Jane Esau – Sweet-voice Granny Broadcaster Who Won Young Hearts ( sorry : no picture obtained yet )
By Tapfuma Machakaire
Jane Esau is one female broadcaster who had an excellent command of the Queens’ language, which, coupled with her sweet voice made her audience believe they were listening to a youthful presenter, even when she was in her late fifties.
This made her radio programmes resonate with the young generation, who always felt the presenter was one of their own. Esau speaks of young men who would visit her at ZBC studios hoping to meet a young girl and probably try their luck, only to discover the mismatch between the voice and the person.
“It’s a gift from God. Sheer luck if I may say so. I haven’t done anything to keep it. Young men used to ask for dates while I was still at ZBC, but got disappointed when they saw the person behind the voice,” said the now-retired veteran broadcaster.
True she is among the unsung broadcasting heroines of Zimbabwe and not much has been documented about her. She is now 89. Thanks to journalist Beaullah Mbirimi who had a one on one interview with Esau at her 78th birthday in November 2011. Beaullah says at age 78, Esau still had that “confident, sweet voice” which graced airwaves on the Rhodesia Broadcasting Corporation (RBC) Radio 1 in the 1960s.
The secret to her fluency in the English language dates back to the time she was just seven years old. She says a white family in Penhalonga offered to stay with a young black girl who would play with their daughter. Jane’s parents accepted the offer which saw young Jane spending some years with the family of the then Postmaster of Penhalonga. She, thus, unlike most black children at that time started learning English at a very early age.
Born Jane Grace Esau on June 25, 1933 in Penhalonga, to a Manyika mother and a Malawian father, she is the first-born in a family of nine, seven girls and two boys. She did both her primary and secondary education at Old Umtali Mission, where she was supported by missionaries until she completed her teacher training course at Morgenster Mission.
From 1955 to 1962 she taught at several schools that include Bonda Mission, St Matthias Primary School in Manicaland,and a primary school in Tarantellas and Shingirayi Primary School in Salisbury. While at Shingirayi Esau started to enjoy the concept of radio lessons.
It was then that she was advised by a former colleague of a vacancy at Audio Visual Services where she secured a job as an assistant broadcaster. The job saw her conducting radio lessons enhancing her broadcasting knowledge that she had acquired through radio commercials such as In the Kitchen with Jane, the Dairiboard Show and the Sweet Life.
Among the programmes she presented were UN Africa, which touched on various topics of interest and relevance to the African continent. There was also Tuffy Tooth Club, a commercial programme on radio one and three which encouraged dental care mostly among young children. She particularly enjoyed continuity presentation and news casting.
Esau also trained as a police officer and used to do part time policing duties during extra hours. She was in the team of police officers that opened Chitungwiza Police Station.
“For the love of my country, I used to double at ZBC and then report for duty at Southerton Police Station and then at Marlborough Police Station when I moved residence from Southerton to Marlborough. I resigned voluntarily after many years because I felt I had too much on my plate.”
Esau has four sons (one is late) and one daughter, 22 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren. She stays with five grandchildren whose mother is late.
Former colleagues at ZBC among them Noreen Welsh and John Masuku are still in touch with Esau. In June 2018 when she turned 85 Noreen sent this message from Newzealand where she is now based.
“On Monday a dear friend, colleague and fellow broadcaster turned 85 years old. Today in Harare many are holding a surprise birthday party for her and how I wish with all my heart I could be there to celebrate with you Jane Esau. We shared an office for so many years, we worked alongside each other with mutual respect and love. We laughed and even cried together. Jane may you be blessed with many more years, know that you are loved by many. One day Gogo we will have that “cuppa” tea. Wishing you all that is good in life, missing your cheerful disposition and sending you much love and respect. God bless you always Jane.”
