Alice the wonder lady

Zecheaus Nemadire Lifestyle Writer
If only people knew that eloquence in speaking and reading can give someone a celebrity, socialite, hero or heroine’s status – then everyone else would certainly queue for the short reading courses that are held by different colleges across Zimbabwe. Eloquence has definitely given news anchor and presenter Alice Makaya celebrity status that she never hoped to get in her lifetime.
Endowed with pristine looks coupled by eloquence in the Queen’s language – Alice’s story clear shows that blessing work hand-in-hand with talent, as attested by the road she has travelled in turning herself into a brand name to thousands of television viewers across Zimbabwe and beyond.

Many people barely know Alice as a news presenter, but little is known that the 43-year-old is more than just a news anchor with more than three professions.

“I am a woman of numerous talents and I want to thank God for that. I did a couple of professions from Business Studies and Finance, Marketing to Media Studies, but I am so passionate about media and that is why I am giving so much time to television.

“After finishing my Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Studies at Southwalk College in UK, I worked for South Africa’s Star newspaper as a news reporter. TV is what I live for and is my passion,” said Makaya.

It was probably her passion for modelling, singing and acting that drove her into presenting and in the process won herself several gongs and accolades both locally and abroad.

Apart from news anchoring, she is also the Director of Almak Productions (a filming and editing organisation) and Financial Advisor at Old Mutual.
She has a television talk show that airs on ZBC TV called the Alice Makaya Talk Show. The talk show won the best upcoming talk show award at the Victor Awards held in November last year.

Born in Bulawayo in May 1970, Makaya was raised in a Christian family as her parents (late father) are pastors of the Guta raMwari Church. She is the sixth born in a family of eight.

She attended Greenfield Primary School and Montrose High for part of her high school before she moved to Harare where she completed her high school education at Roosevelt between 1986 and 87.

In 1988 she enrolled at Arundel Girls School where she did her A-Levels before leaving the country for the United Kingdom where she studied journalism at the School of Journalism between 1989 and 1992.

Makaya became an overnight celebrity when she was still in high school debuting on the modelling scene and went on to win the Miss Schools in 1987, Miss Rotary first princess in 1989.

She further nurtured her passion and zeal for modelling when she went to the United Kingdom and it therefore did not come as a surprise when she won The Miss Park award again under her modelling belt. Several other endorsements and scholarships flowed in Alice’s way, but her love for the limelight and big screens on television made her quickly dwell on Media Studies.

Without much ado, Makaya’s “Hall of Fame” became a reality in 1994 following her successful eight years as a flight attendant with South African Airways.

In those precious eight years with SAA, Makaya travelled around the world, meeting and hooking up with celebrities, a momentous time of her life she even cherish even to this day.

As if that was enough, meeting the Jackson Five, Miriam Makeba, Tokyo Sexwale and The Temptations were also the highlights of her life during the time she was with SAA. In her every encounter she learnt something, a development that further inspired her to try her luck on many things.
“When I met Makeba , I told myself that one day I will definitely become a singer and compose my own songs,” she recalls.

Believe it or not, Makaya at 43 is still keen to pursue music and will soon be working on something once she unclutters her busy schedule.
Meeting Janet Jackson inspired the businesswoman to venture into fashion and arts, something she is already working on and will soon have her own fashion label.

They say if you try you win, and this seems to be working well for Makaya who has emerged the biggest winner following her successful endeavours in different fields.

Last year she won the Best Upcoming Talk Show at the Victor Award for her television talk show which covers social issues and showcase local talent.

Her life continues to grow by God’s grace.