The media fraternity was yesterday thrown into grief following the deaths of three journalists within 24 hours.
The three are veteran broadcaster King Dube, National Aids Council public relations officer Orirando Manwere and Masvingo Star editor Salatiel Mutasa.
Manwere, a former reporter with the Sunday News and Zimbabwe Independent, died on Monday night at a private clinic in Harare due to an undisclosed illness while Mutasa succumbed to diabetes. Dube died from a brain tumour.
Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) secretary-general Foster Dongozi yesterday expressed shock at the deaths, which he described as painful.
“As a union, we have received with extreme shock and sadness the news that three of our colleagues have died. What is really shocking is that these are three very senior members of the profession. It is really devastating,” he said.
He added the deaths were a reminder of the sad period in January when the country lost former Standard and Herald editor Bornwell Chakaodza, ZBC’s Freedom Moyo and former Chronicle editor Makuwerere Bwititi.
“For us, 2012 has been terrible in a huge way. We are not even halfway through the year, but so far we have lost nine colleagues. Our hearts go out to the families of these colleagues,” Dongozi said.
US Embassy media specialist, Sizani Weza described the deaths as a sad loss saying:
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“I have worked with the two media practitioners (Manwere and Mutasa) and King’s work on radio was music to my ears. It is through the annual Auxillia Chimusoro HIV and Aids awards supported by the USAid that I saw Manwere’s name listed among the nominees, a clear attestation to his immense contribution to journalism and the Zimbabwean community.”
