Tinashe Chikuse has written a heartfelt letter to his fans as he bids farewell to Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) after 2 decades of service. He said he resigned from his duties at the ZBC, effective the 3rd of April, 2023.
He said writing the letter gave him emotional and painful feelings, which made him cry. Tinashe stated that his letter took time to write, indicating that he was hesitant or struggling to express his emotions. Pindula News reproduces his letter below:
Writing this has made me to cry felt emotional and in pain …I will always love you all! My letter took time to be at but I say I don’t want to go ahead of God but to follow his plans…
I shall call this letter: THE END
Dear Tinashe Chikuse Fans!
I been meaning to write to you for a long time but getting myself to do so has been one of the most trying and lengthiest decisions of my life. It’s not that couldn’t but I find myself in an awkward position, I would have preferred to talk rather than write but I find myself distanced from the microphone and worlds apart from my legions of radio fans, I guess for now all I can do is write.
Well, for those that might have been wondering, its indeed true, it’s not a sabbatical but sadly it’s the end. Primarily, this letter serves to notify my fans that I resigned from my duties at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), effective the 3rd of April, 2023. It marks an end to a devoted and ardent 20 years of service. I must confess its shattering but I guess when one door shuts another opens or should I say, when one microphones switches off…another might just switch on. I never imagined the end because something in me so believed that our journey would last till eternity but I guess the myth is true after all, ‘people indeed meet to part ‘and in the same measure it’s my impassioned supplication that just as the myth goes, as we now part, hopefully we meet again. I find myself lost in thoughts, recollecting on past experiences. I must put it on record that I am forever grateful for the chance that I was accorded by the national broadcaster, ZBC. They took a chance with a young me and that was to be the beginning of a journey that we celebrate today as the brand Tinashe Chikuse..
In Journalism, I found a worthy religion and in radio, I found my first love and I have been blessed to do what I love day in day out. My journey in the craft started at the Sunday Mail as a reporter then I joined the ZBC as a production assistant in the current affairs department in 2003. In the discharge of my duties, I was privileged to work on the stations flagship shows like the Media Watch, Talking Farming, Toringepi and Face the Nation to mention but a few. Along the way, I have met many men and women that have had a huge impact on my life. I cannot name them all but I salute you all for being part of my story. My journey in radio ‘literally started in the morning’ at SFM (now Classic 263) as the host on the breakfast show in 2005, an experience that I will forever cherish. I vividly remember researching on the riddles that quickly became a fans favourite before I was moved to Power FM. It is at SFM that I bagged my first accolade after winning the NJAMA Best RadioDJ of the year in 2006.
It’s a fact, radio changed my life. It took me from being a dreamer to being a brand. My journey has been filled with a million thrills, I managed to experience the warmth and hospitality of Cairo, Egypt in 2016, all thanks to radio. I will never forget the many trips, calls, interviews and activations at both SFM and Power FM. Today I stand proud that one day, even after the feared justice of death, my name will be written amongst the notable broadcasters of this land. I have had many highlights on radio, too many to mention but I hold one so dearly, I will never forget calling the President of Zimbabwe, His Excellence President Emmerson Mnangagwa live on air the first in the history of radio just to wish him happy birthday in 2021, I still wonder how we pulled it off. I will also never forget how viral the Champions League Breakfast show hosted by me and my brother Pathisani Sibanda went in short space of time but little did I knew; it was the beginning of the END. The more I reflect on these memories, the more my heart sinks, I shiver and wonder what life will be without radio and all my fans, indeed a huge part of me is gone. Life might never be the same again!
To the ZBC staff and management over the years, I struggle to find words that can express how appreciative I am, your gamble turned a fresh from college journalism enthusiast into a seasoned scribe and broadcaster. Without ZBC, there was never going to be Tinashe Chikuse, all I can say is I SALUTE YOU.
To the many friends I have made along my journey, friends from the media fraternity, Chitungwiza, Raylton Sports Club, Hustlers 11 Football club, my classmates at the Zimbabwe Open University and many more, the list is endless… I THANK YOU!