Chronicle Editor
ICONIC talk show host, Rebecca Chisamba, feels humbled as she celebrates 26 years on air.
The celebrations are taking place at Manna Resort in Harare tomorrow.
She is famed for her Mai Chisamba Show and a newspaper column in The Sunday Mail.
Speaking to StarFM’s DJ Ollah, in an interview, Mai Chisamba said she became a talk show host by default.
“I was in the audiovisual services department at my job with ZBCTV,” she said.
“The former chief executive, Munyaradzi Hwengwere asked me to host ‘Today’s Woman’, after the host went off the show. They then decided to switch it to one that is cross-cutting. That’s when the Mai Chisamba Show came into being. The name was coined by him, in sync with global trends.
“From the day I started, the show has surpassed even my expectations.”
Growing up, she said she wanted to be a police officer.
However, after persuasion from her brother, Tsikirai, she joined the teaching profession, where she lasted 15 years.
She says she has travelled around the world, proudly identifying with and promoting our vernacular languages.
“It’s not an abomination to move with the times as a nation. We need to advise our children but consider their interests first and foremost. What we may have failed to do should not be imposed on our children.
“We need to guide our younger generations.”
She says efforts on promoting local languages got more traction when Mai Chisamba Show’s theme song was a signature tune at an international event in Australia.
“Celebrities cannot afford to be egoistic due to fame. We’re servants to the public and if we become carried away, we trigger our own downfall.
“You bite into your own fame if you don’t respect and appreciate your followers. Be available to the public. Let’s be available. Icons should not think anyone asking for them is looking for favours.
“In some instances, it’s advice or a word to develop your career further.”
How has she managed to keep going?
“It’s the grace of God, one needs to be consistent in their chosen vocation. Nothing in life comes on a platter.”
She took a swipe at questionable behaviour on social media platforms.
“Let’s use them for the good of our lives. Parents, guardians and society at large must be responsible to use social media platforms for the benefit of our people.
“We’re the source of inspiration for our children without being indifferent or denigrating them.” – Hmetro
Online Reporter