‘Chidzomba was a good leader’

Aaron Chiundura Moyo

WHEN I received a phone call about two weeks ago that Watson Chidzomba had passed away, I was devastated.

I met him around three decades ago. We worked on a variety of projects together,  some of which have appeared on Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation television.

When I first approached Chidzomba during the early 90s, I thought he would reject my proposal to work with him. However, when I approached him, it was just one word, one answer.

Since then, we worked on various projects together and I have learned a lot about this arts industry from him.

Chidzomba is known for his roles in ‘‘Mafuro Manyoro’’, ‘‘Rujeko’’ and ‘‘Pedyo Kure’’. I was not part of the actors but I was the film director and the script writer.

In ‘‘Madhuna Mutuna’’, I played the role of Bishop Abraham Munetsi and Chidzomba portrayed a disabled man in a wheelchair.

In the drama ‘‘Chiwerure’’, I played the role of ‘‘Chenzira’’ and Chidzomba was sergeant Chikumba.

He was open to everyone and didn’t mind sharing his knowledge about the profession.

I still remember when the late Safirio Madzikatire —who was famously known as Mukadota in the arts fraternity — approached Chidzomba seeking advice and help to write his drama.

He agreed to assist Mukadota and together they did so many projects.

Other than assisting Mukadota, he also helped so many actors, the likes of the late Philip Gadzikwa Mushangwe (who was famously known as Paraffin) and also Timothy Tapfumaneyi (popularly known as Timmy) in the arts sector.

Chidzomba also helped Dr Oliver Mtukudzi with a plan to open a theatre at his Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton.

According to the Mtukudzi family, Chidzomba designed the plan for the theatre and worked there with the late Dr Oliver Mtukudzi till his death.

He left numerous unreleased projects in his archives, some of which we worked on together.

We were supposed to release them in 2020 but were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Just after the pandemic, many media houses failed to buy our project because of financial challenges.

I am engaging Chidzomba’s family so that we can release the projects in the near future. His royalties will go to his family.

Chidzomba was a talented man, but there were no actor awards during his peak, such as the National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA).

I believe if they had been around at the time, he could have swept up many of them.

I’ve seen a lot of films produced by this generation, but no one can compete with Chidzomba.

We have been robbed of a man who was talented in terms of leading and uniting people.

After this obituary, I am going to pen a book about his life history, which can help our rookies in our industry learn about film writing and production.

 Aaron Chiundura Moyo is a veteran actor and film producer