Journey To Solwezi
This entry is about: Zambia

In June 2006, I went to Solwezi on a mission to see the business opportunities there. I was actually doing a favour to my friend.

All was well for the journey. Got permission to be away from work for three days. I left work in good time so that I manage to get to Lusaka before dusk. I asked my friend to get me a ticket to Solwezi in advance.

Well, as you might know chikuni is in a rural area, transport to the nearest town is hard to come by, especially when you are in a hurry. I was at the taxi station for almost three hours. Luckily there was a friend with me and finally we decided to walk the Great North Road in Chisekesi. This is an 11km walk. Within no time we were in Chisekesi. I got to know more about my friend's background and the struggles he has been through. He had a tough time as a refugee from Angola.

I was in Monze after 6pm. Got on a bus to Lusaka, or at least we were heading there. Unfortunately, as Zambia is crippled with fuel shortages more often, our bus was hoping to refuel in Mazabuka. Oh no, there was no fuel in Mazabuka. This meant that we could not proceed to Lusaka as it would be too risky to drive and then come to a complete stop somewhere in the bushes. We could not risk being attacked by chancers who want traffic accidents so that they get what they want.

My bus from Lusaka to Solwezi was scheduled for 5am, and it was now almost midnight and still in Mazabuka. I was the only one that was beating the deadline. The others in the bus didn't mind spending the night in the bus. I just couldn't get any sleep. I had to get to Lusaka, but how? I was just praying and hoping for an early bus from Livingstone. Around 5:07am, I managed to jump on another bus to Lusaka. As if the driver knew that I had a bus to catch, he drove fast - I didn't mind the speed. Luck was on my side when I reached Lusaka and found that the bus we were supposed to use for Solwezi had a problem and as such were getting another bus. The faulty bus was working at my advantage as it delayed departure giving me time to get to Lusaka. I was in time to get on the bus and to be moved to another better bus.

Eight hours later I was in Solwezi, very fatigued. My friend was waiting for me at the Solwezi Bus Station and WOW, everyone was busy making money. Just imagine a store in a car! Just opening up the doors and putting the commodities on sale on the seats. People are serious with business in Solwezi and the town is surely growing.

There seems to be no much orderliness and the local authority needs to bring sanity to the little town. Business is conducted and anywhere and everywhere.

My trip back was very fine and I enjoyed Solwezi. Hope to go back there soon, when I have enough time.

BAN SMOKING or RECLASSIFY IT AS AN ILLEGAL DRUG

By Hope Chitambo

Smoking is a health hazard for smokers, non-smokers, children and unborn babies and should be banned or reclassified as an illegal drug. Surprisingly, smokers claim that it helps them to release stress and relax, despite knowing that they would be in worse stressed illnesses caused by tobacco. The solution would be to declare tobacco as illegal, starting from the grower.

Tobacco smoking is the major cause of respiratory diseases such as lung cancer, bronchitis as well as heart disease which are all expensive to treat. The amounts of money spent on the treatment of these diseases exceed by far, the amounts that government receives from taxing tobacco. Non-smoking tax payers, have been subjected to an unfair situation were they are forced to pay for the health of smokers.

The nicotine contained in cigarettes is a dangerous substance that is also used in liquid form as an insecticide. Furthermore, non-smokers have fallen victims of cancer, bronchitis and other smoke related diseases, as a result of passive smoking. It is difficult for anyone to avoid inhaling second hand smoke as it always finds its way in different directions. This is the case even in places where smoking areas are separated from non-smoking ones. The fact is, smoke passes through air and can therefore easily pass through the thinnest gap. For this reason, tobacco should be reclassified as an illegal substance because of the danger it causes to everyone.

Even though the government has taken noteworthy steps towards controlling tobacco, such as beefing up warnings on cigarette packets, banning advertising by tobacco companies and establishing network of smoking termination clinics, further actions need to be taken to create an environment where not smoking becomes a social standard.

The nicotine which is found in tobacco is as highly addictive as substances such as heroin and cocaine, which are classified as illegal. Tobacco should also fall in the category of illegal drugs because it is a danger to people's health.

Finally, a lot of money is being spent on treatment of tobacco related illness and as well as on campaigns to sensitise people on the dangers of tobacco. As a result of all these efforts falling on deaf ears, the innocent non-smokers who include children and unborn babies end up suffering too.

Therefore, lives of both smokers and non-smokers can only be protected if government could ban tobacco growing as is the case with marijuana, heroine and cocaine, because that is the starting point to smoking.

