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Lorraine Maphala

Bongani Ndlovu, Showbiz Correspondent
FORMER Miss Zimbabwe Lorraine Maphala-Phiri could soon be hitting the silver screen as she has been shortlisted for an acting role in Ziyanda, a human trafficking movie.

She made the top 20 during auditions held at Victory Fellowship church auditorium in Bulawayo on Saturday for roles in the movie. Award winning actress Donna Ncube was also shortlisted.

If she impresses, Maphala will be rubbing shoulders with South Africa’s Katlego Danke and Luthuli Dlamini who are part of the movie’s cast.

The former beauty queen’s husband, businessman and aspiring politician Sonny Phiri announced the news on Facebook saying he was proud of his wife.

“I’d like to congratulate you my lovely wife Lorraine Maphala-Phiri for landing a role to act in the Ziyanda film with the likes of Katlego Danke and Luthuli Dlamini.

“Always the hard way, but the long hours you spent working through the script have enabled you to get the role. You did it at Miss Malaika, Miss Zimbabwe and Miss World and won. Now you’re an actress on the big screen. If God be with you, no one can be against you. You’re always a winner undisputed,” wrote Phiri.

Ziyanda executive producer Dumisani Nkomo said if all goes well, Maphala-Phiri will land a role on the film.

“Out of the 35 people at the auditions, Maphala-Phiri was one of the 20 people who were shortlisted. These aspiring actors will be further workshoped and thereafter, we’ll take some 10 to 15 for the final cast. Donna Ncube did very well and she was brilliant when she was auditioned,” said Nkomo.

“There’re roles for people such as Andiswa and we’re hoping that she’ll be a local girl. We’ll have about five or six people who’ll vie for that role that will include Mrs Phiri and Donna Ncube.”

Nkomo said they were ready to shoot the movie as from October.

“We’re still on course in terms of shooting in October. We’re trying to help our guest actors from South Africa to regularise their travelling documents and once they’re done, they’ll be coming here,” said Nkomo.

He said the better part of the movie will be shot in Zimbabwe.

“The movie will be shot in the Bulawayo CBD, Matopos and Victoria Falls with part of it being recorded in Johannesburg.”

The movie, produced and directed by South Africa-based Zimbabwean filmmaker Thabo Sibanda, will feature Zintle Ncipha as the main character, former Generations actress Katlego Danke, local actress Penelope Moyo, ZBCTv presenter Nyasha Mtamangira and gospel musician, Pastor G among other actors who are yet to be revealed.