Multichoice Zambia Limited ‘Searching for stories to tell beyond Chokolo and Tuvwange’

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By Derrick Sinjela and Henry Chunza

I RECEIVED a phone call from Daniel Tonga just as I had reached football house, briefing him that Saeed Simon Banda had a migraine and would be replaced with Henry Chunza.

As we sat in the lobby, Daniel, handed us two black ‘Sharing Our Stories’ DStv and GOtv tee-shirts and I encouraged Chunza to adorn one.

We later Drove to Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) mass media studios on Alick Nkhata road and after disembarking found out that the Tuvwange team had changed the shooting location.

At 09:38 Hours, the media entourage then drove eastwards turning left on Kamloops Road northward, then took Great East Road on our right, and at the Natural Resources Development Center (NRDC) turned right into the Presidential Housing Initiative (PHI) on George Kunda road, and at the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Chainama venue poster turned right and after another right on David Yumba close at 09:56 hours, we reached
Tuvwange destination.

Multichoice Zambia Corporate Affairs Coordinator, Mumba Mwakwa then introduced Jackson N’gambi Banda, also known as (aka) Jay Rox, a producer who greeted the team and disappeared to check on a detail and Edward Mufwempa inquiring: “is Mr Banda not coming to which I responded in the affirmative that he had a migraine; a terrible headache since yesterday, Thursday, 11th August 2022”.

Last year today, (Friday 12th August, 2022 was an electrifying period as Zambians were choosing between Edgar Chagwa Lungu and Hakainde Hichilema, with the latter taking the day.

At 10:15 hours Mwakwa returned saying the Tuvwange team was doing make-up, and took a Multichoice camera team to set up.

At 10:22, Chunza returned and signaled me and found Jackson N’gambi Banda, producer, the producer being interviewed.

“It been crazy but beautiful as it is creating content. Artist no enough time, as one cannot compress ideas in three minutes, while rumba it is 15 minutes. We started with one camera but today have enough. The first show My Father and I. Seeking conversation father and child . Decision uncomfortable conversation on camera. It took a year before being called did three seasons and started Tuvwange

Then interrupted by a lady , who sat.

“We selected ladies on the show, quite skeptical… difficulty but did second and now in the fifth season. Then shifted to Mungoma now in third season,” Jay Rox explained.

How had Multichoice enrichment, the visiting team quizzed to which question Jay Rox responded: “Gone are days one is seen being both roles, film collaboration, required a lot of people to share roles. We all have opportunities, which open doors to a lot of behind the scenes, once Commissioned, to do a film. A lot of people benefit. It is not a one man show; we have lighting, sound, editing, catering and housekeeping personal, beyond screens showing actors and actresses.

Advice: “If one had to be a producer, one must heed advice that we owe a lot of people the best in terms of benefits. As producers, all should take good care of team or cast members and pay them well. Cast members are not the only ones to benefit; in film we need everyone”.

Jay Rox showered a heartily felt ‘Happy Seventh Birthday to Multichoice’ for giving a variety of production houses and producers a lot of benefit.

“Zambian content is very hot and glad that our team is involved,” Jay Rox ended a conversation led by Ms. Mwakwa.

As he stood, J Rox protestingly refused to state how old he is arguing like American singer, the late Aliyah that age was just but a number.

I later engaged him to talk or elaborate more on his shift from music to film with Times of Zambia (ToZ) Features Writer, Sam Phiri protecting the gentleman compelling the Rainbow crew assuring the towering figure of the need to state ones age threshold as such acts as an inspiration to children, young people, men, women and peers.

However, Jay Rox explained that it is not that one cannot express himself as such but that in film one has enough time.

Jay Rox, an amazing word play and prolific rapper and producer, in his own right, who has produced hit songs such as ‘Autopilot, ‘Not for Sello, Joana, Kutima and well known as a member of Zone Fam.

The stage name “Jay Rox” are rooted in Jackson N’gambi Banda.

Jay got the Jackson and I just put the Rox there so Jackson Rox. Jackson doesn’t sound as cool as Jay you know, so I Just cut it and made it Jay Rox,” argued Jay Rox in an earlier interview.

At this point, Amina Kaunda was introduced as a new host for the show replacing Esther Chungu, wife to musician Chakachadza Nyathando also known as (aka) Pompi.

Ms Kaunda is granddaughter to former first republican President, the late Dr. Kenneth David Buchizya Kaunda.

Before getting the oil invite to join the Tuvwange Lifestyle crew, Ms. Kaunda was News Anchor and Television Presenter at Spring TV and is now with Diamond TV Zambia, rebranded to Diamond Media.

Natasha Van Der Maas (Vandermaas) is still on the Tuvwange Lifestyle show.

At 10:59 hours, Michelo Michie Malambo, Zambia’s sweetheart strode in amid a cheering behind the scenes audience.

