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Trust Khosa
ICONIC filmmaker, director, and producer, Stephen Chigorimbo, is a living legend in our midst.
He deserves his flowers while his body and spirit are still intact.
At 73, Chigorimbo has navigated the rough turf of the film-making industry for over half a century, with pride.
His footprints are hard to erase as he continues to break new milestones.
For someone who has starred in more than 100 features, documentaries, soaps, shorts, and commercials, he deserves to be celebrated.
Not only is Chigorimbo, a film-making colossus, but he has demonstrated how it is done, managed, and monetised.
Locally, he has done wonders.
Internationally, the name Stephen Chigorimbo is written in bold letters.
Believe this: revered American actor Denzel Washington, with a net worth of over Us$300 million as of January 2024, is one of Chigorimbo’s protégés.
Chigorimbo made Washington a cult hero in Africa and even beyond as the first co-assistant director of “Cry Freedom” in which the American actor stars as Steve Biko.
Then, Washington was a greenhorn when he met Chigorimbo in Harare for the shooting of the feature film.
In short, this aptly sums up the easy-going man’s journey that millions of Zimbabweans got to know as Mr John Huni in “Studio 263”.
Now a leader of The Apostolical Holy Church, which he inherited from his uncle Phineas Chigorimbo, he is enjoying the new calling of 12 years.
In this instalment of Down Memory Lane, Chigorimbo sees the grace of the Lord in his quest to see more years of film-making.
“I’m still around leading a church, which I inherited from my uncle.
“Our ministry has 40 branches with its headquarters in Mhondoro, but I attend the Hatcliffe branch.
“This is the best thing to ever happen in my life because I now walk with God,” says Chigorimbo, who resides in Marlborough, Harare.
While the ministry’s work is demanding, Chigorimbo says he can’t quit the camera lights, which propelled him to acclaim.
“As a filmmaker, it’s hard for me to quit this line of trade that defines me. At the moment, we are working on three feature films, including “Shaave,” which talks about a woman who is crazy in love.
“The other one is called “The Big Time” which I created along with the late Olley Maruma.
“The third project I am working on is a Mzilikazi series which has been keeping me busy in recent months.”
Relieving his moments at “Studio 263”, the country’s first soap in Zimbabwe, Chigorimbo reckons he made history.
“Many of you got to know me because of my role at Studio 263 as Mr Huni.
“Initially, the creator Aaron Chiundura Moyo, wanted it to be called “MuHarare Hamurarwi” but after putting our brains together with Godwin Mawuru (now late), we opted for the name ‘Studio 263’.
“I then decided to use the knowledge that I acquired in Nigeria where I stayed for 10 years,” recalls Chigorimbo.
The legendary actor says the concept for “Studio 263” was adopted from Nollywood.
“It was easy for me to convince my peers because we wanted to tell the Zimbabwean story in our own unique way and the best way was to copy Nigeria,” says Chigorimbo.
At the peak of his career, he recalls his encounter with Washington as his turning point.
“I was blessed that I have always had an opportunity to work with international producers like Richard Attenborough who brought Denzel Washington to play the role of Steve Biko.
“He made him feel at home as we took him to such humble places like Epworth and Chitungwiza.”
Family-wise, Chigorimbo is one of the characters who opens up on his marital issues.
“I have at least 12 children and I have been married five times.
“On kids, I used the word ‘at least’ because you never know if you have other kids out there.
“My eldest was born in 1978 and the youngest I remember was born in 1998.”
But who is Chigorimbo?
“I was born on April 5, 1951, at Chegutu Hospital. I attended Chitomborwizi in Zvimba for my Sub A.
“Afterwards, I completed my Standard 6 at Gillingham Primary School in Dzivaresekwa.
“In 1969, I finished my Form Four at Highfield High School and studied insurance and worked for big companies like Southampton back in the day.”
He was also raised in the church where his father Reverend Senias Chigorimbo was a leader in AFM.
Unlike most of his peers who have become “crybabies”, Chigorimbo believes Zimbabwe is endowed with rich creatives.
“The problem we have now is that Zimbabwean creatives complain a lot, yet they live largely.
“Unlike South Africa where most houses are on mortgage, Zimbabwe has many landlords.
“When it comes to car ownership, 90 percent of the vehicles are owned by individuals, but we still complain. I have been preaching that gospel in church,” he says.
With an illustrious career in film as a director, he offered his service in some of the famed productions such as “Tuxedo Warrior,” a Geoffrey Rose Films Production featuring John Wyman and Carol Royale.
He was a location manager in “Month of the Doctors,” a BBC TV Films Production, and “King Solomon’s Mines,” a Cannon Films production.
Locally, he has starred in several productions like “Waiters,” a sitcom for Rooftop Productions among others productions.
Online Reporter