A series by Trevor Ncube — Part 3: Journalism
JournalismMy journalism career has been absolutely unconventional and I have fully embraced it. I am not a trained journalist which means I have never been to a school of journalism.
How unconventional is this: For shooting off my mouth at an Economic conference in Harare I was picked to anchor a national prime time television programme that became a huge success, launching me onto the national stage and journalism. Just like that! I had zero television experience.
Next I was spotted by a newspaper publisher who later appointed me assistant editor of the Financial Gazette which was then Zimbabwe’s only independent newspaper.
With the benefit of hindsight I believe my father introduced me to journalism when I was doing 5th grade. He brought home old newspapers from his employers which I enjoyed reading. I made scrap books from old exercise books and newspaper cuttings, mainly of political events. This was my own version of Twitter and Facebook. I proudly showed them off to friends and visiting relatives in our township home.
At the Financial Gazette I rose to the position of Executive Editor in seven years, winning awards and then I was fired for being too critical of President Mugabe and ZANUPF.
My world crashed around me. I felt humiliated, alone and exposed. I was angry at this treatment. My ego took a knock. My job was me, my identity and my livelihood. Three long months after this life changing experience I was forced to go into business.
Leadership lessons:
- There is no formula to life
- Sometimes in life we need to be taken out of our comfort zones to grow. I don’t think I would have gone into business if I had not been taken out of my comfort zone
- Don’t expected the phone to ring when you’re down and out
- Moments such as these are precious. You get to know who your friends are
Trials and TribulationsI have been arrested, had my passport seized and gone to court to get it back. I have had my citizenship withdrawn and have gone to the High Court to fight for my birth rights. All these incidents have shaken me but they have also made me a stronger person and a better leader.
However the periods of inconveniences I have suffered pale into insignificance when I compare them to what some of my colleagues have suffered. Many have been detained for extended periods while some have been tortured for doing their legitimate jobs
Because I have endured all this, conventional wisdom says I must be courageous. The truth is I am not. What choices does one have when life gets unconventional? Hide? Run away? Those are not options we have if we are to make a difference in life.
Lessons:
- Those that persecute cowards like me make heroes and martyrs out of common people
- Our national institutions, constitution and the rule of law are extremely important
- Never take freedom for granted and make the freedom of others your concern
This post is part of a series:Introductionpart 1: Rural Beginningspart 2: City Beginnings**part 3: Journalism**part 4: The Futurepart 5: Africa Rising