Big Brother reality check: Felicia and Lomwe Get Cash Reward
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe’s gesture to award his country’s Big
Brother Africa (BBA)representatives seems to have jolted Malawian
politicians and business tycoons to honour the country’s ambassadors as
well.
So generous is the Zimbabwe president and business captains that they
did not only donate $50 000 (about K8 million) to Wendall who won the
just- ended BBA Amplified’s $200 000 (about $32.8m) prize alongside
Nigeria’s Karen, but they also consoled last year’s losing finalist
Munya with a cool $300 000 as consolation.
But the windfall has long eluded Malawi’s housemates—Zein Dudha, Code
Sangala, Hazel Warren and Mzamose Chibambo—with this year’s finalist
Lomwe (Tendai Namate) and evictee Felicia Ngoma receiving K707 000
(about $4 310) and K467 000 (about $2 847), respectively.
On Friday, the State-funded Malawi Gaming Board and Lotteries Board took
turns with privately owned Countrywide Car Hire, Varibo Spirits, Chez
Ntemba, Access Communications Limited and South African Airways to
shower Felicia and Lomwe with the cash presents at a cocktail organised
by Sunbird Hotels and the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture.
The handouts compensate half the $10 000 (about 1.5 million) Lomwe was
said to have won after spending 91 Days in the house, but both
MultiChoice Malawi and the finalist said it was a hoax .
Fresh from the rumours and one-off windfall accorded to the local BBA
runners, a confirmation has emerged that the contributions are just a
timely token of sympathy and solidarity for the housemates who return
empty-handed from the highly-advertised show beamed to 48 countries on
the continent, according to MultiChoice Malawi sales and marketing
manager Chimwemwe Nyirenda.
While sportsmen in equally televised events get millions of dollars in
appearance fees, Lomwe confirmed that BBA contenders get nothing—not
even an equivalent of their monthly income—after gracing the telly for
three months.
He said the no-pay terms of the show were clearly spelled in the
contract they signed before they entered the house of glitz and glamour
on May 1.
“I got nothing, except a Samsung laptop and an iPod Smartphone I won for
outrunning my colleagues in some tasks in the house,” said the
multitalented deejay, explaining being on the show is a win in itself
because it has given him exposure and networks to pursue his music
career seriously.
Among other, things, he is planning to collaborate with Botswana’s
housemate Zeus, who is arguably a continental hip hop sensation.
The losing housemate said it was too early to disclose what he was going
to do as he was still settling down in the country after spending
91-days in South Africa.
The MultiChoice official collaborated that the 14-nation TV series
offers neither consolation fees nor inconvenience allowance to losing
housemates, saying all that is up for grabs is the $200 000
winner-takes-it-all cash prize won by Wendall and Karen.
“There is nothing except the final prizes. But we are going towards that
way [of giving all housemates some royalties],” said Nyirenda on Friday.
Random interviews at the cocktail-turned-fundraiser showed people feel
it is a raw deal that the prime advertising show, refreshed by
Coca-cola, does not pay anything to its players.
Some indicated that phone companies that run the voting hotlines should
save a fraction of their SMS takings for the housemates—-an offer all
firms that pitch their accessories in the house for visibility must also
consider as an option.
Carrying an empty cash casket, Miss Malawi Faith Chibale literally went
on her knees at the cocktail on Friday, begging patrons to donate in
cash and kind to Lomwe and Felicia. The beauty queen later said the two
need “a starter pack” knowing they have to start from a scratch.
Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture Ken Lipenga, said it is sad
that Felicia and Lomwe—who he jokingly dubbed inmates—did not win, but
the country should be glad that they represented the country in a
positive way and accepted defeat with dignity.
“It’s clear that Lomwe and Felicia prepared to win but at the same time
a possibility of a loss, something you don’t find in politicians,” said
Lipenga.
Lipenga becomes the first to make the Tourism ministry a parent
institution for BBA reps and honour them just as he did with Miss Malawi.
