KALEMBA was on Saturday night named the best news page of the year at a colourful Zamtel-organised awards ceremony meant to celebrate and acknowledge social media talent and content creators.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15Un3NSEw6
The awards ceremony, held in the majestic KK Wing of the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, was a dazzling spectacle of glamour and style.
Business executives, company CEOs, and Zambia’s crème de la crème of social media content creators mingled in style, donning elegant black and gold outfits that perfectly captured the dress code theme.
To take the ZAMTEL 2024-2025 Best Social Media News Page, Kalemba shrugged off stiff competition from some of the country’s most prominent digital platforms, including the national broadcaster ZNBC.
The award was to recognise platforms where audiences consistently turn not only for updates, but for accurate, engaging and timely news.
It also highlights news platforms that have managed to use social media to connect communities, spark meaningful conversations and deliver stories that matter.
Other nominees in the category were Diamond TV Online, Mwebantu, Nkani and ZNBC Today.
According to the organisers, all nominees have for the past few years demonstrated how credibility, innovation and consistency can transform social media into a trusted space for news consumption.
The awards ceremony was graced by Justice Minister Princess Kasune who called for responsible use of social media and applauded the content creators for their creativity.
“Social media has empowered many young people to transform their passion into livelihoods and also building businesses from creativity. At the same time I must remind all of us that with such opportunities comes a greater opportunity. I hope that you understand that as your minister of Justice and government, we are not here to suffocate your creativity but you must remember that people may forgive you but social media does not forgive.”
“We don’t have to agree to be united and be responsible on social media,” urged Kasune.
Receiving the Kalemba award, Kalemba managing news editor Dawood Salim credited the platform’s audience for the success.
Salim also expressed gratitude to ZAMTEL for organising such an impactful initiative of supporting the online space.
“Thank you very much. Receiving this award today wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the people. Kalemba is a people’s platform and as such, I dedicate this award on behalf of the team, to all the people that have supported us from day one, and everyone that continues to support us to this day,” he said.
“And to ZAMTEL, thank you for making us feel the love from the people, we say, you too like Kalemba are the people’s network, thank you.”
The overall social media award was won by “voiceless” Facebook comic ba Matero, who drove away in a brand new Toyota Hilux.
Other winners on the night were, Zakado the Boxer, Mutale Mwanza, Simon Chitambala, The Zed Podcast and Maza Comedy among others.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, September 29, 2025