October, The Dark Month For Zambia

The month of October 2006 can best be described as a Black month for theatre artists in Zambia as three prominent artists Kingsley Sinkala, Sonny Ngwenya and Cosmas Gabriel Mpundu died during the month. The untimely, horrendous and brutal demise of one of Zambia’s theatrical heroes has really saddened the artistic fraternity. In Kingsley Sinkala we have lost an ambassador, a friend, a musician, an actor, producer, director and arts promoter.

Kingsley was killed by armed bandits in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was shot by four men who raided his landlord's house in Rundburg residential area on Saturday 30th September 2006. He was gunned down when he tried to rescue his landlord who had been attacked by armed bandits. The late Kingsley was 43years and is survived by a wife and five children.

Kingsley had been on the art scene for entirely all of his lifetime having taken part in the ZANTAA festivals of the 70s and 80s as a schoolboy at Ndeke Secondary School. This was the time when, together with, the late Graig Lungu, Maidstone Mulenga, Elijah Daka, Danny Chanda and scores of other upstarts founded the youthful but powerful Tithandidze Theatre Group. Kingsley excelled both as an actor and a playwright and actually conceived a good number of plays that were accredited as having been written by the late Graig Lungu. Among such plays were ‘Woman is Queen’, ‘Den of Torment’, ‘Ring of Fire’, ‘Forsaken’ and ‘Love Enchained’.

His theatrical prowess continued at Zambia National Service where he helped found KAFUNASE, the Kafue National Service Drama Group, which later became ZANASE. For some time after the Zambia National Service stint, Kingsley led what one would call a peripatetic life, living in about four towns a long the Great North road. He was in Lusaka, Kabwe, Kapiri Mposhi and Kitwe, and in all these towns, he was involved in various theatrical activities. It was the Venus Theatre Club project in Kabwe that catapulted him to greater heights when he played a leading role in ‘Kalicheli,’ a musical production penned, produced and directed by the late Kwaleyela Ikafa. In this successful and highly acclaimed production, Kingsley Sinkala played the leading role of Kalicheli.

In ‘Kalicheli', he partnered well with Belinda Dube who played the role of ‘Sheli’. The play went on to win an award at the 1982 TAZ Festival and was one of the best pieces ever to be screened on Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation Television.

Kingsley, fondly known as King, went on to push his talent to the top when he featured in a memorial play for the late Haggai Chisulo. ‘Haggai Remembered’ was a compilation of six excerpts from six plays in which Chisulo had played the leading role. The director Mumba Kapumpa wanted an energetic actor who could play Haggai’s roles in these excerpts, and Kingsley scooped the part. The role was extremely demanding because the characters varied and the play was fast paced requiring someone who would change character and costume quickly enough so that it’s continuity was not disturbed.

Kingsley stole the hearts of the audience when ‘Haggai Remembered’ premiered at Evelyn Hone College Hall. Many would recall how Kingsley changed from being an American guy in ‘I’ve Always Been A Stranger Here’, to ‘Che’ in ‘Che Guevara’, to ‘Kamunu’ in ‘Hunter of God’ and ‘Man’ in ‘Soweto Flowers Will Grow’ among the six other roles he played in that masterpiece. The beauty with Kingsley was his attitude towards criticism and eagerness to share ideas.

In 1989, Kingsley Sinkala found himself in another musical play, again by Kwaleyela Ikafa who had now moved to Kitwe from Kabwe. The play was special in that the actors lived in different parts of Zambia and only met occasionally for rehearsal. Kingsley was based in Kapiri Mposhi. The play, ‘Mawe-The Musical Riffs of Conscience’, was performed by CAST ( Creative Arts Simple Theatre ) with Kingsley taking the leading role of Kadansa.

‘Mawe’ told a story of two warring gangs in society ‘The Makululu People’ and ‘The Coach Station People’. These two groups were at each other’s necks with each blaming the other for its own social problems. Incidentally, the play saw the return of the two stars of Kalicheli as leaders of the two gangs. Sinkala (as ‘Kadansa’) led ‘The Makululu people’ whilst Belinda (as Tendai) led the ‘The Coach Station People’.

This contact with musicals brought out the musician in Kingsley Sinkala such that in 1991, he entered the ZNBC Studios and recorded an airplay single entitled ‘Uno Mwaka Tulevota’ backed by The Green Labels band. At this time, he was back with ZANASE as a full time actor taking part in a number of their ‘Play Circle’ productions that were the only local production on Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation Television.

