The Sunday Mail
Andrew Moyo
Munyaradzi Chidzonga is slowly penetrating the South African film scene after securing yet another role on e.tv’s popular soapie, “Rhythm City”. Although he would not divulge much information for fear of breaching contractual agreements, Chidzonga aka Diamond Boy highlighted that this was his biggest role to date. The actor, has previously starred on another
e.tv drama series, “Mzansi Love”, where he was one of the main characters alongside the likes of Xoli Zondi, Khanyi Mbau and Cleopatra Simelane.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail Leisure, “Rhythm City” casting director Nolwazi Shange confirmed Chidzonga’s role on the show.
“Munya plays Israel, a somewhat spiritual guide to Kop as the latter fixes the minibus that he uses for his business. Israel does not only help Kop fix the minibus but also help him put his life together,” said Shange.
Chidzonga has had a busy year, from line-producing and acting in the movie “The Escape”, to co-hosting the talk show “Clapperboard” on ZTV, and working with the best brains in television at the soon-to-be launched Zimpapers TV.
With his latest role in “Rhythm City”, his schedule has just got busier as he has to track back and forth between Zimbabwe and South Africa as he still has to host his local weekly show on ZBC-TV.
Chidzonga said, “Well, I can say I am the hardest working man in showbiz considering the work that I have been putting in these past few months. Things have become more hectic with this new role at e.tv because I now have to juggle between filming that show and filming ‘Clapperboard’ back home, but well, it’s just another day at the office.
“At the moment I am not yet allowed to talk about the role but what I can tell you is that this is a total game changer as far as my career is concerned. This is simply the biggest role I have ever played since venturing into the film industry.”
“Rhythm City” premièred in 2007 on e.tv and has risen to become one of the most popular soapies on DStv.
According to weekly primetime TV viewing figures from TAMS Ratings, “Rhythm City” has an average audience of more than two million viewers, often surpassing long-running rivals “7de Laan” and “Isidingo”, which air on the same time slot on SABC 2 and SABC 3 respectively.
Some of the actors on the series include Peter Se-Puma, Lucia Mthiyane, Jamie Bartlett, KB, Pam Andrews, Wandile Molebatsi, Kelly Khumalo and Wright Ngubeni.
Chidzonga also spoke about his role in the new movie “Escape”, where he plays the role of a detective.
“‘Escape’ is about a young man who lives in the UK but comes to Zimbabwe to look for his biological father and in the process falls in love with a local woman. I play Detective Inspector Connor who investigates the crime the young man is implicated in.”
Chidzonga rose to fame when he represented Zimbabwe in the 2010 edition of “Big Brother Africa” where he came second. After the Big Brother debacle, he stared in the movie “Lobola”, which certified him as a talented actor. In 2011, he stared in another movie, “The Gentleman”, which featured top South African actor Presley Chweneyegae, earning himself a National Arts Merit Award for Best Actor as the film became a success at international film festivals.
He also featured in “Something Nice from London”, an adaptation of Petina Gappa’s book “An Elegy for Easterly”.
