Vuzu shakes up presenter lineup

Vuzu yesterday (March 18th, 2016) announced that they have added three new presenters to their lineup. At the same time, the channel announced that Denise Zimba and Shelton Forbes will both be leaving the channel to 'pursue other interests.'

The three new faces on Vuzu are as follows:
Nomuzi Mabena
Earlier this year MTV announced a VJ search to replace Nomuzi, who has decided to pursue other things. What we now know is that those other things is a stint as part of the Vuzu family. Interestingly, Nomuzi, who is also a singer, departed from her record label earlier this week due to differences in their creative direction. [I find it strange that someone as established as Nomuzi would join Vuzu which has always been a platform for young up and coming talents.]

Dash
Member of hip hop trio, Dreamteam. Dreamteam also presented Friday's edition of V Entertainment as part of the programme's ongoing series of guest presenters on Fridays.

Shane Eagle
A former contestant on the channel's talent search show, The Hustle.

Interestingly, all of these new presenters are singers trying to make it in the industry, while now also reporting on the entertainment industry. You don't expect politicians to report on politics for obvious reasons so why Vuzu insists on having musicians report on the entertainment industry is weird.

The three new presenters join Lalla Hiriyama (who has been with the channel since inception) and DJ Speedsta (who has been with the channel since earlier this year). the five of them will split presenting and reporting for V Entertainment (Monday to Friday, 6pm on Vuzu and VuzuAMP) and V Prime (Monday to Friday 6:30pm to 9:30pm on VuzuAMO) between them.

Commenting on the decision to include more faces to the brand, Head of Reality and Entertainment at M-Net Local Entertainment Channels, Sphumelele Sibeko says “VUZU AMP is a young , innovative brand that is synonymous with all things fresh. We understand that we need to keep reinventing the brand through its people.”

The new lineup, known as the #Vuzu5, officially debuts on April 1st to coincide with the new season of V Entertainment.

The reaction to the new lineup has been largely negative, with many on social media complaining about viewer favourite, Denise Zimba, who has been a presenter since 2013, being cut. Since the announcement was made, Denise has been retweeting viewers' complaining about her being cut without directly mentioning it herself. Late last year Denise was cut from the soap Generations as well.