Brother Africa (BBA)representatives seems to have jolted Malawian
politicians and business tycoons to honour the country’s ambassadors as
well.
So generous is the Zimbabwe president and business captains that they
did not only donate $50 000 (about K8 million) to Wendall who won the
just- ended BBA Amplified’s $200 000 (about $32.8m) prize alongside
Nigeria’s Karen, but they also consoled last year’s losing finalist
Munya with a cool $300 000 as consolation.
But the windfall has long eluded Malawi’s housemates—Zein Dudha, Code
Sangala, Hazel Warren and Mzamose Chibambo—with this year’s finalist
Lomwe (Tendai Namate) and evictee Felicia Ngoma receiving K707 000
(about $4 310) and K467 000 (about $2 847), respectively.
On Friday, the State-funded Malawi Gaming Board and Lotteries Board took
turns with privately owned Countrywide Car Hire, Varibo Spirits, Chez
Ntemba, Access Communications Limited and South African Airways to
shower Felicia and Lomwe with the cash presents at a cocktail organised
by Sunbird Hotels and the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture.
The handouts compensate half the $10 000 (about 1.5 million) Lomwe was
said to have won after spending 91 Days in the house, but both
MultiChoice Malawi and the finalist said it was a hoax .
Fresh from the rumours and one-off windfall accorded to the local BBA
runners, a confirmation has emerged that the contributions are just a
timely token of sympathy and solidarity for the housemates who return
empty-handed from the highly-advertised show beamed to 48 countries on
the continent, according to MultiChoice Malawi sales and marketing
manager Chimwemwe Nyirenda.
While sportsmen in equally televised events get millions of dollars in
appearance fees, Lomwe confirmed that BBA contenders get nothing—not
even an equivalent of their monthly income—after gracing the telly for
three months.
He said the no-pay terms of the show were clearly spelled in the
contract they signed before they entered the house of glitz and glamour
on May 1.
“I got nothing, except a Samsung laptop and an iPod Smartphone I won for
outrunning my colleagues in some tasks in the house,” said the
multitalented deejay, explaining being on the show is a win in itself
because it has given him exposure and networks to pursue his music
career seriously.
Among other, things, he is planning to collaborate with Botswana’s
housemate Zeus, who is arguably a continental hip hop sensation.
The losing housemate said it was too early to disclose what he was going
to do as he was still settling down in the country after spending
91-days in South Africa.
The MultiChoice official collaborated that the 14-nation TV series
offers neither consolation fees nor inconvenience allowance to losing
housemates, saying all that is up for grabs is the $200 000
winner-takes-it-all cash prize won by Wendall and Karen.
“There is nothing except the final prizes. But we are going towards that
way [of giving all housemates some royalties],” said Nyirenda on Friday.
Random interviews at the cocktail-turned-fundraiser showed people feel
it is a raw deal that the prime advertising show, refreshed by
Coca-cola, does not pay anything to its players.
Some indicated that phone companies that run the voting hotlines should
save a fraction of their SMS takings for the housemates—-an offer all
firms that pitch their accessories in the house for visibility must also
consider as an option.
Carrying an empty cash casket, Miss Malawi Faith Chibale literally went
on her knees at the cocktail on Friday, begging patrons to donate in
cash and kind to Lomwe and Felicia. The beauty queen later said the two
need “a starter pack” knowing they have to start from a scratch.
Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture Ken Lipenga, said it is sad
that Felicia and Lomwe—who he jokingly dubbed inmates—did not win, but
the country should be glad that they represented the country in a
positive way and accepted defeat with dignity.
“It’s clear that Lomwe and Felicia prepared to win but at the same time
a possibility of a loss, something you don’t find in politicians,” said
Lipenga.
Lipenga becomes the first to make the Tourism ministry a parent
institution for BBA reps and honour them just as he did with Miss Malawi.
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