CHARITY MUNG’OMBA
Lusaka
MANY young people leave school with dreams but often struggle to find the right path to follow. For Cosmas Mulenga, a competition he entered out of curiosity became an unexpected doorway to a career he never planned for, transforming him from a school leaver to a young sports journalist.
When Cosmas Mulenga failed to reach the final of the Diamond TV Presenter Search in 2022, he thought his dream of being on television dream ended before it had even begun. However, the Chief Visionary Officer (CVO) of Diamond TV, Mr Coster Mansa, made an unexpected announcement.
Instead of sending him home empty handed, he offered the then 18-yearold an internship after recognising his determination and potential.
Today, at 22, Cosmas has established himself in the media industry, earning recognition for his work as a sports journalist. Born in Kasama and raised in Mansa, Luapula Province, Cosmas moved to Lusaka intending to study professional accountancy at the Zambia Centre for Accountancy Studies (ZCAS). “Journalism was never part of my plan until I came across an advertisement for a television presenter competition.
I was determined and focussed, and I almost a month preparing for the auditions, practising presentation skills for two hours every day,” he shared in an interview.
Although he did not win the competition, the internship offer became the opportunity that changed his life. “I entered the newsroom without formal journalism training, and had to learn everything from writing news stories to understanding media ethics and the responsibilities of a journalist,” he said.
To perfect the skill, gain academic excellence, he enrolled for a degree in Mass communication and public relations at Cavendish university while continuing to gain first-hand experience from the team at Diamond TV.
He said this period also made him realise that communication and media were his natural talents and for a moment the plan to study at ZCAS was shelved for a time.
“I realised my accounting plan was not a long-standing passion but a practical choice because I was good at mathematics,” he said.
Cosmas said his parents supported the change because they saw his passion and followed his journey during the presenter competition. Cosmas said he often sacrificed sleep as he researched, practised and worked hard to improve his reporting skills.
His commitment soon earned recognition. He won Diamond TV’s Rising Star of the Year Award in 2023 before being named Zambia’s Best Broadcast Sports Journalist in 2024. His work has also gained wider recognition, with his reporting earning attention beyond Zambia.
Looking back, Cosmas believes success is built on preparation rather than luck.
He said every achievement he has attained is a result of intentional hard work, faith in God and a commitment to telling stories that positively impact people’s lives.
His journey is a reminder that one unexpected opportunity can change a young person’s future when it is matched with determination, discipline and the courage to keep learning.