Mutale Mwanza was the last cast member to walk in and two beauticians went to work despite having delayed this tour earlier on account of the Tuvwange group dressing and doing make-up.

Then the three earlier recruited cast members interviewed Amina Kaunda with Mutale describing her as being too opinionated.

Tuvwange is a lifestyle show featuring a group of outspoken female hosts, who reflect our times and modern culture as they share views and perspectives accumulated through their varied life experiences.

The show encompasses on-the-pulse topics ranging from the day’s news to beauty, fashion, relationships and as well as never-before-seen insights into the hosts’ own personal lives. Tuvwange will also cover some of Zambia’s bespoke events and capture memorable backstage and red carpet moments.

Tuvwange returns with season 5 this September!

Amina Kaunda joins Zambezi Magic’s popular lifestyle show, Tuvwange.

Coming back to your screens for season 5, Tuvwange lifestyle introduces Amina Kaunda who is no stranger to the small screen. The TV presenter, news anchor and radio personality will join the popular lifestyle show in the new season set to premiere on 1 September at 21.30hrs.

The show will also bid farewell to media personality Esther Chungu who exits Tuvwange after 4 incredible seasons in order to pursue other ventures.

“We would like to thank Esther for her immense contribution to the show, and we equally wish her all the best for her future endeavors” says Mosibudi Pheeha, Zambezi Magic Channel Head. “We are delighted to introduce Amina in what promises to be the show’s most riveting season yet” She concluded.

The new season kicks off with more thought-provoking topics led by your favourite TV personalities, Michelo Malambo, Natasha Van Der Maas, Mutale Mwanza and now with Amina Kaunda to complete the panel.

Catch Tuvwange Lifestyle season 5 premiere, on 1 September at 21:30hrs and Thursdays at 21:30hrs thereafter exclusively on Zambezi Magic, DStv, Ch 162 and GOtv Supa, Ch 5. Don’t forget to like and follow @zammbezimagic.tv to stay up to date with exciting content on the channel.

We left at 11:29 hours, turning left on Grey Zulu road heading to Multichoice enroute to Lilayi, where Chokolo is being shot.

Instead of turning right, we took left at Friday’s Corner, then Kudu road toward State House, then Leopards Road turning right on Brentwood drive, with State House on our right, heading towards Independence Avenue.

Finally, the entourage took left then right onto Independence Avenue heading west, then left on Chitukuko Road with Arankan Barracks on our right heading to Burma Road, turned right with New Chilenje township, then Sandulula road with Libala on our right heading north passing Chilimbulu Road on our way to Lilayi through New Kasama Road with Chilenje South and Chalala on our left.

We took Augustine Lungu road to then Lilayi road and reached the Chokolo as Chansa Makumba explained, in the restaurant after his mother, Mrs Catherine Makumba had cheerfully welcomed the Multichoice team at 12:18 hours.

25-year-old Kebby Chalwe, is a Sound Engineer, tasked with ensuring that sound in the enviable Chokolo is perfect.

A soft spoken Chalwe has for the past six years learnt this trade with passion, since undertaking a couple of master classes with Multichoice Zambia Limited.

Mwanza is played by 26-year Mary Siamwanda with Kasuba being 28-year- old Pepertual Mwape.

Space is usually a challenge as actors, actresses and camera equipment compete says an optimistic Makumba, as he narrated how his crew maximizes buildings regardless of size.

Interestingly, as clothes and a good wardrobe play a key role in film and picture, cast attire room is controlled by 30-year-old Costumier, Cecelia Pinky Mwansa.

Since entering the movie market in 2009, a bouyant Chansa quipped that the future is bright with a glowing grin.

The future is very bright says Chansa Makumba, Chokolo producer and executive at Cyber Creations Limited, housed at Cathy’s Garden office in Lilayi.

“Before Zambezi Magic came on the scene, it was not easy for film producers, actors and actresses.
Now people in film are paid in cash, in contrast to an era in which reward was in form of food and a pat on the back. Getting Chokolo, a cast of 33 is something else,” recollected an appreciative Makumba.

And a Ms. Mwakwa said the Multichoice Zambia entourage which included staff from Kwacha Magazine Zambia (KMZ), Rainbow 🌈 Newspaper Zambia Limited (RNZL) and Times of Zambia had learnt a lot.

As the tour concluded, at Cyber Creations Limited at Cathy’s Garden office in Lilayi authors could not resist posing with Clarisse …Diana Chokolo black dress 👗, Paxina…Musenge as Bukata in Chokolo found at the recording studio on Lilayi Road.

About Chokolo

A beautiful young widow faces the prospect of Chokolo but when what was supposed to be a simple Chokolo affair threatens to break-up the Senkulo family, Bukata is pulled into a whirlwind of deceit and heartbreaks.