Mai Rwizi goes down memory lane

By Problem Masau

She played the good wife who submitted to her husband and loved him for who he was. Even when the chips were down, Mai Rwizi would cheer up Baba Rwizi who was a mischief maker.

Susan Chenjerai, who is more popularly known as Mai Rwizi from her role in television drama series “Mukadota Family”, vividly recalls her acting prowess as the down-to-earth and cultured housewife.

Amai Rwizi starred alongside multi-talented comedian the late Safirio Madzikatire who played Baba Rwizi in the popular 1980s television drama series.

Unlike in this era where actors and actresses have to memorise the script, Chenjerai said they had a perfect combination with Madzikatire, as they would act without rehearsing.

“My combination with Safirio Madzikatire was excellent. I would think of a story and he would also come up with his own and then we put the two together acting,” she said.

The ageing Amai Rwizi said she was born an actress.

“I was a great entertainer during my primary school days; my schoolmates would always follow me as I would make them laugh,” she said.

Meeting Madzikatire in 1964 spelled a professional career, which later spanned for more than two decades. Together with her husband Lazarus Bope, Chenjerai launched a radio programme called “Mhuri yavaMakore”.

Veteran broadcaster Webster Shamu, now Media, Information and Publicity Minister, produced the programme. Later the programme was adapted for television and its title changed to “Mhuri YavaMukadota” in 1972.

Playing as a wife to Madzikatire, the pair became household names in Zimbabwe’s households and the television drama was something not to miss. The comic antics dished in the drama series left people in stitches.

“We were not doing this for money, it was driven by passion,” narrated Chenjerai. A giant multinational company, Lever Brothers Limited, recognised that black Zimbabweans would constitute the largest market for its products and sponsored the drama series.

Chenjerai is now a born-again Christian and ditched acting in1984 when she started preaching the word of God.

“Together with my husband we then proceeded preaching the word of God. We now have churches around Zimbabwe including some that are in Mozambique this is what I am still doing up to today,” she added.

“Many people thought I was dead but I am still alive and now a full-time pastor at The New Gospel Church of God that my husband Lovemore Bope formed several years ago,’’ she said with a mischievous smile on her face.

Although she made a name for herself on TV, with producers, film directors, family and fans still yearning for her comeback, “Mai Rwizi” has vowed never to bounce back into acting again.

“I cannot go back to acting because the Lord called me and I cannot serve two masters at the same time.

“Hapana chandakabuda nacho pamazuva angu namushakabvu Mukadota (Acting was not rewarding and I achieved nothing despite the fame we achieved together with the late Mukadota),” she declared.

And true to her word, there is a sad story about the two despite the glamourous career they shared.

“Bhudhi (Mukadota) signed contracts on all the songs I composed and now I cannot lay claim to my songs because I did not personally sign for the songs. I’m the one who composed the hit song ‘KwaHanyani’,” she said.

The long association with Madzikatire on both stage and screen led to the assumption in many people’s minds that the two were husband and wife.

“He was like a brother to me. I used to talk to his son Elijah after his death but I lost his phone number.

“Maybe we can help each other to get royalties for our plays, which were screened on television,” she said The group also included dancer-cum-actor Elizabeth Taderera (now late) who was affectionately known as Katarina, John Muyambo whose stage name is Chibhodhoro, Sinoia Manyorwa White and Simanga Ndlovu.

Although she has been maintaining a low profile for many years now, Mai Rwizi was recently honoured by the Professional Women Executives and Business Forum (Proweb) for her role in the arts sector.

She received the accolade alongside some of the country’s luminaries like renowned talk-show hostess Amai Rebecca Chisamba and Women’s Affairs Minister Dr Olivia Muchena. Mai Rwizi, who cannot remember her exact age, believes that she was born sometime in the mid-1940s.

She is a mother of five and has 44 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The Herald