KEEPING UP WITH THE SAKALAS: the couple plays different roles on Zambia's popular television drama Mpali

THE Zambian film industry is today, nowhere near where it was ten or more years ago. Back then, it wasn’t common to see someone lead a successful life, living off film alone. But now, the scenario has changed.

At least so says the celebrity couple of Joe Sakala and Lissy Yambayamba-Sakala.

For those who may not know the couple, Joe and Lissy play Jairos and Ntombi respectively in popular telenovela Mpali that airs on Zambezi Magic every Monday to Thursday at 20:30 hours.

And they have quite a story too. We caught up with them to get to know more about the rising power couple, discuss the ins and outs of the entertainment industry and what the future holds for them.

Joe plays a character named Jairos, he is outspoken and a casanova of note. “This is in contrast to who I am in real life. In fact, people are normally shocked by my polarized personalities because I am actually reserved in real life,” he says.

We delved deeper into the life of the much loved “Farm Manager” from Mpali and discovered that he is also a qualified IT Specialist, and has a hidden talent - rapping. His wife Lissy is also no stranger to the small screens of Zambia. She plays Ntombi, Mr Nguzu’s fourth wife on Mpali.

Despite living a private life, the beauty took no time in taking us through the journey of how she met Joe, their marriage and the experience behind having her best friend working in the same industry and show as well as some of her hidden talents.

“We met on the set of Lusaka Heroes in 2012. In hindsight, we never thought that we would ever date or even get married…we didn’t even speak to each other,” she mentions as she giggles.

Well, in a clear, ‘no one can ever clearly predict what the future holds’ style, Joe and Lissy wedded last year on December 9 in Lusaka.

“I decided, maybe I should give him a chance in 2017 when we were working on another production called Zed Man,” says Lissy. “We actually found out that we have a lot in common and this has created a strong bond between us as we are at the advantage of doing more things with each other,” adds Joe.

As they say couples that work together, stay together, being in the same production comes as a bonus to the couple as it rehearses the script together.

They take their trade seriously and acknowledge that there is no room for jealousy when they have to play partners to other people on set. “It is only acting - a job and there are no feelings involved. We need to make our roles believable like any other trade,” says Lissy. Joe laughs before saying: “Not at all.”

They say they understand each other and don’t blur the lines between work and personal life. “You need to understand your partner and that is how it has to be in this industry. People have this perception that actors and actresses are randy, it is not always like that. You need to just understand that we do that to act,” says Lissy.

“We are like other couples, we fight, we laugh, we cry but our personal recipe that we have perfected throughout the years is to ensure that neither of us go to bed without hashing out our dislikes and what either of us might have done to tick the other off.”

Coming to how the movie industry has transformed, Joe and Lissy seem to owe it all to platforms such as Zambezi Magic for raising the bar higher than it ever was.

“Acting, back in the days was a side hustle for most,” says Lissy.

“The pendulum has since shifted, and we are sincerely grateful for the powers that have made this possible. Zambezi Magic has really come to the party with producing quality productions and assisting us to perfect our skills and make acting a reality and a respectable trade.”

Today, because of their starring roles in the drama series, the two are mostly known by their character names of Jairos and Ntombi.

“Before my father started watching Mpali, he was shocked to hear people calling me Jairos and not Joe. That is when I knew that I was executing to the best of my ability,” he says.

Lissy adds: “People must know that those are just characters. Ntombi is totally different from Lissy,” says Lissy who warns her husband against taking in another wife.

With cards held close to their chests, Joe and Lissy say fans should expect more drama, and suspense in season three of the drama series.

WHEN LOCAL IS LAKA! The case of Livingstone tour operators in the wake of COVID-19

I RECENTLY had a friend visit me at the office for a chat. As we stood, outside, talking, my colleague was approached by someone he knows.

Their conversation, of very few words caught my attention.

“Bakamba, muchitika bwanji, njala kaili. Shaniko ili yonse [loosely translated as: Big man, what’s up, I am hungry, assist me with any amount],” he said.

My friend who is operations manager at a Livingstone based tour operating company that offers adrenaline activities responded: “I am broke young man. Have you seen any white people in town? If you don’t see any white man, it means I don’t have money.”

At that point, it hit me.

