Emmerson Jr ventures into showbiz

ONE of the greatest rewards of parenthood is seeing your children follow in you or your partner's footsteps.

However, children are no longer taking similar paths taken by their parents and are in fact, often purposefully choosing a different route in life.

Perhaps they do so in order to prove that they are capable of living their own lives without depending on their folks.

With that in mind, the son of one of Zimbabwe's two Vice-Presidents - Emmerson Mnangagwa has chosen a career path that is completely different from his father's political career.

The 27-year-old Emmerson Mnangagwa Junior felt his calling was not in politics but in showbiz. Unlike his father, who is concerned about the welfare of the masses in Zimbabwe, Emmerson Junior would rather entertain the masses.

Popularly known as DJ St Emmo in the entertainment industry, Emmerson runs a lucrative entertainment company called The Movement which outsources DJs, musicians, poets, comedians, caterers, bouncers and photographers.

In an interview with Sunday Leisure, he said he was more of a free spirit, whose passion lay in developing young artistes in Zimbabwe.

He said he ventured into the showbiz industry when he realised the lack of appreciation of Zimbabwean artistes locally.

"What made me start The Movement is how Zimbabwean artistes were being treated. Most promoters nowadays take advantage of upcoming artistes and because of that they are struggling to make it in the arts industry, as they are duped of their earnings by event organisers," said St Emmo.

He said he was determined to create events for artistes to perform and gain exposure and money from their talent.

St Emmo emphasised that he sourced his own funds to run his company and did not depend on his father to fund him.

"I am not a daddy's boy. When I thought of starting The Movement I did not run to my father to ask for his money, I proposed the idea to a few friends who partnered me in coming up with this," said St Emmo.

He, however, said his father did not understand the career path he had chosen but fully supported him regardless.

"My father is very supportive, when I told him what I wanted to pursue he was confused and even said that he did not understand my career but promised to support me.

"He said I could do what I wanted as long as I could realise profits and bring food to the table," said St Emmo.

He described himself as a simple person who wasn't interested in showing off his status as the son of a Vice-President.

"I am a very simple person. I do not value material possessions. I believe a person's legacy spreads with what he has done not what he has and my plans are to work hard till I do not have to introduce myself but let my work do that for me because I don't brag or show off," he said.

St Emmo further described himself as a humble, mature person and dressed according to his age and not like foreign celebrities.

"I am a mature person and I dress accordingly. Being in the entertainment industry does not give me a green card to go wild. What I can say is I dress like a man not teenager and nothing fancy," he said.