Zoleka rises: Interview with Lunathi Mampofu

Lunathi Mampofu has made a name for herself with performances that cut deep and stay with you. From The River to 1802: Love Defies Time, she has consistently demonstrated her undeniable star quality, making each diverse role unforgettable.

With Inimba, Lunathi has found a role that holds a mirror to the lived realities of women everywhere. Inimba is a gripping tale of love, sacrifice, and a mother’s fight to reclaim her life and the daughter she was forced to leave behind. At its heart is Zoleka, a tech mogul and devoted mother navigating the pull between family and ambition.

Watch Inimba weekdays at 9PM on Mzansi Magic Channel 161. 

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Zoleka is introduced at her most vulnerable, pleading for her child’s life. How did you prepare emotionally for such a raw opening scene? 

That scene wasn’t just a performance; it was a surrender. When I first read it, I knew I had to go somewhere honest. As a mother, that vulnerability lives beneath the surface. You silently pray your child is always safe. So accessing that pain wasn’t imagining; it was unearthing something inside me. 

I prepared by going quiet – stripping away noise, distractions, and even conversation. I sat with the “what ifs”: What if it were my child? What if I had no control? I let my body carry that grief, feeling what it means to plead from helplessness. On set, I didn’t act; I felt. Zoleka’s scream, silence, desperation – all real. That scene is the heartbeat of her story. 

Zoleka is a tech mogul fighting for respect in male-dominated boardrooms. What was it like playing that role? 

It’s deeply affirming but also triggering. Though Zoleka is fictional, her struggle is painfully real. I’ve seen it. I’ve lived it. Women work twice as hard to be heard half as much. We’re forced to be sharper, louder, more polished just to be equal. What I love about Zoleka is that she doesn’t dilute herself. She owns her brilliance unapologetically. She’s not trying to be “liked”; she’s trying to build. 

What made the role rich was showing the cost of that power – isolation, doubt, constant pushback. It’s not easy to wear the crown and still be questioned at every turn. So Zoleka’s journey is both a celebration of women in power and a critique of the systems that try to silence them. 

Zoleka reflects many South African women balancing career and motherhood. What conversations do you hope Inimba sparks? 

I hope Inimba lets women say: I’m tired. I’m trying. I’m doing my best. We’ve created a culture where women are supposed to “have it all” – the thriving career, perfect home, gentle heart, fierce ambition – yet carry so much without support. Zoleka embodies that impossible balance. She’s not always graceful; she breaks, questions herself, makes mistakes, but she keeps showing up. I want society to ask: what does it take to support a woman like Zoleka? Not just applaud her wins but hold her when she stumbles. I hope the show sparks real talk about mental health, single motherhood, forgiveness, and how much we ask of women without truly seeing their full humanity. 

This Women’s Month, how do you reflect on your role and the stories you tell? 

With immense gratitude and purpose. This industry hasn’t always made space for women with voice, depth, and bold visions. But through the cracks, we grew. We found our rhythm and light. Now, with every role, I ask: What does this say to the young girl watching? What do we affirm, undo, and boldly declare? 

I no longer want roles that just fill screens. I want roles that move hearts, minds, and our collective story about women. I want to impact, heal, and disrupt narratives that say we’re too emotional or complicated. African women in this industry aren’t just fitting into stories; we’re writing and producing them, leading and breathing life into worlds where softness and strength coexist. That is revolutionary. If one woman feels less invisible, one mother seen, or one girl dares to believe her voice matters because she saw a woman telling the truth with courage – then I’ve done more than act. I’ve lived my purpose and carved a path for others to walk barefoot and unafraid. 

Watch Inimba S1 weekdays at 9PM on Mzansi Magic. Channel 161.