The Sunday News
Ntombiyolwandle Ndlovu, Sunday Life Reporter
FOR about five years now he has managed to woo many radio audiences across Zimbabwe, possessing an eloquent voice that commands respect and authority. He has also managed to raise listenership on ZBC’s National FM and Radio Zimbabwe.
Little known is his profile that it would come as a surprise to many to find out that their favourite presenter is in fact visually impaired. Meet ZBC’s Liberty Mkhululi Luphahla, who is Zimbabwe’s first known visually impaired broadcaster.
Born in Bulawayo in 1978, Luphahla is living testimony to the adage — disability does not spell inability. Being Zimbabwe’s first known visually impaired broadcaster and third in Africa, Luphahla efficiently works the broadcasting equipment in the DJ booth with little or no help required.
He uses speech oriented computers and phones, playing around with faders on the broadcasting desk, while selecting his music from the playlist in his laptop.
Sunday Life caught up with the talented Luphahla at Montrose Studios in Bulawayo, where he shared his story. A veteran journalist, to mention some of his characteristics, Luphahla is very passionate about his job.
So passionate is he about his job that he dedicated his life to communicating with the nation through radio, even after being offered a post asa teacher at a local college.
“I had a passion for broadcasting, particularly radio, at a younger age and my earliest memory of myself listening to radio was when I was at the age of three. I used to listen to radio presenters such as the late Lazarus Thembo best DJ ever, Innocent Manase, James Muchaseka and Isaac Munzabwa, among others. I passed my Advanced Level with 10 points but refused to go for teaching because I was born among nurses and teachers,” said Luphahla.
Luphahla did his journalism course at Harare Polytechnic, where he attained a diploma in Mass Communication and Broadcast Journalism in 2000.
Luphahla mentioned that before he ventured into broadcasting he worked as an interpreter at the Ministry of Justice and Legal Parliamentary Affairs in Harare.
“I went to South Africa in 2006 and started broadcasting in 2008, where I did voluntary radio broadcasting in two community radio stations — Jozi and Thetha FM specialising in music production. At some point, while still in South Africa, I landed a post as the editor of a monthly journal called The Envoy, a pressure organisation under International Federation for Persons with Albinism and Blindness. I left the place when they still wanted me but God had told me to come back home. You can go north, east and west but home is best,” he said.
Luphahla said when he returned to Zimbabwe he auditioned for a post in broadcasting in Harare.
“When I came here, I applied for a position at ZBC and auditioned at both Pockets Hill and Mbare studios. I got the job and I was deployed at Montrose Studios in Bulawayo in March 2012,” he said.
Luphahla reminisced of how some of his colleagues had a tough time adjusting to him, given his condition.
“At first it was not easy for people to work with a person living with a disability. However, due to co-operation of engineers and technical operators and presenters, I was able to broadcast and now I can operate the studio on my own. At first I was being technically operated, I couldn’t touch the machines in the studio, I just got in the studio to talk but now I do everything on my own,” he said.
“When I started working here I did two programs — Ezomdabuko and Dzerumbidzo/ Ezokholo. As time would allow, I did more programs and right now I am producing and presenting nine programmes that include Zehla ziyatshelela, Ezabatsha, Hlanganani labahlabeleli, Ezemuli, Abagogekileyo and Dzemagitare. I also have three continuity shifts live on radio every week,” he added.
Luphahla said he gets his strength from God and he is the one who makes him manage all his works.
“I promote gospel music and God is my strength all the time. Also I believe keeping and maintaining a happy mood on radio keeps me going and doing well,” he said.
He also revealed that he has managed to do his work through research and interacting with his audience.
“I research my work before going on air and I use all languages to interact with people, as Montrose is a national studio, I don’t focus on Ndebele only because I am in Bulawayo. This makes me do my work flawlessly. I also discuss and interact with my listeners, open lines to my listeners. But above all I present my shows like I will never come on radio again,” he added.
Luphahla told Sunday Life how he will forever savour the day he interviewed Zanu-PF Buhera South legislator Joseph Chinotimba.
“The day I will never forget on radio is a show I had in 2013 when my co-producer Cain Chikosha and I interviewed Chinotimba, it was fun for me and because of that I will never forget that day. But all the same I can’t describe myself as the best blind DJ but I can say give people with disabilities a chance I am sure they will excel.”
Luphahla noted that he too was faced with work related challenges like any other person in any profession.
“It was not easy working with people especially when you have a disability, as many people have attitudes but I always try all my best to have cordial relations with everyone. My advice to people out there is that don’t allow anything to limit you, and also learn. I also wish to be educated more and given a chance to go to school and get more qualifications I will take it,” he said.