After 1991, Kingsley Sinkala decided to export his rich artistry to the highly competitive South African scene where he still weathered the storm and represented the Zambia in that country. Apart from teaching drama and dance at high school, he wrote, produced and directed a number of successful pieces for the South African theatre.

Among the pieces that Kingsley did in South Africa, were musicals ‘One Love’ and ‘Katinanga’. He also featured in another drama entitled ‘Room 20’, a two man cast in which he played ‘Jabu’ an undercover cop investigating the activities of a drug trafficking sex-worker. Sinkala also wrote and directed the play. In Kingsley Sinkala, the nation has definitely lost a dedicated patriotic Zambian artiste who worked for the betterment of the arts.

As the country was still mourning Kingsley, the national again lost Television soap opera actor, Sonny Ngwenya, who died in Lusaka on Friday 6th October 2006. Ngwenya entered the limelight soon after the launch of the ZNBC Talent Search for Kabanana soap opera. He was picked during the talent search, and has been featuring in the Kabanana Soap, as a Drug Enforcement Officer.

Ngwenya also appeared in a ZNBC better TV advertisement where he acts as an informer for ZNBC TV licence officials.

Cosmas Gabriel Mpundu, a producer , play director, accomplished actorand playwright, died in Chingola on 19th October 2006 and was buried four days later in the same town. On 22nd October 2006, artists paid their last respects to Cosmas when his body passed through the Chingola Arts Society auditorium.

Mpundu Mutale: A sad end to 'Tata' Africa (obituary)

This entry is about: Zambia

By KELVIN KACHINGWE

THIS is no way to end an illustrious career.

That a receipient of the Presidents Insignia of Honour, who was so honoured for the essential role that he played during the freedom struggle, should spend his final years as a pauper is highly embarrassing.

For a man who moved the entire nation, and indeed dignitaries in particular, with his emotional performances of his all-time great, Afrika My Afrika during African Freedom Day and Indepdence Day commemorations at State House, he surely deserved a little more than he got in the evening of his life.

Mpundu Mutale, who passed on to the Other Side of Town at the age of 71 after losing his battle against Diabetes in the University Teaching Hospital, for all that he represented, does pass as a perfect example of how not a nation should treat its heroes.

So desperate was his situation that he was literally begging, much the same street kids do, for assistance. Only in his case, for resources to enable him undergo for specialist treatment in South Africa.

Mutale, who addmitted to the Intensive Care Unit at the UTH, said from his hospital bed a few months ago that he felt time was running out for him as the situation was getting worse.

"I have been calling for help for a very long time but even the little help has come very late but if resources could be made available, I wouldn't mind going to South Africa," Mutale said.

Indeed the cry for assistance started a long-time ago for Mpundu Mutale, who was a prominent feature at celebrations at State House. But so say he need resources for specialist treatment is not to tell the exact truth. Truth of the matter is that he needed more than that. Other than resources to enable him release audio and video tapes of Afrika My Afrika, he also needed money for his upkeep. His abode in Chibolya, which this writer visited in 2004 was a sorry sight. It did not look much different from a stable at a pony club. His appearance was that of a dishevelled old man in crumpled clothes, hair matted, lips cracking and a tatty shirt, an inferior defence against the cold.

While there, he narrated how he needed money to undergo treatment and just to stay alive.

"I feel my life is falling apart. Misfortunes are happening in quick succession. First it was diabetes, now i'm too broke to support myself and to have my music and film on the market," he said.

The six-foot tall Mpundu, with a greying beard, was living alone in a makeshift home just behind Lusaka's Soweto market. At one point, he was unable to walk because of diabetes which has caused his feet to swell. The toes on both feet were turning a greenish colour and amputation would have probably been an option had he managed to go to South Africa for specialist treatment.

In Chibolya, he would go for days without a meal. Most of the time, it was his neighbour, a Mrs Liness Bnda, who used to help the artiste from time-to-time.

In explaining Mr Mutale's predicament, Mrs Banda called on the government and other well-wishers to come to his aid. She said it was shameful for the man who had contributed so much to the struggle for independence both musically and physically to be in such a state.

"The man has something to teach Zambians through his music and the videos depicting the struggle for independence," she said while further explaning that at one time, the old man had collapsed in his house and was only discovered after neighbours saw his legs protruding from the door of his home.

Mr Mutale, who was born on September 30, 1935, was divorced though he had a family in Kasama which, however, was unable to support him financially. A number of his children had passed on.

