She has a sultry silky voice, bubbly personality, intriguing aura and allure that is almost palpable via the radio, but apparently she is not good enough for the national broadcaster as Tendayi Chakanyuka, a monarch of the airwaves, has reportedly been sacked and off air.
In a raft of measures at the national broadcaster that saw changes in senior management, including the coming on board of media maverick Tendai Madondo from AB Communications to replace Tendayi Chakanyuka, the expectation was the queen would be promoted and redeployed to another radio kingdom. |
| Award winning loss ... Tendayi Chakanyuka picking up a NAMA gong in recent years. (pic by Tafadzwa Ufumeli) |
“I am at home channel hopping since yesterday that is all I can say,” said Chakanyuka, audibly relaxed away from work.
Asked whether she was still with the national broadcaster she said;
“I am watching My Best Friend’s Wedding. Do you know the movie called My Best friend’s wedding?” she said in apparent reference to the heart-string pulling Dermot Mulroney, Cameron Diaz and Julia Roberts chick flick of 1997.
If confirmed, the sacking of Chakanyuka will no doubt break the hearts of many.
She was probably the last remaining doyen of the radio who actually had the skills and ethics and was in touch with 21st century broadcasting in an institution riddled by atrocious pronunciation, shallow knowledge of the world and plain mediocrity.
Adamant that she would not talk, Chakanyuka referred all questions back to the bosses at Pockets Hill.
Meanwhile, the fresh appointments are as follows; Conwell Mujuru will head Montrose Studios in Bulawayo, Pamela Gwanzura will Station Manage SFM while Tendai Madondo steps in to Station Manager rank at Power FM. Albert Chekai and Isaac Munzwaba will station manage Radio Zimbabwe and National FM respectively with Patricia Tsitsi Muchekwa becoming corporate secretary and Busisiwe Dube becoming Head of Production and Television Services as Effort Magoso will put his effort in an acting role temporarily running the role of Chief Producer at Production and television Services under Busisiwe.
All the other replaced names are currently stuck in the mire.
Tendayi Chakanyuka is however the biggest cause for concern doubtless. Award winning and a defining voice, her loss may leave her employer poorer, having deservedly won a NAMA in recent years.
It remains to be seen where fate will lead to and what further changes may be effected as the changes at ZBC seem to be an ongoing exercise at the national broadcaster.
Robert Mukondiwa Is A Private Citizen, Author of The Judas Files, Journalist, Media Anthropologist. Media Strategist. Thinker - Robert Mukondiwa
