Source: Children in hospitals need our love — Mpariwa – herald
Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts , Entertainment Hub
VETERAN broadcaster and StarBrite executive director, Barney Mpariwa, firmly believes that a visit to the children’s ward at most referral hospitals would inspire many to appreciate the resilience of innocent souls.
He emphasised that many children battling various illnesses, particularly those suffering from burns, need love and support.
Recently, Mpariwa brought joy to the children’s ward at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital in partnership with Nyaradzo and other stakeholders.
“We have been making these donations since 2013, and this time we brought teddy bears, snacks and juice just to uplift the spirits,” stressed Mpariwa.
“All the organisations associated with the Miss Zimbabwe pageant were in attendance to cheer up the children.
“These children need our love because most of them are in dire conditions. This gesture has become a tradition for us at Starbrite, and I am using my own influence to help.”
Mpariwa has vowed to use his influence to bring about positive change in the lives of these children and their mothers.
“Most of these children will be accompanied by their mothers, who are incredibly resilient but often have to sleep on benches. Some of the kids have special needs that require extensive care.
“The burns unit is particularly critical, and I am appealing for more partnerships to ensure we can help these kids. Burns take time to heal, which means their mothers will also have to stay in the children’s ward for an extended period.”
He added:
“As I mentioned earlier, the condition of mothers at the hospital is dire, as they also suffer alongside their sick children.
“Mothers accompanying these children need to be on high alert, as they sometimes spend sleepless nights. If we can provide mattresses for them to sleep on, that would be far better than having them rest on benches.”
When asked why he has a soft spot for children, Mpariwa explained, “They are innocent souls who know nothing about life’s hardships.
We can only be good to them, which is why I have been delivering these donations to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital over the years.”
Mpariwa, who has closely worked with Nyaradzo, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, and Zimpapers as stakeholders in this initiative, revealed that he is ready for more partnerships.
“From what I have said, especially concerning the plight of sick children’s wards, we need more partnerships. At Starbrite, we don’t make money; we are simply scouting for talent. We have since partnered with the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, where there is a lot of talent.
For your information, Season 12 winner Tinashe Kamunenga (crowned in 2024) is currently incarcerated, but we have empowered him to pursue his talent,” he stressed.
Mpariwa noted that the outreach has become an annual tradition, adding that giving back doesn’t have to be limited to large institutions, but can start with small acts of kindness in local communities.
Reflecting on their achievements, Mpariwa described 2025 as successful.
“For us, it was a success, especially after forming a partnership with the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services. We are glad that we have identified talent in prison, and we are not only identifying talent but also helping the children. We have many programmes lined up as we move into the coming year,” he stated.
Reflecting on Starbrite, which dates back to 1990, Mpariwa noted that they have been a nursery for talent over the years.
“Some of the notable names we identified back in the day include Prudence Katomeni Mbofana, Mathew Kaunda, and Tendai Chidarike, before relaunching the programme in 2012.
“After relaunching the programme, we have produced some household names, including Andy Muridzo and Brayan K, among others.
Many have benefited from our outreach programmes, even though we were affected by the Covid-19 lockdown at one point along the way,” he stated.
Started in the 90s, the StarBrite programme has become one of the most popular reality shows championing talent development.
It aims to discover and nurture various artistic talents, primarily in music, but also in spoken word and dance.
Starbrite has been hailed as more than just a talent show, it also focuses on personal development and life skills, in addition to performance skills needed in the creative community.
Mpariwa’s talent show is famed as one of the most consistent reality shows, featuring talent from diverse backgrounds where raw gems are polished.
His reality show is also known for its fairness regarding the professionals who serve as judges at the national finals.
What has raised its appeal is that Mpariwa’s team has been casting a wider net to ensure they reach out to all areas of Zimbabwe.
He has also been travelling to remote areas in search of talent that may have gone unnoticed.
However, Mpariwa’s commitment to uplifting talent requires funding and partnerships to ensure they reach all corners of Zimbabwe.
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