Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu in Johannesburg, South Africa
THE confetti has finally settled, the votes are in, and a returning queen has reclaimed her throne. Last Sunday, singer Liema Pantsi walked away with a life-changing R2 million grand prize as the winner of Big Brother Mzansi Season 6: Bazozwa.
It was a victory that defied the odds and her own history of heartbreak, but it did something else, too — it set off a wave of excitement across the Limpopo River, with Zimbabwean fans using the moment to demand their own version of the iconic show.
Liema’s win felt like a masterclass in redemption. After a controversial exit from Season 4, where she was offered R250 000 to walk away just before the finish line, she came back this time with a point to prove. The “Bazozwa” hitmaker played a clever, tough game, surviving ten intense weeks to beat out some seriously stiff competition.
It wasn’t just the big check at the end, either; she picked up over R3 000 in cash from weekly challenges and a string of sponsorships along the way. The final voting numbers show just how close it was: Liema pulled in 33,84 percent of the votes, just barely beating out the season’s wildcard, Thandeka Tshabalala, who finished with 29,97 percent.
Talking to Saturday Leisure after the madness ended, the housemates got real about how much the experience changed them. For Liema, the win was the end of a beautiful, exhausting blur.
“The ten weeks were intense. It’s a whirlwind where you rarely get a moment truly to yourself. Every action, every word, is under a microscope,” she confessed.
Her win was a massive nod to the power of sticking it out and learning from the times things didn’t go your way.
Runner-up Thandeka Tshabalala, who started as a dark horse and ended up as Liema’s biggest threat, found a version of herself she didn’t know existed.
“I learnt that I am incredibly strong. I won’t bend or break just to please anyone. Conquering Italy proved to me I had the resilience to survive those 72 days. Honestly, after that, I was afraid of nothing in that house,” Thandeka stated boldly.
Then there was King Wanda, whose weirdly accurate predictions about who was going home next earned him a reputation as the house oracle. He laughed off the idea that it was just luck.
“It wasn’t guesswork. I studied the patterns meticulously — how people interacted, formed alliances, reacted under pressure. The premonitions came from understanding the game’s dynamics deeply,” King Wanda clarified.
The house also gave us “Brixie”—the intense romance between Bravo B and Trixie that had fans obsessed on the outside. Both of them swear it wasn’t a game move.
“Love genuinely found us in there,” Bravo B insisted.
Trixie was a bit more self-aware about how it all started.
“I pursued Bravo B because I wanted to be seen, to have a presence in the house. But honestly, neither of us walked in with a plan to start a relationship; it just happened organically. We didn’t have a strategy, and that was the strategy.”
For Bravo B, the show was a launching pad for his future.
“Being in the house gave me the freedom to grow authentically. I’ve always loved the media space, and this solidified it. I absolutely see myself becoming a media personality now.”
Even Ramona, the oldest housemate this season, found her place eventually, despite some early struggles.
“It was tough at the start, finding common ground with such a diverse, younger group, but as the weeks flew past, I learned to adapt, to listen more, and slowly became comfortable. I found genuine companionship, especially with Thandeka,” Ramona shared.
Her experience proved that the show really is a melting pot. And it was a record-breaking one, too — Mzansi Magic confirmed this was the most-watched season ever, with over 5,5 million YouTube views and #BBMzansi dominating TikTok and X every single day.
That massive pull doesn’t stop at the border. Zimbabwe has a long, deep-seated love affair with Big Brother.
Everyone from A-list actors to musicians is hooked on it. Even the late former President Robert Mugabe’s family were famous fans. Mugabe himself famously stepped in to give Zimbabwean housemate Munya Chidzonga a massive US$300 000 after fans felt he was robbed of the win in Big Brother Africa. Our history with the show is deep — from Makosi Musambasi making waves in the UK in 2005 to Stunner performing on the African stage in 2010. We’ve seen Pokello Nare, Maneta Mazhani, Rokie, and so many others fly the flag.
Despite people occasionally grumbling that the show isn’t “traditional” enough, its hold on Zimbabweans is undeniable. Liema’s win has brought back the loud, hopeful cry: give us Big Brother Zimbabwe. Fans like Nomagugu Moyo are making their voices heard.
“I absolutely love watching Big Brother Mzansi and would watch Big Brother Africa back in the day! The drama, the strategies, the personalities — it’s captivating. It would be incredible to have our own version. I’d love to be part of it! Please, bring Big Brother Zimbabwe to life!” she pleaded.
Monalisa Tshuma feels the same way about the cultural potential.
“It would be lovely to have Big Brother Zimbabwe held right here in our country. Imagine showcasing our diverse cultures, landscapes, and people to the continent and the world!”
