Staff Writer
She came in with little fanfare, but Triciah Jonas is walking away with US$1,000 and a new spring in her step after emerging tops in the Munondida Ndakadaro Open Verse Challenge.
The competition, built around Everton Mlalazi’s hit gospel track Munondida Ndakadaro from his 2026 album Great God, drew hundreds of young creatives eager to put their own spin on the popular song.
Fans then took to social media to vote for their favourites, and Jonas’s submission struck a chord—garnering 493 votes across TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.
She outshone the rest of the Top Five finalists, which included Takudzwa Splits (399 votes), Ashley Nkiwane (287), Ruth Alfredo (188), and Valentine Zvavano (119).
Judges also weighed in, evaluating contestants on creativity, melody, and musical arrangement, while a strict one-vote-per-person rule kept the playing field even.
For Jonas, the win is more than just a cash prize—it’s the confidence boost she needed to pursue music professionally.
“It’s an amazing feeling to emerge as the ultimate winner of the Munondida Ndakadaro Open Verse Challenge,” she told The Chronicle.
“I would like to thank Minister Everton Mlalazi for creating such an inspiring and incredible opportunity. Thank you also to everyone who supported me by voting. I cannot wait to share my gift with all of you. This is just the beginning of greater things. God bless you all.”
Behind the scenes, Everton Mlalazi Music hailed the challenge as a window into Zimbabwe’s deep pool of emerging talent.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated. Your passion, creativity, and courage to share your gift did not go unnoticed,” read a statement from the label.
“This challenge has reminded us that Zimbabwe is brimming with incredible talent that deserves to be seen, heard, and celebrated on larger platforms.
“To every artiste who stepped up, we see you, we appreciate you, and we celebrate you. This is only the beginning.”
With the final notes of the challenge now fading, one thing is clear: for Triciah Jonas and many others, the stage has only just been set.
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