Studio 263 viewers want more!

and enjoy the sunny weather.
Last weekend, I was invited to join the Studio 263 cast and crew in Kariba where they celebrated nine years of existence. On our way there you could see baboons sitting comfortably in the middle of the tarred road, preening each other’s glossy coats and on the approach of a vehicle, they hobble into the bush, not before shouting their traditional obscenities “bohoom!”.
Lions silently scramble outside mopane tree shades and swiftly melt into the bush so fast that only a few motorists are able to catch a glimpse of their frosty brown faces or blurs of tail.
A spitting distance away in Nyamhunga Township, a herd of zebras, confident of their human camouflage, pose like ball dancers, heads aligned and stripes merging in flowing motion. Within the vicinity, elephants form a protective huddle around their young, beneath a bulbous baobab tree while the hippo moo and wander along the lushgreen lakeshow vegetation, often straying into the suburbs in the stealth of the night.
In the hotels, tourists enjoy the ambience of comfort and an assortment of food delicacies. Behind this tourist face is the real life of the people of Kariba and companies whose boats, rigs and fishing rods trawling for fish from every corner, for, fishing is the mainstay of Kariba.
Every night, you see fishermen at every corner of the dam, casting various sizes of nets in search of fish, but mainly Kapenta.
Kariba was a befitting place for Zimbabwe’s longest running soapie Studio 263 to celebrate their nine years with a special episode on Wakanaka’s wedding.
The wedding took place on a ship courtesy of sponsorship by Zambezi Trader who fed, wined and dined the cast like there was no tomorrow. The afternoon cruise on Lake Kariba was a perfect moment for the cast and crew to reminisce on the good old days.
Back then Studio 263 was sponsored by PSI something that saw the storyline focusing on HIV and Aids.
Of course, viewers of the soap will remember that Studio 263 has only three actors/actresses from the original cast. There is Wakanaka played by Charles Kapfupi, Shereni (Ben Sibenke) and Mai Huni (Charmaine Mangwende), the rest are new faces.
Even though there are new faces on the cast, fans in Kariba could still recognise all the cast members. Some fans even had pictures taken with their “celebs”. Just like all soaps, actors or actresses come and go and Studio 263 is no exception. However, one of the questions that is often asked is who watches the soap? With the ever-changing storyline and new actors/actresses being introduced what is there to watch now?
I asked the same questions to Sibenke and Mangwende and they said Studio 263 still has a following. For instance, they talked about the huge turnout that was in Kariba during the shoot and on the boat. Residents in Kariba also confirmed that they still enjoyed Studio 263 as much as they did with other soaps. Some of them said they subscribed to DStv which gave them quality picture on ZBCTV.
Some viewers suggested that Studio 263 should include in its storyline current events just like what Isidingo, Muvhango or Generations do with regards to events in South Africa. But the truth is Studio 263 still has a huge following and more is expected from them.
Email of the week
I strongly agree with Tafadzwa Chiduku, Power FM is just now dry there is no energy and passion from the DJs, maybe lack of competition in the broadcasting industry. The style of presentation and the whole Bridget Gavanga and Mudhara Zobha act is now old and used up and the “double TC team” is just average.
Power FM needs an overhaul during Drive Time. l would rather listen to Barry Munandi and Mike Madhodha at SFM who happen to be a fresh breath of air on the airwaves remind us of Simon Parkinson and Mark Pozzo.
Honestly, Jonathan the youth in Zim need a messiah on the airwaves to save us from the vintage voices Power FM DJs have become.
From Takaona