Story by Patience Nyagato
ZIMBABWE’S television industry is set for a boost as producers, broadcasters and digital content creators prepare to gather in Harare from June 19 to 21 for a reality show production masterclass aimed at developing home-grown television formats.
The three-day training programme is being organised through a partnership involving the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, the Zimbabwe Film and Television School of Southern Africa, and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC).
The initiative seeks to strengthen local television production capacity and equip content creators with skills to develop competitive reality television formats tailored to Zimbabwean audiences.
Masterclass coordinator Mr Collin Nyamuyaruka said the programme was designed to address gaps in the local television industry, particularly in the area of reality television production.
“The gap that we saw is in terms of genre and format. Reality television is not really being done to its maximum by independent producers, so this masterclass is meant to address that challenge,” he said.
Participants will engage with industry experts from across the region and beyond, including consultants with experience working on major international television platforms.
Mr Nyamuyaruka said reality television provides an opportunity for Zimbabweans to tell authentic stories drawn from their everyday experiences.
“Reality television is about taking our ordinary lives and turning them into television. It is about Zimbabwe telling its own stories from its own perspective,” he said.
The training will also explore emerging content formats such as micro-dramas and mobile cinema, which are increasingly gaining popularity on digital platforms.
“We want to create our own Zimbabwean formats that can be exported across Africa and the world instead of always buying formats from elsewhere,” Mr Nyamuyaruka added.
Organisers expect between 60 and 100 participants, with television producers, radio practitioners and digital content creators all eligible to take part in the programme.
The masterclass is expected to contribute to the growth of Zimbabwe’s creative industry by fostering innovation, enhancing production skills and promoting the development of locally produced content with regional and international appeal.
