BALANCING a demanding newsroom schedule, raising four children and pursing a postgraduate degree would seem impossible for most people, but not for ZNBC journalist Kasabula Muchimba, who defied the odds to graduate top of her Master’s class at the Mulungushi University.
From chasing news stories by day to chasing deadlines by night, all while raising four children and being a wife, Kasabula turned what many would call impossible into inspiring.
Her extraordinary balancing act has now paid off, as she graduated with a Master’s Degree in Strategic Communication for Development with Merit.
Her journey back to school began in 2023 with a simple conversation about ‘staying relevant’ in a changing world and that talk lit a spark and soon she was collecting brochures from Mulungushi university, determined to reignite her dream of further studies.
But it wasn’t an easy road. With two toddlers tugging at her feet and two teenagers watching her example, Kasabula spent her evenings in class from 17:00 hours to 20:00 hours, before heading home to tend to bedtime stories, family dinners, and unfinished assignments.
“Sometimes my little ones would ask, ‘Mommy, why are you going to school again?’ I told them I wanted them to see that learning never stops and that age or motherhood shouldn’t silence ambition,” she shared with #Kalemba in an interview.
She revealed that during the process, she became pregnant but even the pregnancy itself, couldn’t slow her down.
Between fatigue, nausea and newsroom chaos, she pressed on, determined to cross the finish line.
“When I was tired or doubting myself, I reminded myself that I wasn’t just doing this for me. I was doing it for every girl who dreams beyond her circumstances,” she said.
She shared that her drive wasn’t fueled by competition but purpose.
“I’ve never been in competition with anyone, my only goal is to outdo the woman I was yesterday,” she said.
According to Kasabula, her secret weapon was a rock-solid support system, her husband, mother and siblings who became her everyday cheerleader, stepping in when things got tough.
“My family’s support was everything because they made sure I could juggle all my roles without losing myself in the chaos.”
And when the results finally came out, Kasabula had done more than just graduate, she had made history for herself, top of her class, a merit on her transcript and a legacy of resilience for her children to look up to.
“Seeing that I topped my class was surreal. All the sleepless nights, all the sacrifices, it was worth it,” she said.
Now, Kasabula hopes her story will inspire other young women to keep pushing through life’s challenges.
“To every girl child out there, be consistent, be disciplined, and work hard. Challenges will come, but if you stay focused, God will handle the rest,” she added.
“Dare to dream beyond circumstances. Pursuing my Master’s Degree while being pregnant, working full-time, a wife and a mother was not easy. Keep pushing, peep believing. You can create your own story.”
By Sharon Zulu
Kalemba November 2, 2025
