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Dzidzai Sithole at the première of “Deception”

Ruth Butaumocho : Gender Profile

Forget about Sophie Ndaba’s antics as Queen Moroka in “Generations” and the bubbly personality she displays whenever the cameras roll on her. You will find the same if not more in Zimbabwean actress Dzidzai Sithole, who is slowly paving her way in the country’s hall of fame in the arts. Blessed with the similar physical attributes like Ndaba, and that saccharine voice, Dzidzai is a fast emerging actress who, with only two productions, is slowly carving her piece of history in showbiz as a force to reckon with.She features in the locally produced movie, “Deception”, a local drama series, “Ezakomkhakha” and another local production “Mwana WaMwari” which will première during the course of the year.

“I love acting. It has suddenly become part of my life,” said Dzidzai in an interview last week.

A telecommunications technician with TelOne, Dzidzai says acting has rejuvenated her life, following a series of misfortunes that at one befell her, including the death of her husband some years ago.

“I have got my groove back through acting,” she said.

From the time she was randomly picked for a role in a school play whilst she was in Grade Two, Dzidzai vowed that she would one day take up acting on a national level.

With three national productions to her name and working towards a fourth, once she gets the necessary funding, Dzidzai is living her dream.

Dzidzai Sithole

“I had just enrolled at a primary school in Bulawayo for less than two months when one of the teachers suggested that I take up the role of a woman who had caused chaos in her neighbour’s field by shouting angrily at her.

“Although my Ndebele was not good, having spent my childhood in Gutu speaking Shona, I emphatically shouted angrily and in less than two minutes, I was done. I remember receiving a standing ovation from the audience, including my teachers,” she said.

Although she wasn’t sure then if the clapping and ululation she received that day were affirming or ridiculing her, she silently prayed that she would get yet another opportunity to perfect her act.

She got a second chance, this time taking up the role of a deranged woman, and she received a standing ovation for her role. It was at that moment that she resolved to take her acting seriously.

But with parents who emphasised the importance of academic achievements above everything else, Dzidzai knew she had to shelve her acting aspirations until she had fulfilled their expectations.

Determined to become a medical doctor – momentarily abandoning her fantasy of attaining fame and fortune at the stage – Dzidzai took up science subjects at A-Level and spent two years of her life shuttling between home and community libraries.

She, however, failed to garner enough points to secure a place at the medical school and she immediately joined the then PTC as a telecommunications technician.

With the maintenance and repair of broadband to contend with, Dzidzai sank into a mundane routine, building friendships and associates around her profession.

However deep down she felt empty.

She longed for an opportunity to go back on stage and rekindle her romance with acting.

An opportunity struck in 2014 when she auditioned for a role in a local film, “Deception”.

“Although I had no other acting experience save for the few moments of fame attained while I was in primary school, I was convinced that I would land a role in the film production,” she revealed.

And true to her conviction, Dzidzai landed her debut role as a wicked pastor’s wife and measured up to the task.

Buoyed by the responses she received, Dzidzai resolved to throw around her brief but impressive curriculum vitae for more acting roles.

In no time Dzidzai had landed a role in yet another production, “Ezakomkhakha”.

“Though I was not the main actress in the production, the opportunity to take part in this production boosted my confidence, further strengthening my resolve to take up acting seriously.

The encouragement and moral support she had been getting from colleagues, friends and production team motivated her to continue looking for more opportunities.

She has since landed a role in yet another local production, “Camouflage”, whose production is ongoing.

And she has to juggle her busy schedule, including her formal job, to attend her shootings, which are usually done during the weekends.