Six-Part TV Drama to Chronicle Mnangagwa’s Life

By Southerton Business Times Reporter, Harare

A Zimbabwean and South African film production company is developing a six-part television drama about President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s life, tracing his journey from childhood and the liberation struggle to his rise to the presidency.

Titled Raising of a Giant, the planned series is being developed by Black Lips Film Production, led by Sibusisiwe “Busie” Mzinja, with sponsorship from Prevail International Group of Companies, founded by businessman Dr Paul Tungwarara. According to Mzinja, the six-part production will use a fictional character’s perspective to explore the President’s personal and political journey, while examining broader themes of national identity, leadership and Zimbabwe’s future.

Speaking to Zimpapers, Mzinja said the story would be told through Jennifer Zimbabwe Parker, a Zimbabwean-American Harvard economics honours student who returns to Zimbabwe with her father while still grieving the loss of her Zimbabwean mother. Through conversations with Mnangagwa as she researches her academic thesis, Parker learns about his life and political career, including his role in Zimbabwe’s post-Robert Mugabe era.

“We wanted to tell this story through the eyes of a young woman who belongs to Zimbabwe but sees it from the outside,” Mzinja said. She added that the character’s curiosity would allow audiences to engage with questions surrounding the country’s history and future. “This is not only about one man. It is about every citizen playing a part, because legacy is about shaping the future,” she said.

Production to Span Several African Countries

Mzinja said the series would explore Mnangagwa’s life from the period before his birth through his childhood, political development and eventual presidency. She said the production would also connect his story to the Government’s Vision 2030 development agenda. “We start before he was born because a leader is shaped by the history that came before him, and audiences will see how the boy became the President,” she said.

The producer said the script had been written in 11 African languages, although details of the languages and the production schedule were not provided in the information released about the project. Filming is expected to take place in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique, with Mzinja indicating that the production intends to cover countries associated with the President’s life and political history.

She said the project also presented an opportunity to promote Zimbabwe as a destination for international film productions. “As we tell his story, we are also marketing our beloved, peaceful Zimbabwe to the world as a film destination,” she said. The production is expected to feature actors and directors from South Africa and other countries. However, the announcement did not provide a confirmed cast list, filming dates, broadcast partner or release date.

Tungwarara Named as Main Sponsor

Mzinja expressed gratitude to Tungwarara, who is described as a Special Presidential Investment Adviser and the founder of Prevail International Group of Companies, for supporting the project. She said the sponsorship reflected an interest in supporting Zimbabwe’s creative sector and providing opportunities for local artists.

The producer also referred to hospital renovation and agricultural initiatives associated with Tungwarara, describing them as part of efforts to support communities. The details, funding and implementation status of those initiatives were not independently established in the project announcement.

A Political Story Told Through Drama

The series is being presented as both a biographical drama and a story about Zimbabwe’s national journey. Its use of a fictional student researching the President offers a narrative framework through which historical events and political developments can be explored.

However, as with other dramatisations of the lives of political leaders, the distinction between documented history, fictional dialogue and the production’s interpretation of events will be important for viewers. Further details about the series’ production timetable, distribution arrangements, cast and release plans are expected to clarify how the project will reach audiences in Zimbabwe and beyond.

Mnangagwa TV drama