TheCable

The audience of KBN, a Zambian television station, were all glued to their TV sets to receive the latest updates across the world — but the news took a turn for the unusual. 

Kabinda Kalimina, the news presenter, started the evening broadcast of June 19 by reading the major news headlines.

However, he unexpectedly switched from the news bulletin to demand for the payment of his salary and that of his colleagues, alleging that the station’s workers were being owed.

“Away from the news, ladies and gentlemen, we are human beings. We have to get paid,” he said.

“Unfortunately, on KBN, we haven’t been paid. People are getting instruments on KBN… Sharon and everyone else haven’t been paid — including myself. We have to get paid.”

The news broadcast was, however, abruptly ended with the the station’s signature tune played instead.

The video clip, which has since gone viral, has sparked mixed reactions on social media.

But Kalimina who did not mince words with his demand, took to his Facebook page to justify his action.

“Yes, I did that on live TV. Just because most journalists are scared to speak out doesn’t mean journalists shouldn’t speak out,” he wrote.

Zambian News Anchor, Kabinda Kalimina, demands for his salary on live TV pic.twitter.com/d25G9O8hCJ

— Gistlovers.blog1 (@Gistloversblog1) June 25, 2021

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Reacting to the development, Kennedy Mambwe, chief executive officer (CEO) of KBN, described Kalimina’s action as “drunken behaviour”.

“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,” Mambwe said in a statement.

The station said it is investigating the incident, but kept mum on if Kalimina and his colleagues are being owed or not.