By Seif Gracien Hasingizwimana/ Kigali, Rwanda,
ZAMBIA Media Women Association (ZAMWA) has ushered in a new leadership with journalist Monica Mayuni Kayombo taking over as chairperson, pledging to revive, strengthen and reposition the association as a vibrant voice for women in the media.
Ms Kayombo was elected chairperson on October 3, 2026, taking over from Ms Caroline Kalombe, who resigned from the position due to other official commitments.
Ms Kayombo was elected chairperson on October 3, 2026, taking over from Ms Caroline Kalombe, who resigned from the position due to other official commitments.
Speaking after her election, Ms Kayombo thanked the outgoing executive, led by Ms Kalombe, for keeping the association afloat and ensuring that ZAMWA continued to exist despite the challenges it faced.
She said the new leadership had a responsibility to build on the foundation laid by the previous executive and restore ZAMWA to its “rightful place” as an organisation representing and advancing the interests of women in the media.
“Fellow members, the task before us is clear. We must revive, strengthen and reposition ZAMWA to fulfil the objectives for which it was established,” Ms Kayombo said.
She recalled a period when ZAMWA was a strong professional organisation that conducted numerous activities, attracted support from the donor community and created opportunities for women journalists through training, professional development and exchange programmes.
According to Ms Kayombo, the new leadership must now find ways of reclaiming that legacy while creating opportunities for the next generation of women journalists.
She identified professional development and leadership training among the key priorities of the new executive, saying ZAMWA needed to equip its members with skills relevant to an evolving media landscape.
She also called for stronger partnerships with organisations including Women in News, MISA Zambia and other institutions working to promote gender equality, media freedom, professional development and the welfare of women journalists.
Ms Kayombo said ZAMWA could also learn from women-in-media organisations in the region, including the Tanzania Media Women’s Association (TAMWA), Uganda Media Women’s Association (UMWA) and Kenya Media Women Association (KMWA).
She said the association should explore opportunities for exchanging experiences, sharing best practices and collaborating on programmes.
Ms Kayombo, who described herself as a product of ZAMWA’s training and empowerment programmes, said her personal experience demonstrated the impact the association could have when it invested in women.
“I would like to see more women benefit from similar opportunities and go on to become confident, skilled and influential professionals in their respective fields,” she said.
She further identified gender discrimination, sexual harassment and cyberbullying as some of the challenges facing women in the media, saying ZAMWA should strengthen advocacy, awareness and mechanisms for addressing such challenges.
The new chairperson also called for the strengthening of ZAMWA’s internal structures and urged members to participate in standing committees covering fundraising, publicity, training, gender and mentorship.
She said the Fundraising Committee would be expected to identify potential donors, develop proposals, build partnerships and mobilise resources for the association’s programmes.
The Publicity Committee, she said, would be responsible for enhancing ZAMWA’s visibility and reaching out to journalism schools, universities and other learning institutions to attract young women aspiring to pursue careers in the media.
Ms Kayombo said the Training Committee should identify skills gaps among members and develop programmes responding to their professional needs, while the Gender and Mentorship Committee should promote gender equality and mentorship and support women seeking career progression and leadership opportunities.
She also proposed strengthening honorary membership for individuals who have contributed to the advancement of women in the media, as well as recruiting associate members who support ZAMWA’s objectives.
Ms Kayombo said the immediate priorities of the new executive included completing the constitutional review process, recruiting new members, constituting the standing committees, mobilising resources and preparing for the Annual General Meeting scheduled for April 2027.
NEW ZAMWA INTERIM EXECUTIVE
The new interim ZAMWA executive for 2026–2027 comprises:
Chairperson: Monica Mayuni Kayombo
Vice Chairperson: Sharon Kalimbula
Treasurer: Margaret Samulela
Vice Treasurer: Mwaka Lengalenga
Secretary: Mwazipeza Sakala
Vice Secretary: Wendy Mporokoso
Publicity Secretary: Prudence Siabana Kabaso
Committee Members:
Joy Sata
Cynthia Nkhata
Delia Chaya
WHO IS MONICA MAYUNI KAYOMBO?
Ms Kayombo is a Zambian journalist with more than 20 years’ experience in print and broadcast journalism.
Before she became a Freelance journalist, she worked as Subs-Editor at Zambia Daily Mail until she left two years ago.
Her career has included extensive reporting on health and other public-interest issues, with her work taking her to major international platforms including the Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA), the 2025 World Health Summit in Germany and the 2026 International AIDS Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
She is a recipient of the 2012 International Journalists Fellowship and the 2021 Global Health Reporting Initiative Fellowship under the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF).
In 2023, she received a recognition award from the Zambia Medical Association, while in 2026 she was recognised with a SHE & Rights award during the Women Deliver Conference in Melbourne, Australia.
She also received training in chronic respiratory diseases in 2026 under the auspices of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Pace University.
Ms Kayombo holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration, a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations and Development, as well as diplomas in Journalism and Public Relations, Management Studies and Marketing.
Her election comes at a time when ZAMWA seeks to strengthen its structures, expand opportunities for women journalists and reposition the association as a platform for professional development, mentorship, advocacy and solidarity among women in the media.
