Online Reporter
Langalihle Mhiti
AFTER an eight-year break, the popular Zimbabwean television drama ‘Diaspora’ is officially making a long-awaited return.
Producers have confirmed that the series is set to continue beyond a single season thanks to new funding and support from local broadcaster.
Diaspora producer and manager, Mr R. Yobe, said the long gap was largely caused by a lack of resources, a challenge many local content creators continue to face.
“Because we had no resources to produce other seasons, that’s the reason we’re continuing it after eight years,” Yobe said.
“But now that we managed to get resources and funding from ZBC, we are going to do more seasons, not only one season.”
Yobe revealed that production will resume from Season Two, with plans already in place to expand the storyline across several future seasons.
He said the new season promises richer storytelling, multiple subplots and unexpected twists that will keep viewers engaged.
“We have got so many sub-plots, not only this one. We have got Big Dara in the story, and it’s another subplot within the story,” he said.
“The story has got twists and turns of unexpected things. People might expect the obvious, but our fans will love the direction we’re taking.”
He also paid tribute to the creative team behind the series, acknowledging the work of writer Cynthia Mzembi and co-creator Felix Mtasa.
“The story was co-created by Felix Mtasa, who developed it into what it is now, then Cynthia took over the writing,” Yobe said.
“She is working very hard, and we are happy with the direction of the script.”
Adding to the excitement, Yobe confirmed that the original 2018 cast will be returning for the new season, a move expected to appeal to long-time fans of the series.
“All of the cast from the 2018 Diaspora are back for the story. It’s going to be a very amazing season,” he said.
Beyond the show itself, Yobe used the platform to call for increased institutional support for local productions, stressing the importance of Zimbabweans telling their own stories.
“If we don’t tell our stories, people from outside will come and tell them for us, and that won’t be okay,” he said.
“These are our stories, and they should be told in our own way.”
Joining the Diaspora team for Season Two is a new set designer, Munashe Dirwai who described the opportunity as both empowering and transformative, particularly as a woman in a demanding production role.
“Joining Season Two as a set designer has given me a chance to prove myself,” she said.
“It wasn’t easy at first when I said I wanted to be a designer, but this production has shown me the strength that women can bring on set.”
She highlighted the cultural diversity embedded in the new season, noting that the production incorporates multiple languages and communities.
“This story is not only bringing one culture. We have the Tonga, the Ndebele, English, and all sorts of languages in this season,” she said, adding that the experience would be both educational and creatively fulfilling.
With production preparations underway and a renewed sense of confidence among the creative team, Diaspora’s return signals a hopeful chapter for Zimbabwean television, reflecting the growing push for locally produced, culturally authentic content on national screens.
Mathew Masinge