EXCLUSIVE: From print and online media to radio, Mbulelo Mpofu is a 31‑year‑old multi‑award‑winning cultural scribe, print reporter and radio broadcaster at NUST FM, where he co‑hosts “The Culture Connection.”

In this exclusive interview Mpofu tells us how a shy, football‑loving student discovered journalism through writing and a brief rap stint, shares his view that AI is already reshaping Zimbabwe’s newsrooms. He also recounts the thrill of networking at the ACCES25 conference in Pretoria, explains how he juggles radio duties with reporting, offers hard‑won advice to aspiring arts journalists, and spins a memorable, slightly awkward encounter with pop legend Yvonne Chaka Chaka, while also discussing the future of Zimbabwe’s music industry, the role of technology, and how he stays inspired.

TR: Many might ask who is Mbulelo Mpofu, can you introduce yourself to our readers?
MM: I love and hate this question (lol). I love it because it gives me the platform to define myself in my own terms (literally). I hate it because I think it’s a difficult question to answer but I’ll try. Mbulelo Mpofu is a 31-year-old multi-award-winning artistic and cultural scribe with a knack for deep-rooted reportage. Besides being a print reporter, I’m also a radio broadcaster at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) FM campus radio station where I co-host the weekly segment, “The Culture Connection” with Amagugu International Heritage Centre Director, Allington Ndlovu. I’m a fanatic for sports (funny, I don’t report much on it) as it was my first love growing up.

I always saw myself as a footballer when I grew up but I guess God had other plans. I’m a son, brother, devoted Adventist, husband to a beautiful woman by the name of Prisca and also the Vice President of the Lacrosse Association of Zimbabwe. I’m a holder of a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Publishing Media and Technology from NUST. In a nutshell, that’s who Mbulelo Mpofu is.

TR: What sparked your passion for arts and entertainment journalism?
MM: Journalism found me. I didn’t even have any passion to any kind of reportage as I grew up as a reserved or should I say, ‘shy’ lad who only cared about academics and football. In Primary School right up to High School, I always penned compelling compositions and essays and as such, a lot of people said my writing skills were of the top drawer and that kind of nudged me towards taking scribing seriously. Enrolling at NUST positioned me well for journalism with my first gig being with a digital campus magazine called, “Campus Moments” in 2019 where I used to contribute.

Why did I choose entertainment journalism? I guess it’s the fact that I once tried being a rapper (Yes, I did) and I just gravitated towards arts as I wanted to pen something that speaks to my creative side and from Campus Moments, I co-found an online magazine called, “The Wheel Magazine” with my varsity friends in 2020, simultaneously interning at Zimpapers where I honed my reportage skills and the rest is history.

TR: How do you think AI will shape the future of journalism in Zimbabwe?
MM: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not the future but is the present. AI has been a lot of people’s nightmares as they are scared of being redundant. I feel like AI makes journalism wholesome (not that it lacks much) as it enhances and simplifies our work. For example, look at Centre for Innovation and Technology (CITE)’s news anchor Alice who is replicating tasks that would normally need a few hands. We also have image, audio and video enhancing, audio to text transcription tools, as well as other tools who make our work easier.

I know to a lot of people, this means replacing the people who do those things now but I believe this helps even in seamlessly integrating newsrooms. AI doesn’t replace the human touch as when abused, might lead to typos and other anomalies. This is a very subjective issue but I believe that the sooner we embrace AI, the better.

TR: What was the highlight of your experience at the #ACCES25 conference in Pretoria, South Africa?
MM: I was recently in Pretoria, South Africa for the Music In Africa Foundation’s ACCES25 Conference. I felt like a little kid in a candy store as I got to mingle with the who’s who in the music business. A huge part of me has always been about networking so amongst all things that took place there, networking was the major highlight. I had to strike while the iron was hot. I met Vth Season boss, Raphael Benza, amapiano artiste, Thakzin, and other music moguls from the African continent.

