Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
Actor and filmmaker Joseph Hakurimwi credits his humble beginnings with shaping him into a compelling storyteller.
Hailing from Zaka District in Masvingo, Hakurimwi lost his parents at a young age and took on the responsibility of caring for four siblings.
Despite excelling in his Ordinary Level examinations in 2005, passing 10 subjects with flying colours, he was unable to pursue his Advanced Level education due to a lack of support, ultimately becoming a resourceful hustler in the city.
He only realised that he had acting talent after being auditioned by top filmmaker Moses Matanda in 2017.
“As a little boy, I thoroughly enjoyed acting in church dramas, unaware that the same talent would bring me this far,” noted Hakurimwi.
“I then met Moses Matanda, who was doing auditions for a feature film called ‘Cheap Meat,’ and I passed the test. He mentored me to become a fine actor, and from there, several producers have been chasing after my signature. I am flexible with any role that I am given by my producers, which has made my task a little bit easier.”
Although the movie premiered in 2020, Hakurimwi had already made an impact in 2017 as a newcomer.
“I still cherish starring in the feature film ‘Cheap Meat,’ produced by the Zimbabwe Republic Police and directed by Moses Matanda of Honde Valley TV. The film is a campaign against stock theft. I was cast as the butchery owner who used to send young boys to steal cattle, which later backfired,” he reminisced.
After making his breakthrough in 2020, Hakurimwi was rewarded for his talent with another role in the movie “Vicious Circles” by Stephen Mutsago in 2021.
“This production was again a Zimbabwe Republic Police initiative aimed at fighting crime. The issues we tackled included human trafficking, abductions, murders, rape cases, money laundering, and various other crimes. It played several times on television and was directed by Igi Matope of Pikicha Afrika, co-directed by Stephen Mutsago of Eastlife Entertainment Studios.”
After settling well in film and television, he was given another role in the production “Smoking Gun Series” in 2022.
“In that production, shot in the suburbs of Mutare, I starred as the main character who was framed for robbery and murder charges. The film aired on ZBC TV every Tuesday at 19:30 and was repeated on Wednesdays at 10:30. It was written by Joseph Dzatsata and directed by Stephen Mutsago of Eastlife Entertainment Studios.”
In 2023, he landed another role in the movie “Depth of Emotions,” a romantic film addressing issues like surrogacy and barrenness in the context of African culture. The film was written and directed by award-winning writer Amanda Ranganawa of McLara Multimedia Productions and co-directed by Nakai Beauty Tsuro of Tatenda Studios. He has also appeared in several productions, including “1st Sight” in 2023, written and directed by George Junior Jonasi of RealNass Studios. Last year was also successful for him, as he featured in the series titled “Circles,” written and directed by George Junior Jonasi of RealNass Studios.
One of his major achievements last year was landing a role in “The Chosen One,” a web series by Nigel “Tha Slick Pastor” Maritinyu.
In the same 2024 season, he was involved in the production of “Dumanis,” a feature film that explores how money is managed in churches, along with “Midnight Sky,” directed by Marc T Mandisoul.
Currently, they are shooting a film with international actors, including Enrico Bresciani, Mariela Vazquez, Sangeetha Menon, and Lavina Chattranni.
“I am living my dream to the fullest because right now we are in the process of shooting a new film with international actors. The person who has given me a role in this one is Marc T. Mandisoul, who has faith in my talent. I cherish the fact that I am also getting international exposure here. Of course, I have featured in many feature films and series, but this opportunity means a lot to some of us.”
Now that he has made a name for himself, he believes he will receive financial rewards in due time.
“For many of us, venturing into film production was driven by passion and the need to address societal issues through film. I don’t regret it because it has made me the star I always wanted to be. In terms of financial rewards, I am yet to benefit, but when it comes to fame and popularity, my name is well-known out there.”
Hakurimwi firmly believes their fortunes will change once the sector is properly regulated.
“We are waiting for the day when the sector will be taken seriously, and with Government funding and sponsorship, we can achieve the same success as the Indians, Americans, and Nigerians who have shattered records. In Zimbabwe, there is talent, but we don’t appreciate our own until they reach the top at the international level,” he emphasised.
A proud family man, Hakurimwi has urged parents and guardians to support their children with acting talent.
“We need to be there for our kids and support their pursuits, especially in acting and related fields. Some think music is the only art that exists, but we can do more in film, television, theatre, painting, sculpture, poetry, and literary arts,” he shared.
