New look ‘Wenera’ in April

Tariro Charandura
POPULAR television soap “Wenera” returns to the small screen this April following a short break, producers have announced.

In an interview last week, “Wenera” executive producer Eddie Ndlovu said they had taken a half-month break to incorporate changes in season five of the soap.

“The new season has to be better than the previous one. There will be an opening billboard that will give finer details,” he said. The renowned producer said they were facing challenges in running the production but they would nonetheless soldier on.

There were reports that “Wenera” producers were not getting prompt payments from ZBC-TV, thereby affecting revenue flows and shooting.

“Funding has been one of our major challenges but we are being innovative to stay afloat. We have turned a rented house in Greendale into a studio though we are currently working on renovating a warehouse into a studio, which will be our proper work place in the near future.

“Payment issues with ZBC have since been amicably resolved and we are currently working well with them. We are grateful to the national broadcaster for giving us the chance and platform to give birth to ‘Wenera’,” said Ndlovu.

He added: “‘Wenera’ is appealing to people from different classes, races and age groups. The feedback we have been receiving during the break is encouraging. I can also tell you that the break has enabled us to put subtitles to the production so that we can cater for another section of our viewers.

“The soap is no longer an ordinary soapie but a brand for Zimbabweans that needs to be improved with each production. The coming season will prove what I’m saying.”

The soapie focuses on the family-run Wenera Diamonds and their challenges, disputes and successes.

“Wenera” is part of a solid ZBC programming schedule that includes “Tiriparwendo”, “Muzita Rababa”, “Muchaneta”, “Tshayngoma”, “Hoza Friday”, “Guluva” and “Sins of the Father