By Ketty Nyoni
STAFF WRITER
nyonik@dailynews.co.zw
THE country’s first independent television station, 3Ktv, has unveiled its ninth season of programming, which the channel has described as “more variety, more adventure with a uniquely Zimbabwean flavour.”
Speaking at 3KTV’s second anniversary celebrations held in Harare yesterday, the television station’s head of programming, Lucia Kanyongo said the just-unveilled season, which is running under the theme ‘3Ktv growing with you,’ offers a wider range of shows across different genres.
“On the content menu are dramas, reality shows, lifestyle shows, magazines, children’s programming, as well as news and current affairs programmes.
“Our dramas, which are our flagship shows, headline the midweek 1900hrs band. This season we have unveiled a new series titled Inkaba, produced and directed by award winning filmmaker John Mabuyane.
“The 1900hrs band will also be headlined by another award-winning drama, Bundu which goes into season 6. Weakness Season Two continues every Monday as we dig deeper into relationships and the big question remains, is love really every man’s weakness?
“The station will also premiere the best of Korean dramas with a new series titled Love in the Moonlight. The series double bill will run from 8 to 9 pm every Wednesday,” said Kanyongo.
She added that 3ktv, which first went live on February 28 2022, becoming the first licensed private commercial station to operate in the country since television was first introduced in the then Southern Rhodesia in November 1960, would continue offering top dramas from the regions.
“The drama combo will be completed by the best regional dramas headlined by Isibaya season three (South Africa) which runs from Monday to Thursday at 2100hrs and Inkulo Season two From Zambia will be broadcast every Monday at 2030hrs,” Kanyongo said.
The hugely popular Closure DNA Show, presented and produced by Tinashe Mugabe, which recently landed the National Arts Merit Awards (Nama) in the Outstanding Screen Production (Television), is the pick of 3ktv’s reality programmes.
“At 6:30 PM every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday is time for reality TV. The band is headlined by The Closure DNA Show.
“Other reality shows in the band include Mastercook Zambia where chefs battle for the ultimate prize to be crowned the masterchef.
“This season is being used to lay groundwork for the Zimbabwean version of the show which will be recorded in June 2024.
“The station’s content mix also includes lifestyle and magazine shows that speak to Zimbabwean culture and taste.
“Headlining the band is The Design Show, which exhibits the best of local architectural designs and interior décor, aired every Thursday at 1900hrs.
“This season we are also reintroducing Gango, a culinary show which will be hosted by the deputy president of the Zimbabwean Chefs Association, David Lupenga.
“Other lifestyle and magazine programmes on the schedule include Match the Menu, Wedding Bells, Dine with Tsotsi, Hurudza and Zim Uncovered,” she said, Vantage, hosted by Guthrie Munyuki for incisive discussions on topical issues.
3Ktv’s season nine has come at a time Zimbabwe’s history-making free-to-air channel is increasingly consolidating its position as the country’s most followed television station.
According to the latest edition of the Zimbabwe All Media Products Survey (ZAMPS), the privately-owned station is the most watched Zimbabwean channel on satellite.
