Online Reporter
Bokang Tlou, Sunday Life Reporter
ONCE a familiar face on Zimbabwe’s iconic TV productions Amakorokoza and Izolo Yizolo, 65-year-old actress Isabel Dube, is a living chronicle of Zimbabwean storytelling, her journey deeply rooted in passion, resilience and dedication.
Born in Kezi, Matabeleland South Province, Isabel’s earliest brush with performance came at primary school.
“My love for acting began early. I remember being cast in a school play, and that moment lit something in me,” she recalls.
Although she was not regarded as a top student, she says she carried “a kind of intelligence that wasn’t always recognised in the classroom.”
She attended Mankala Primary School before transferring to Donkwe-Donkwe Primary School for Grades Six and Seven The two are neighbouring schools in Kezi. Later, she moved to Bulawayo and completed her high school education at Msitheli High School in Bulawayo.
Isabel was raised by her grandmother, who, despite not supporting her schooling, raised her for 20 years.
“She didn’t support my education, but I still managed to earn my Zimbabwe Junior Certificate,” she said.
Even after her grandmother’s death, life was not easy for her. But through hardship, her love for acting remained unwavering.
One of her earliest memorable roles was in a school play where she portrayed Madletshana, a quick-witted daughter always challenging her father. She also remembers starring in The Pied Piper of Hamelin as a parent. “The line ‘Down with the rats!’ stayed with me all these years,” she said with a chuckle.
In 1980 and 1984, Isabel returned to her roots and served as a teacher in her rural community. There, she did not just teach academics, she also spearheaded arts and drama clubs.
After training in Early Childhood Development, she taught at Tongogara Refugee School in Chipinge and Nyangombe before eventually leaving teaching in 1987.
Her life in Bulawayo resumed with renewed artistic energy. She joined a drama group at Lobengula Hall, and though a widow after losing her husband, Jabulani Dube in 2000, following 18 years of marriage, she found a new lease of purpose through the stage.
Then, in 2003, came her big break.
That year, the hit drama Amakorokoza premiered on ZBCtv, and Isabel became a household name playing MaMoyo, a fierce shebeen queen.
The series, produced by Amakhosi Theatre under the legendary Cont Mhlanga, chronicled the highs and lows of Zimbabwe’s gold panning industry.
She acted alongside Zimbabwean stars such as Precious Makhulumo, Frank Malaba, Phumza Vikintonga, Alois Moyo, and Sarah Mpofu-Sibanda, who played Tashi. The series also featured Bhekilizwe B Ndlovu as Zenzo Nyathi, aka AK.
Isabel fondly recalls working with the legendary playwright and director, the late Cont Mhlanga, who produced Amakorokoza.
“He was more than a mentor, he taught us not just how to act, but how to live and embody the character,” she said.
“Back then, we had time to rehearse, time to feel the characters. Today, productions feel rushed, you lose the depth,” she added.
Around the same period, Isabel starred in Izolo Yizolo, a bold historical drama filmed in her home district of Matobo. The show depicted traditional marriage practices, including a controversial custom where a father-in-law slept with his son’s bride before she was handed over. Isabel portrayed Sekai, a progressive mother-in-law who defied the custom.
The series was directed by Thoko Zulu and featured actors like Prince Zulu, Japhet Mlauzi, Dalma Chiwereva, Lindiwe Khumalo and Patrick Mabhena.
Her experiences on both productions remain close to her heart.
Later, Isabel performed with ZimDigital in a local production, but laments that the group has not been contacted for further projects.
Now 65, Isabel remains as passionate as ever.
“I’ve written several action scripts, and I’m ready to get back on set. What I need is support, just a bit of funding to bring my stories to life.”
She contrasts Zimbabwe’s creative space with that of South Africa. “Artists there benefit from real structures. Here, we often fend for ourselves. There’s so much talent in this country but not enough support.”
Still, she is not just waiting for opportunities, she is making a difference where she can. Isabel is an active committee member of the Bulawayo United Residents Association in Makokoba’s Ward 11, advocating for both residents and creatives.
With her legacy rooted in Zimbabwe’s golden age of television, Isabel Dube is not asking for hand-outs, she is asking for a chance. Her passion for storytelling is still strong. All she needs is a platform and support to bring her stories back to life.
“My stories haven’t died. They’re just waiting to be told again.”
Bongani Ndlovu