Truth be told, Livingstone, being the tourist capital, is one of the worst hit in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak which has since been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Most tour operating companies, lodge owners and businesses have cut down on their workforce due to loss of business, compounded by the virus that is fast spreading and has claimed many lives and left equally many either infected and battling for their lives or indeed affected.

Addressing stakeholders at a Zesco organised stakeholders meeting here recently, Livingstone mayor Eugine Mapuwo sounded the warning of the looming job cuts in the hospitality industry.

He said he has been overwhelmed with reports of cancelled bookings. “Bookings are being cancelled by tour operators in view of this virus that is ravaging the world. Tour operators and lodges are on the verge of collapsing and this is very bad,” he said.

Indeed, the effects have been felt - and the hospitality industry has been hard hit.

Of course, there are trickle down effects which I believe everyone will feel.

Coming back to my friend's comment, this should therefore be an eye opener to tour operators or indeed everyone in the hospitality industry and tourism in general to not only concentrate on foreign nationals but tap into the huge local tourists pool.

Truth is there a lot of Zambians who would like to indulge themselves in the many activities that the tourism industry has to offer - but are kept away because of the huge costs.

Just recently, someone passed a comment in social media of how companies in Livingstone will charge as high as US$168 for an activity that will only last for a minute or less - whether Zambian or not, you have to part away with that much for you to do the activity.

Simply said, the target, for most of these tour operators is, by large, foreign nationals. Clearly, not many Zambians can afford to part away with such kinds of money. Make no mistake however, others do, but they are not many.

Whereas it is understood that businesses have their eyes set on profits, it will do them more good if their business development managers come up with enticing packages that will lure and tempt local people into indulging in these activities.

In the wake of the deadly coronavirus that has sent world economies into disarray, I think it also comes as an eye opener that sometimes, looking within could be the solution much as we appreciate the role that foreign nationals play on boosting revenue.

That way, with or without white people [foreign tourists] in town, at least you could be assured of some money.

The author is a Livingstone based Zambia Daily Mail correspondent.

COVID-19: Be well informed and guard against misinformation before more people are duped

NDANGWA JOHN ANDREWS MWITTAH

IT is sad that in the wake of something as serious as the coronavirus, an outbreak that was recently declared a global pandemic, people could still be making fun of it and other people on social media.

There is a video that has gone viral and making rounds on social media of an elderly woman, old enough to be my grandmother who was swindled by some unscrupulous people somewhere in Southern province.

The named woman - albeit sensing the danger that surrounds us went to the market to buy hand sanitisers and hand washing soap to protect herself and her family from the virus that has claimed many lives and left others battling for theirs.

Instead of being sold what she wanted, the woman was instead sold some dish-washing liquid formula and sponge. Who does that?

In the video, the woman who was clearly robbed was seen being mocked by those that were taking the video. In all fairness, this is not the time to start making fun of this disease. It is high time Zambians took this pandemic seriously.

It calls for a multi-sectoral approach, as clearly, there is a lot of sensitisation that is needed out there. The authorities, traditional leaders, civic leaders, church leaders and indeed everyone that can, must take it upon themselves to go flat out and educate the people on the dangers of the disease, how to prevent it and also the recommended items needed to help combat the pandemic - here, the media must also be proactive in sending out accurate information to curb the misinformation being spread.

Speaking of misinformation, there is also word going round on social media advising people not to use the face masks donated to Africa by the Jack Ma Foundation saying they are infected with the virus.

Clearly, these are falsehoods.

Those of us privileged enough to have access to accurate information, we must also ensure that we share it with relatives and friends that may not be privy to such information, especially those in rural areas.

From the numbers that are coming from the world's biggest economies, it goes to show that as Africa, we are not ready or adequately prepared for this virus. We must therefore take it upon ourselves to do everything possible to curb the spread of the virus.

Government agencies such as the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS), Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and other like minded agencies must also ensure that these products being sold are of the recommended standard. There has been reports of retailers cashing in on unauthorised substandard products to desperate and unsuspecting people, such as the old woman in question.

Others are also diluting the liquid soap and hand sanitisers - all of which will come to an exercise in futility regarding the fight against the coronavirus. The pandemic is real, it is high time we took the measures put up by the Government seriously.

Ndangwa Mwittah is a Livingstone based Zambia Daily Mail correspondent.