, and attributes of encouraging officers to work extra hard in the
core business of agriculture information dissemination has left a mark for the
remaining staff to continue pursuing a dream of creating an agriculture
television station having established a radio station that will soon be rolled
to all provinces once transmitters are sourced and placed in provincial
stations by collaborating partners. His humility and respect to all members of
staff will be missed as he easily interacted with all staff under his charge as
Head of NAIS.
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