In his early years, he was a UNIP activist in Kasama during the struggle for independence and was heavily involved in the civil disobedience campaign that was directed against the colonialists.

His cousin, Martin Mwamba, who was also an activist, was murdered after being brutally beaten by the Northern Rhodesia police when he refused to disclose the whereabouts of UNIP stalwarts.

It was actually that, and the other injustices that were done against the blacks by the colonialists that led him to compose songs like Afrika My Afrika and When Afrika was in the Dark.

It was because of the contribution Mr Mutale made to the country that the Times of Zambia, in a feature article headlined The sorry sight of Mpundu Mutale, dated July 17, 1994, appealed to well-wishers to come to his aid before it is too late.

Humbly enough, even his poor health, he still wanted to complete the adio and video tapes of the Afrika My Afrika.

At the height of his illness and dire financial need, he wrote a letter to the Sunday Times of Zambia in which he appealed to well-wishers, charitable organisations and individuals to enable him complete the music projects.

"The short clip of the promo film Afrika My Afrika is now ready and has been showing on ZNBC for five months now. I'm promising my fans that I would release the complete version of the film on the market as soon as I start receiving contributions for the venture.

"I would like to point out that the film has taken long to release because of unseen circumstances mostly to do with funding for the project," reads the letter dated April 25, 2004.

The audio tape and CD of Afrika My Afrika Volume I was to have 10 songs. There was also a chi-Bemba version of Afrika Mayo Afrika also with 10 tracks. The album was also to have have an instrumental version of Afrika My Afrika poems.

"I would again like to express my personal feelings about Africa by highlighting both in songs and pictures how the continent was depopulated and underdeveloped by slavery and colonialism. The history which African people cannot forget should make people learn a lot from this noble and educative historical project on their past," Mr Mutale wrote in his letter.

Unfortunately however, no tangible help came. On the contrary, his health continued to deteriorate resulting in his death at the UTH last Tuesday.

But before that, Brian Chengala Shakarongo, a former Zambia Association of Musicians (ZAM) chairman organised a concert in aid of the ailing Mutale last December.

The concert, held at UNZA, was however shunned by the artistes except for James "Chamanyazi" Ngoma and Cha (Charity Mwiinga) and the Muvi Posse crew.

But true to form, there will be sustained chorus of praise for the man, who while in life, was neglected by his own society. On a positive note though, credit should go to Mama Chibesa Kankasa for hosting the funeral of Mpundu Mutale at Kabulonga House near Friday's Corner out of solidarity despite the fact that they are not related.

Otherwise, this is a moment for the nation to reflect on how it treats its own heroes.

Ends...

Free Press a MUST

By Matongo Maumbi from Chikuni

No single government in the world can operate without the press because the press is the forth most important estate after the executive, judiciary and legislature in any democratic state. And for the press to be really appreciated as the forth estate, they must be accorded the freedom to access information.

Former US President Thomas Jefferson, wrote in 1802; “Where it is left for me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate to prefer the latter.”

This therefore means Journalists are supposed to play a watchdog role over the government. For them to perform this role, they must have undeniable access to information. Unfortunately, Zambia like many African countries does not have a Freedom of Information Act written in the constitution.

Many countries instead have the Official Secrets Acts so vaguely written that officials can interpret them in a way to avoid scrutiny of their actions or they may wish to hide something from the public. Such acts also prevent citizens from verifying information held by powerful institutions and indeed leaders of influential positions.

There is also the Public Order Act that can be used to deny the media access to information, arrest and detain journalists or search a media institution’s premises and confiscate material. These acts are sometimes justified on grounds of state security.

While it is necessary for any government to protect national security, our government often fails to distinguish between state secrets and information that has no implication on that security.

Public interest arguments might include the need for properly informed debate, exposing wrongdoing, protecting the public from danger, accounting for public funds, demonstrating that standards are being observed, that authorities are properly discharging their responsibilities, ensuring that people are dealt with fairly and the public is not misled. (The Campaign for Freedom of Information )

If information is withheld, the authority should tell you which exemption it has relied on, why it thinks the public interest favours confidentiality and how to challenge the decision. The first step should be to complain under the authority’s own complaints procedure, when a more senior official with greater authority to release information is likely to be involved. Strictly speaking, it’s the authority’s job to show why information should not be disclosed, not yours to prove that it can. But if you feel the authority may have an exaggerated view of the likely harm from disclosure or has failed to recognise the public interest in openness you should point that out. (The Campaign for Freedom of Information )

This is a crucial period. We are expected to have elections in 2006, but without the press having access to information, it is most probable that rightful leaders will be left out. The electorate largely depends on the media for information on the candidates. This is because they do not have physical contact with the candidates.

