By Kennedy Nyavaya
Most children often have to, among other pressures endure the puzzling question of what they want to become when they grow up.
Being unrestrained dreamers that they are, most aim for what tickles their utmost fancy regardless of circumstances.
To date, the country is teeming with would-be medical doctors, pilots and engineers who never got there. But Rutendo Mutsamwira, aka The Queen (pictured right), would not let her childhood dream fade easily.
“From age eight, I knew exactly what I wanted to be, and that was to be a radio personality,” she said.
“At the time, I imagined all I would be doing was playing my favourite music and talking to people on air.”
A senior producer and presenter with Heart and Soul (H&S) digital radio where she hosts the prime lunch time show Off the Menu, The Queen does more than just play good music.
“The show is an assortment of different segments and conversations off our content menu, which includes food, fashion, entrepreneurship, health and wellness and music,” she said.
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“I am always looking for new ways of sharing and packaging compelling content about our people and places because the fact that we are carving out a niche in an ever-evolving digital space means I have to step up and upskill so we share better stories and content.”
However, in what should encourage one about to give up their dream, her journey to the radio studio has not been all rosy.
“I sent demos, resumes, had conversations and promises that didn’t materialise into anything until Heart and Soul gave me a chance,” she said.
She chronicled how her fire was almost doused before she found a home where she is free to creatively explore.
“They (H&S) chose, believed in and trusted me when being on radio was now a fading dream, so now that I am here, I think what makes it exceptional is that it allows you full creative control and reign to explore different angles to cover stories and conversations,” she said.
With inspiration some of the country great yesteryear voices like Sophia Chamboko, Mbuya Mlambo, Tete Tilda, James Maridadi, Glenda Takachicha and Tendayi Chakanyuka among others, not even the sky is the limit to The Queen’s royal experience.
“While I really enjoy what I do and have no doubt in my capabilities, I do realise that in order to be both globally competitive and relevant, there is an almost urgent need to upskill,” she said.
“This will be my focus as I enter the new decade with Heart & Soul.”
