By John Ikani
A Zambian news presenter lost his cool and went on a rant demanding his unpaid salary during a live news broadcast.
Reports say Kabinda Kalimina who works with KBN TV staged the rare protest last weekend shortly after giving a roundup of the top stories during a live broadcast.
“Away from the news, ladies and gentlemen, we are human beings. We have to get paid. Unfortunately, on KBN we haven’t been paid. People are getting instruments on KBN…Sharon and everyone else haven’t been paid, including myself (sic). We have to get paid,” Kalimina said in a video clip of the broadcast which has gone viral on social media.
He was however taken off air quickly but the protest had already gotten to the audience.
https://youtu.be/1CVG4v-S12g
Reacting to the live rant, KBN TV released a statement expressing its shock and condemnation of Kalimina’s actions which it tagged as “drunken behaviour”.
The television station also claimed that Kalimina is a part-time presenter.
According to the statement which was signed by Kennedy Mambwe, the owner and chief executive officer of KBN TV, the management has a “well-established grievance procedures” through which members of the staff can channel their complaints.
It, however, did not state if it had or hadn’t paid it’s staff salary.
“As KBN TV, we are appalled with the drunken behaviour exhibited through a video clip that has gone viral on social media and staged by one of our part-time presenters during what should have been the main news bulletin last night,” the statement read in part.
“As a young television station, we work with a very highly talented and professional team, with a noble character and we owe the success of unbroken broadcasting for the last two years to such gallant men and women.
“Members of the public may wish to know that KBN TV like any other institution, has very well-established grievance procedures for all members of staff through which they can channel their complaints.
“Therefore, last night’s behaviour by Kabinda Kalimina is out of character and does not represent who we are as a station. We strongly condemn that despicable behaviour and urge members of the public to treat that ‘One-Night stunt of Fame’ with the contempt it deserves.
The statement added that the management was investigating the matter and that anyone who had assisted Kalimina in his outrageous stunt would face disciplinary action.
“As management, we are carrying out investigations to determine how a drunken part-time presenter found himself on air unabated and disciplinary action will be taken against anyone who may have been party to the scheme.”
