tawandamusarurwa
Tanyaradzwa Rusike
“MASHOKO makukutu” (deep words), “Zvava kwauri, muteereri, kufuka kana kuwarira” (It’s up to you, the listener, to make or break) . . .
These are just some of the phrases that will have a familiar ring to many a fan of the “Mai Chisamba Show” that has dominated the talk show genre on local television for a long time.
And the figure behind these popular sayings is none other than Dr Rebecca Chisamba.
The recognisability of her name, her face and her voice are in perfect alignment.
For a professional teacher who never dreamt of becoming popular on the silver screen, television presentation later became a lifelong career for the 71-year-old Dr Chisamba.
She shared her story with The Sunday Mail.
Dr Chisamba said her upbringing was comfortable, as both her parents were businesspeople.
“I come from Masvingo, Madzivadondo, Chivi. My father Mike was a businessman in Mashonaland Central and Makwiru, where he had various businesses.
“I was born in Bindura in a family of 10, but the other three died when we were still young.
“My mom Getrude specialised in home crafting, which she taught other women in Bindura,” she said.
A Christian, mother of five and grandmother of five, Dr Chisamba said broadcasting was never her passion.
“I trained as a teacher, and I never had an interest in becoming a television personality. In fact, that idea never crossed my mind,” said Dr Chisamba.
So, how did she get into broadcasting?
“By that time (her teacher training), the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education had its own studios at the Audio Visual Services, where teachers went for radio lessons.
“Headmasters were assigned to pick a teacher who represented a school for auditions, and my former headmaster, Mr Douglas Sanyahumbi, who is now late, saw a broadcaster in me and he submitted my name.
“Initially, l refused because, during those days, radio lessons were a white people’s preserve, but I ended up going because it was an order from my superior.”
Because of her natural gift, Dr Chisamba was selected to host radio lessons for the ministry.
She started her broadcasting career on a part-time basis.
It later became permanent.
“I started working as a part-time producer, script writer and presenter. Later on, I became permanent, presenting programmes like ‘Learning Does Not End’, where I would invite an author and ask questions about his or her book.
“This gave me an opportunity to interrogate issues that were not usually discussed in our society,” she told The Sunday Mail.
She later rose to fame with her own show, which was named after her, by former Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) chief executive officer Mr Munyaradzi Hwengwere.
“During the rise of HIV and AIDS, I was assigned to write scripts for radio in Shona, to educate and raise awareness to the public in drama form.
“ZBC saw my talent and asked for my assistance to host the talk show ‘Mudzimai Wanhasi’,” she said.
“Mr Hwengwere, who saw talent in me, then said this show needs to be renamed after my name because internationally recognised shows like the Oprah Winfrey Show were named after their presenters. This is how the Mai Chisamba Show was born.”
The social commentator said her show interrogates social issues that affect people’s daily lives.
“The Mai Chisamba Show is a programme that unites people of all ages and discusses social issues that affect us as Zimbabweans.
“We promote the use of our local languages, because this is our country and we have to be proud of who we are. The show is not backward; we move with time, looking at the trending issues,” said Dr Chisamba.
Dr Chisamba is grateful to the First lady, Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa, who helped to boost her career.
“It was my desire to grow the programme, but I had no resources. I remember going to Ambassador Hotel to look for a venue and the general manager took me to the First Lady.
“We recorded several shows at Hotel Redcliff, with the assistance of Amai Mnangagwa.
“She helped me out of her kind heart.
“Because of her assistance, the Mai Chisamba Show became internationally recognised. We managed to go to Australia, and the United Kingdom with the show,” she said.
She was recently awarded the Order of the Star of Zimbabwe — Silver medal in recognition of her service to the public through her popular talk show, which tackles societal vices.
“I can’t even express my joy, because l was humbled by the recognition.
“I already have 35 awards in my name, but this one is for my family, nation and the world at large,” she said.
“It’s not my award only, but it is a star for everyone, and I give thanks to God.”
The multiple award-winning television personality also thanked her friends for their support.
“I also give credit to Mrs Susan Makore and Henry Muradzikwa, who assisted me to grow my show at ZBC,” said Dr Chisamba.
Married to Mr Arnold Chisamba, the television personality said she loves reading books.
“I was given the mandate to promote all the local 16 languages, and uphold our progressive cultural values. Because of that,
“I have intensified my reading, and one of the books by a Zimbabwean author that l like is ‘Tsika DzavaShona’, written by Jairos Gombe. It is rich with our culture,” she said.
Dr Chisamba enjoys traditional food, which she believes keeps her healthy.
She said the support from her family keeps her moving.
“I remember thinking of quitting when l was assigned by my headmaster to represent my school.
“My late brother Lenon Tsikirayi told me to go and make Shona interesting, and this is what I am doing,” said Dr Chisamba.
“I would like to thank his wife Cathrine Tsikirayi, who taught me the Shona language, because she was a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe.
“I appreciate both the Tsikirayi and Chisamba families because of the support they give me. I have almost four decades in my field, and you cannot get this far without support, especially from families,” she said.
Her favourite Bible verse is Psalms 46:10.
“The verse, which says be still and know that I am God, speaks to my life,” she said.
“We may do everything as human beings, but God has the final say because he is God, and he has power over everything.”
Online Reporter