As a free press plays a watchdog role on the government in any democratic state, people can be brought with information they need to exercise independent judgment in electing public officials who favour the same policies they support.

The press is a major link between the governed and the governors. The governors convey their policies to the governed through the media. The governed also respond through the media. For people to make an informed choice, they must be informed correctly about the goings-on in the country and also about the candidates.

Lack of access hinders the free-flow of information. It promotes rumour mongering among the citizenry. This ultimately breeds and sustains bad governance and in the long run hinders the democratic process.

Denial of access promotes unaccountability from the powers-that-be; abuse of citizen’s rights and corruption, which has characterized many African countries, Zambia inclusive. Without access to rightful information, corrupt practices cannot be exposed.

A one sided press befools society. FOI is not for fast-breaking stories. You’re more likely to wait weeks than hours for information. But if you’re dealing with an issue that will still be news in a month’s time or gradually putting a big story together the Act should be just what we need

There’s no special trick to making a request. Apply in writing or by fax or email to the authority concerned describing the information you want. It’s a good idea to say you’re applying under the Act, but strictly speaking you don’t need to. Any written request is automatically valid. You can ask to be sent photocopies of originals, have material emailed or ask to inspect records in person - the authority is required to comply with your preference if practicable. Photocopies may give you a better feel for how much information has been withheld than a print out with the gaps closed up.

Information to the media is denied in various ways. The most common one is to delay official comment or refuse to comment on an issue. This prompts the media to publish the story without a comment and sometimes the story is dropped, as it might be one-sided or unsubstantiated.

Another tactic is to refer the media to the ministry of information, which requires all questions in writing, and then the ministry will forward the questions to the responsible department and ministry. The response is relayed to the media through the same process. This process works against the media because news cannot wait forever.

On the other hand the state owned and controlled media is rewarded for its loyalty by being given better, but still selective, access to public officials and institutions. Journalists and the public have no institutionalized powers to compel officials to answer questions or provide information.

Official Secrets Acts, for example, are invoked when the media touches on matters relating to the military and the executive branch of the government. Issues related to the military and security are rightly recognized as sensitive because they affect the security of the entire nation. The harm to the nation can be immense if such information is made available to enemies or potential enemies.

However, issues of military spending and preparedness should not be totally beyond scrutiny. A balance needs to be struck between what is to remain secret and what needs to be in the public domain for the purpose of accountability of those that are empowered to carry out decisions using public funds and in the public interest.

The putting on trial of Post Newspaper Managing Editor, Fred M’membe demonstrates how the government uses the State Security Act to suppress the journalists. He was put on trial for the “offence of espionage” against the state when the newspaper published a story that portrayed Zambia’s military inferiority to Angola.

When acquitting Fred M’membe, High Court Judge Elizabeth Muyovwe ruled: “I find no evidence that the accused was spying for Angola or any other foreign power or that indeed in publishing the article it was to benefit Angola. Mere publication of the story in question does not show that it was for purposes prejudicial to the Republic nor does it establish the offence espionage.”

The continued arrest and detention of journalist proves that the government is not committed to freedom of the press. Though freedom of expression is guaranteed under article 20 of the constitution, there is need for an exclusive article for freedom of the press.

A state that prosecutes journalists on allegations of breaching military secrets encourages the belief that there is something to hide, creating a credibility gap with the public and tensions with the journalists and the media as an institution.

There can be no worse threat to national security besides the denial to access information.

There have been representations to have a guaranteed freedom of the press clause in the constitution.

“FOI is not for fast-breaking stories. You’re more likely to wait weeks than hours for information. But if you’re dealing with an issue that will still be news in a month’s time or gradually putting a big story together the Act should be just what you need,” says Maurice Frankel, Director of The Campaign for Freedom of Information.

Tawana Kupe, a Lecturer in Media Studies in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Rhodes University, says that there is need for a balance to be struck which will enhance the standing of public institutions and protect the interests of society. This balance necessitates the abolition of Official Secret Acts in favour of Freedom of Information Acts.

Tawana adds that Freedom of Information Acts can have provisions that protect sensitive information from being placed in the public domain. However, such provisions should not deviate from the principle of openness. Mechanisms must be worked out so that it can be verified that particular information is sensitive, or which aspects of such information are sensitive.

