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Nicholas Zakaria and “Living Legends” presenter Maslen Bondamakara

Tafadzwa Zimoyo Silver screen
There is every reason in each and every country you might visit today for them to immortalise their legends, both living and dead.

Go to Egypt and Pharaohs – those who were the kings and ruled the country as well as the footballers who also came to be known by the same title – are celebrated.

If you go to England, Queen Elizabeth and footballer David Beckham among others are held in high esteem while in United States, television actors, business moguls, scientists and even models too are celebrated.

Time and again, other fellow legends in South Africa go on national television to speak about the life, times and achievements of the late pioneering president of an independent South African Nelson Mandela.

It is therefore a welcome move to see that ZTV recently introduced a program entitled “Living Legends” produced and hosted by bubbly Maslen Bondamakara.

During the show, the presenter invites some of the great icons who have contributed a lot to the history of Zimbabwe and put the country on the world map through their respective exploits.

The producer should be applauded for coming up with a production that unites with Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset), a policy which seeks to celebrate everything Zimbabwean.

Since independence in 1980, there have been developments in the various sectors of arts, entertainment, sport, business, academia and religion among others.

Discussions about the arts industry cannot be complete without mentioning some individual who have contributed to its development for past years.

I had an opportunity to watch the programme which is aired every Sunday on the lives of legends.

By bringing on national TV the likes of Madzibaba Nicholas Zakaria or Ezekiel, Albert Nyathi, Mechanic Manyeruke, Lawrence Simbarashe and Elizabeth Nyangudzira among others to speak about their exploits is alone itself a way of motivating and inspiring the upcoming generation on the importance of perseverance, hard work, commitment and having a clear cut vision.

The aforementioned legends had to struggle with myriad of challenges but they rose above these to make a name for themselves.

So in a big way ‘Living Legends’ is beginning to live up to its billing as its title suggests.

It is known that youths often learn from their elders and idols and with Zim legends, when these youths watch for instance Albert Nyathi appearing on television, sharing his secrets and concepts to stardom.

It is more like becoming part of the experience your role model went through.

Talking of local TV, the guys are doing an excellent job and kudos should go their way.

Sometimes you have to give credit where it’s due.

It is encouraging to note that most of their programmes have now gone a notch up towards matching the international standards and some of those little areas on which they were normally found wanting have been “steam–ironed” to the extent that little or no ‘creases’ are now visible.

This is what we expect from our local broadcaster – quality programming, especially in the face of the latest ruling which was made by the courts which stipulates all ZBC clients to pay licenses for either their radio or television programmes access.

Recently, Yours Truly was watching the Olympics from the opening to some segments on Supersport.

I could not help but marvel at the high quality that they have and this is in similar fashion to what DSTV boast of.

There is no harm in taking a leaf from others and therefore there is no harm for ZTV to learn some tricks from its fellow broadcasters like SABC and Supersport.

Things should be done in style, with some class and this is what helps in maintaining figures of viewers and even boosting them.

By the way we have heard about the coming up of Kwese TV. Something good is brewing up and we can’t wait.