Nzawumbi makes his mark on global stage
When he chose to pursue a career in broadcast journalism, Siphiwo Nzawumbi’s main goal was to use his voice in aid of the voiceless.
More than 10 years later, the radio jock turned communication specialist uses his golden voice to serve on a global field, albeit in a slightly different form of communication.
It has now been a year-anda-half since Nzawumbi, fondly known as Spitch, moved to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where he now works as head of marketing and partner relations for a multinational property group.
Nzawumbi relocated from SA at the end of 2022, leaving behind his family, friends and a multitude of fans whose hearts he had won while working as a broadcaster at Umhlobo Wenene FM.
He made his TV broadcast debut on Yilungelo Lakho in 2014 while simultaneously working for Radio 2000 as a news anchor.
He later joined Umhlobo Wenene FM as a show host, which cemented him as a fan favourite, especially among isiXhosa-speaking listeners who continue to shower him with love on his social media platforms.
He relocated in December 2022 to start work in January 2023.
Nzawumbi’s big move to Dubai coincided with his drastic weight loss.
He shed more than 30kg of weight and committed to healthier ways of living.
His commitment to a healthier lifestyle at the beginning of 2023 followed countless attempts at several crash diets and weight loss tricks Nzawumbi had previously pursued and openly shared with his social media followers.
“I’ve always been health conscious in a way. I’m one of those people who were always on a diet. I’ve tried every crash diet you can think of.
“Genetically I’m from a family of plus-size people, so I think lifestyle-wise I wasn’t groomed to be someone who’s physically active. As a result, I never played any sports.
“As I grew up, my lifestyle became too relaxed and [I was] less mindful of what I consumed. Gradually, over the years, I was always chubbier than the average person.”
The straw that broke the camel’s back for Nzawumbi was the Covid-19 pandemic period, when he gained more than 20kg due to unhealthy eating and drinking habits while stuck indoors.
“By the time I started to take action, I was more concerned about my health, and thank God I didn’t have any health complications.
“I used to go to my doctor for regular check-ups, and every single thing would be OK, but my weight kept going up.”
Nzawumbi credits the success of his lifestyle change this time around to a change in environment, being surrounded by health-conscious people, and his own desire to live a happy, healthy and long life.
Though he is thriving in Dubai, Spitch continues to propel his home convenience business — Mastandi.
He also recently completed his MBA.