The National Drama Competitions held at Mzingwane High School in Esigodini recently sparked a thunderous applause after a rural school from Beitbridge Zezani High School clinched second place nationally, etching its name among Zimbabwe’s finest young thespians.
For Dickens Sipho Mathe, fondly known as Vho-Mathe, the group’s director, it was a moment of triumph, tears and testimony.
“It feels surreal,” he said. “To come from a rural school and finish second nationally is humbling and deeply motivating. This is not just our victory; it is for every rural learner who believes that dreams have no postcode."
Speaking to NewsDay Life & Style, he said, Zezani High drama club, a modest yet passionate ensemble of students, had begun its journey by winning the district competition. From that moment, preparation for the nationals became its daily rhythm. Under the scorching Beitbridge sun, they refined dialogue, sharpened timing and poured heart and soul into their production of a play titled God’s Project.
Inspired by real-life community stories, the drama follows the emotional journey of a single mother who miraculously survives after being declared dead.
“We wanted something real, something that spoke to faith, pain, and survival,” Vho-Mathe said. “The story was drawn from the women in our villages, the unsung heroines who carry the world quietly."
He said competing against elite, well-resourced schools was no small feat.
“Every performance we saw was a masterclass, but our learners held their own,” Vho-Mathe said.
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He said the atmosphere was electric, full of laughter, learning, and artistic exchange and was not just a competition; it was a celebration of Zimbabwean creativity.
Vho-Mathe added that within the Zezani camp, unity and discipline proved to be their greatest strengths; the students treated each other like family, often rehearsing late into the night under his sharp yet nurturing direction.
“Our chemistry was our power,” he said. “These learners do not just perform together, they believe in each other."
Vho-Mathe said the most demanding scene was the hospital sequence, the moment the mother is declared dead.
“It required absolute emotional honesty,” he said. “I kept telling them, feel the truth, do not act it, when they finally performed it, even the judges were moved to silence."
Vho-Mathe said Zezani’s remarkable second-place finish placed it just behind Sacred Heart High School (Matabeleland South) and ahead of Manama High School, which came third.
Other notable contenders included Chipadze High (Mashonaland Central), St James High (Matabeleland North), Eveline High (Bulawayo), Mutare Girls High (Manicaland), Mary Ward Secondary (Midlands), Sandringham High (Mashonaland West), Pamushana High (Masvingo) and Kuwadzana High (Harare).
"The victory has transformed not only the students’ confidence but also community perception of the arts,” Vho-Mathe said.
“This win proved that art is not a pastime, it is a powerful tool for change.”
He credits much of his success to his longtime mentor, the late Moyoxide, who has guided him since 2004 during his early theatre days at Manama.
“He taught me that storytelling is not about fame but about impact,” Vho-Mathe said.
Looking ahead, the Zezani High School Drama Club is already preparing for its 2026 season, which will include community outreach performances, new thematic explorations and mentorship for young students.
“Be authentic. Don’t imitate creation. Your voice matters. The stage is waiting,” he said.
Vho-Mathe said from the dusty fields of Beitbridge to the bright lights of the national stage, he and his students had proven that art knows no boundary and that in the language of dreams, no postcode defines greatness.
