91福利社

Zambia has a rich, varied media landscape despite regulatory and financial challenges. 91福利社 Media Action works with over 35 media partners from across the country to develop and support public interest journalism broadcasters, including the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC), Zambia鈥檚 national broadcaster.

Launched in 2022, our Moto ('Fire' in Nyanja language) Initiative supports female journalists to develop skills in public interest journalism and to pursue original stories, including investigative stories.

We spoke to journalist Womba Kasela, who has developed her skills as an investigative journalist through the Moto project.

Womba graduated from the Zambia Institute of Mass Communications with a diploma in journalism in 2020, and it was during her time working at Byta FM in the town of Choma, in Zambia鈥檚 Southern Province, that she first learned about 91福利社 Media Action.

Among the stories she has felt proud of is an investigation into safety standards at a local coal mine in Southern Province, for which she interviewed former employees who had suffered life-changing injuries on the job, two women whose husbands had died in the mine, as well as the mine鈥檚 owners and civic and government leaders.

Both government and the mine鈥檚 owners have since promised to implement better safety measures.

Speaking about how her life has changed since taking part in the Moto training project, Womba said it has shaped how she approaches and tells stories.

鈥淭he way I pitch stories is totally different,鈥� she said, adding that she now has an eye for a good story and whether it鈥檚 of public interest and will have an impact on people.

鈥淧ress freedom is very important especially when it comes to investigative journalism. There is not so much investigative journalism in Zambia because of a lot of barriers, especially accessing certain information and intimidation.

鈥淭he Moto project has prepared me to look internationally, not just in Zambia, and it has made me confident and more courageous to believe in myself.鈥�

The Moto (Fire) Initiative is part of the Funsani (means 鈥淎sk鈥�) and Deepening Democracy Facility projects carried out in partnership with Free Press Initiative (FPI) and Makanday, and funded by the and the .