GURUVE Veteran journalist and former editor of The Standard and The Herald, Bornwell Chakaodza received a huge send-off as speaker after speaker spoke glowingly about his well-lived career in journalism during his burial in Guruve over the weekend.
Chakaodza (60) succumbed to bowel cancer last week at a private clinic in Harare after battling the disease for four years.
Hundreds of mourners, among them Alpha Media Holdings chief executive officer Raphael Khumalo, Modus Publlications Jacob Chisese, Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe executive director Takura Zhangazha, Misa chairman Njabulo Ncube, Zimbabwe Union of Journalists representatives, media practitioners and colleagues attended the burial.
In a condolence message, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said: It is with deep sadness that I learnt of the passing on of veteran journalist BC (as Chakaodza was known in media circles).
Chakaodza spent decades in the journalism trenches from his days at the Ministry of Information, at The Herald, at The Standard and lately as an incisive columnist.
In an era where standards and objectivity have gone low in journalism, Chakaodza was a breath of fresh air through his poignant and frank writings. Zimbabwe Media Commissioner and former ZUJ president, Mathew Takaona, said Chakaodza was an irreplaceable brand in journalism.
Chisese said the Financial Gazettes National Agenda column, which was penned by Chakaodza, must remain alive in memory of the readers. He said a Bornwell Chakaodza academy must be set up in memory of the late veteran journalist who was a dedicated fighter for media freedom.
Chisese said publishers must take heed of Chakaodzas fight to remunerate workers in the field as he was constantly fighting for better working conditions for scribes.
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He also fought for gender equality in all newsrooms and on behalf of our fraternity, we say he has gone, but in our papers we will not forget him and his column must remain in the papers, Chisese said.
