Zenziso Munyai (22) believes that she has a great future in the broadcasting industry. She is the newest addition to the border town community radio station, Musina FM.
The young Tshivenda newsreader joined Musina FM in February this year and already has a strong following because of her ability to present news bulletins in a professional way.
Munyai said she had submitted her CV to the station manager even though no position for a news reader was available at the time. She was later called in for an audition and passed it with flying colours. "When you are determined to succeed, you don't wait for an opportunity to present itself. You must create opportunities yourself to pave your future. You are the master of your own destiny," she said.
Born and bred in Musina, Munyai demonstrated her oratory skills while she was still a student at the local Musina High School, where she participated in debates and unprepared speech. "I was very good at delivering unprepared speeches when I was in high school. My classmates and teachers were all impressed with my debating skills, and I often came out tops during school competitions. I never thought that it would lead me to where I am today. For me, reading news to thousands of people from behind the microphone is a dream come true."
Besides reading news, Munyai also produces the bulletins and makes sure that they appeal to listeners. "As a community radio station, we have to give people what they want to hear. That is why we make sure 50% of each news bulletin comes from all 12 wards in the Musina Municipality, 20% of it from the Vhembe District, 10% from the Limpopo Province and the remaining 20% from national and international news happenings. We realised that this works because people are becoming more interested in what is happening around them."
She encourages young people not to give up on their dreams. "All those who have made it in life are the people who never gave up. We as young people should not procrastinate about our future plans. The best time to lay a solid foundation for our future is now. If an opportunity arises, we must grasp it with both hands."