Mamokete back to South Africa
South Africa’s award-winning actress, Connie Chiume popularly known as Mamokete Khuse for her role on e.tv soapie Rhythm City, left Malawi Sunday after being involved in shooting episodes for a local soapie, Choices.
Choices was written by actor and filmmaker, Ashukile Mwakisulu.
Chiume, who has Malawian roots, is set to feature in a few episodes in Choices.
“It was a good experience working with Ashukile and the team. I am looking forward to more and as I indicated earlier that our connection with Ashukile was through our meeting at the European Film Festival in Lilongwe,” she said.
The shooting of the episodes took place at Chitawira Private Hospital in Blantyre last month.
“It is unfortunate that the government and the corporate world does not support the industry. But I urge them to keep on working hard and someday things will change,” she said.
In the soapie, Chiume plays the role of Pauline, a mother, who happened to abandon her child.
“I would like to work with a lot of players in theatre and film industry,” she said.
Chiume has maintained that she has Malawi at heart and that despite being born in South Africa, she loves everything about Malawi including its food and culture.
Mwakisulu said Sunday that they shot with her three episodes.
“Her character is open so, it possible to bring her back in anytime,” Mwakisulu, who has starred in Shemu Joyah’s film The Last Fishing Boat, said.
He said they also learned a lot from Chiume citing among others, her professionalism and dedication when shooting.
“It was a really exciting experience to work with her. For now, we have to work on the three episodes and then there are also a few scenes we have to shoot with other actors before people see these episodes,” Mwakisulu said.
He called for support from the government and the corporate world saying, they have been screening Choices for three years now without any funding.