“We must rectify the situation where information is declared secret and so unavailable to the local media because it allegedly endangers national security, yet it remains available to media from ‘enemy’ countries,” advises Tawana.

Public officials and agencies must prove that information needs to be kept out of the public domain and not the other way round.

When a proper mechanism is put in place, journalists should adhere to the system or face the legal and professional consequences of publishing information that is legally protected.

Rasheed Galant wrote in So This is Democracy? That “If a journalist cannot report something, NOBODY can report the same; if a journalist is locked up for saying something, ANYBODY can be locked up for saying the same; if a journalist cannot enter somewhere, the PUBLIC cannot enter there; if a journalist cannot ask a question, NOBODY can ask that question; and if a journalist cannot speak, who will know what is there to talk about?

It is therefore in the interest of the journalist and the media that well-defined Freedom of Information Acts become law. Access to information will enable journalist to “dig deeper” while remaining on the side of the law and not appearing to be above the law. This way, journalists can practice self-regulation and institutionally they can fulfill the best ideals of journalism by producing accurate and balanced reports for the public good.

However, the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act should be watched and scrutinized on each stage so that we do not have an Act that restricts journalists from acquiring justifiable information.

As James Madison forth President of the U.S. wrote: “A popular government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue or a farce or a tragedy; or perhaps both.” We need to have a popular government with popular information and undeniable means of accessing it.

Remember, the right of the people to speak out through a free press is the hallmark for a democratic society.

Nur Die Liebe zählt

On 7 October 2005 I received a call from Germany's Endemol inviting me to go there to give my girlfriend a surprise visit. Well, it was a serious joke for me when they called.

An email followed and more calls came thru. Then I said, "Oh, these people ain't joking with me, I really have a chance to go and see my girlfriend after 13months." The visa and airtickets were arranged for me and I was on my first flight ever in my life- to surprise my love.

I was in Germany on 26 Oct morning, and Asita, the 'girl' from Endemol was so good and kind that I didn't feel much away from home and in a new place. She's a good girl. keep it up Asita.

Mind you this was a surprise visit, so I was quarantined for two days lest my girlfriend or someone that knows me sees me and spoils the surprise. It was not bad, I enjoyed watching the movies and football, but all in German.

Asita and Barbara (my first contact from Endemol) took me out for dinner on wednesday and thursday respectively. I had friends with me actually keeping me company and making sure that am fine.

Finally the day of the show came, Friday 28 October. I was scared to death and I was so nervous that I could not eat despite being so hungry. I was thinking, "it has been over a year, is she still in love with me as a year ago?" Well this, I was to find out soon, and much sooner than later in the day.

Then I met Barbara, and she told me everything was working to plan.

THE PLAN
My girlfriend only knew that she was accompanying her best friend, Sandra, who had 'won' a prize to attend a TV show with tickets for two and all expenses paid for. In the last minute, they phoned them to say the show was fully booked and that they had to choose from three other shows. Of the three, they knew that my girl would choose their show "Nur Die Liebe zählt"; and she did just that.

Back in the studio, we were busy making a fake radio chikuni so that we tell her that Chikuni Radio On Air studio is now on webcam.

The Outcome
The show was on and after the first guest, the host Kai Pflaume, just said that "my next guest is Gesine."
Yeah she was really caught by surprise. After re-confirming that she has me as her boyfriend and getting details of where I work, they 'phoned' Radio Chikuni. And there I was, playing music at "Chikuni Radio" and we were talking and seeing each other. Well, my picture disappeared - 'technical' fault you may say. But that was to give me chance to walk to the main studio where my girlfriend and everyone else were.

About a metre behind her, she felt my presence. Mind you, she did not hear my presence, she felt it. Then she turned round and I had to jump to her and........
My question was answered, we both still had the same feelings as 13months ago.

Well that was a very good trip. I would like to thank Sandra (and Ben) for believing in our relationship. Vielen Dank. Asita and Barbara, thank you very much. Mr Fool, you were good also. And the whole Endemol crew and the Sat1 channel.

Hey, all you girls and boys, ladies and gentlemen - friends of my girlfriend: Thank you for having made me feel so much at home.

Papa and mama, thank you for treating me as a son, not a stranger. Regina, Mathias, thanks.

Indeed, All You Need Is Love - Nur Die Lieber Zählt.

Gesine, indeed like you said, sometimes true love may fall asleep, but it never dies. Ich Liebe Dich, I love you, Ndakuyanda kapati.

Check for the pictures 3-6, 18-21