I believe African is the cradle of music generally so seeing a lot of these pioneers in one space was both overwhelming and entertaining. The fireside chats were eye-opening as well and all of these sessions showed how musically-rich the continent is. Also, seeing Zimbabwe taking an active role warmed my heart and showed that we are not just gap-fillers but are active participants. What’s a musical conference with the performances themselves? I enjoyed those too, especially getting exposed to talent that I had not even heard of. Artistes like Mpho Sebina, Claudia Rabe, and Bokani Dyer were a marvel to watch.

TR: How do you balance your work at NUST FM with your journalistic pursuits?
MM: Balancing my journalistic pursuits with presenting on NUST FM is an easy feat as NUST is a weekly-gig so, I can plan properly and allocate time. Plus, both Zimpapers and NUST FM have one thing in common; that’s journalism, just different facets but I don’t find balancing the two challenging.
What makes it also easier or should I say relatively doable is that I love my job and give it my all so I don’t tire doing what I love.

TR: What advice would you give to aspiring journalists interested in covering arts and entertainment?
MM: Thanks for the brilliant question. To an up-and-coming journalist intending to tap into the arts and entertainment space is that they should be ready to put in the hard yards. Journalism generally entails a lot of research and travelling. If one prescribes to the idea of being a keyboard warrior, then, they won’t cut it in this trade as one has to attend shows, press conferences, and workshops. Another critical tip is that of honing one’s interpersonal skills as arts journalism like covering any beat, requires a lot of interaction especially with those involved in the Creative and Cultural Industries (CCIs). Being a lone ranger will leave one miserable if they want to forge relationships and write compelling content.

TR: You have shaked hands with different celebrities but can you share a memorable moment from your encounter with Yvonne Chaka Chaka, the “Queen of African Pop”?
MM: My eyes just lit when you asked this question. My meeting with umam’uYvonne Machaka was what I call, ‘A good mistake.’ Lemme contextualise this. So, it was on a Thursday, 13 November 2025 when individuals from the music, gaming, fashion and art sectors converged at the Lotus Restaurant in Rosebank, South Africa and I had just interviewed Gog’ Bekezela after he performed.

After we were done, we went back into tye restuarant and I don’t know to compensate for my absent-mind at the time, I mistakenly pushed the seat she was sitting on and apologised, went my way but when I sat down, something at the back of my mind was like that must be Yvonne Chaka Chaka and I told my brother about it. He was skeptical and I decided to go back to her chair and reapologise (and to confirm her identity). I re-apologised and she was like, ‘It’s OK mzukulu’ and like a man possessed, I courageously asked her who she was and she laughed. I was like, ‘Yvonne, right!?’ She nodded her head and from there, I asked for a selfie and chat a bit and that was it.

TR: What’s your take of Zimbabwe’s music in this era?
MM: Zimbabwean music has a lot of potential to grow but only if we change our system.
I’m glad we have digital stores for our music but I think we lack music publishers in our value chain.
This is because most of our artistes are independent. So, music publishers work on behalf of songwriters and/or composers to collect and pay out all of the royalties they earn from their compositions. This is critical because music shouldn’t be a hobby but a source of livelihoods for musicians.

This will nudge us torwards having an industry not the sector that we currently have. So, Zimbabwe can tap to that. Continentally, I think the music industry has grown with different genres formed and these have gained global acclaim with other continents trying to replicate them. We have seen a lot of exports doing wonders globally. A case in point is Zimbabwean music composer Daecolm penning songs for many American music heavyweights.

TR: What are your thoughts on the importance of collaborations and networking in the music industry?
MM: Networking is king in this trade. There is comfort in numbers (literally). Collaboration means shared contacts, experiences and expertise which benefits both parties. This marriage of genres creates new sounds and affords lovers of music a chance to listen to different subject matters and ideas which creates healthy competition and a better sound. Collaboration is good but shouldn’t be forced nor be done just for the sake of doing them. I believe one must collaborate with whoever aligns with their brand and values.

TR: How do you stay inspired and motivated in your work as a journalist and radio personality?
MM: For print journalism, I try to read other articles from different publications to learn how they do this writing thing. This does not just keep me inspired but it affords me the chance to updated on new trends. For radio, I do the same thing and see how I can spice up my show to make it more palatable. I also listen to a lot of music (hard rock especially ) and priotises sleep to recharge my batteries as I’m a night owl.