Veteran journalist and former editor of The Standard and The Herald, Bornwell Kidson Chakaodza (BKC) has died. He was 60.
His family told NewsDay the highly regarded pressman succumbed to bowel cancer this morning at the Avenues clinic in Harare after battling the disease for four years.
“He died early this morning at Avenues Clinic where he had been admitted since Monday night. He has been in and out of hospital battling cancer and had undergone three chemotherapy sessions.
He was due to go for the fourth stage when he passed away. He has been quite a survivor and continued with his work despite the challenges,” said his wife Emma.
Chakaodza mentored scores of journalists when he lectured at the Christian College of Southern Africa and Harare Polytechnic in the late 80s and early 90s.
In 1993, Chakaodza was appointed Director of Information in the then Ministry of Information, Posts and Telecommunications where he doubled as government spokesperson.
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In 1998, he was seconded to the State-controlled Herald as editor and doubled as managing director of Zimpapers’ newspaper division which included The Sunday Mail, Manica Post, Chronicle, Sunday News and vernacular Kwayedza before leaving the group.
He then assumed editorship of The Standard in 2002, taking over from the late renowned journalist Mark Chavunduka.
At the time of his death, the veteran journalist was a media consultant and columnist for various publications locally and internationally and vice chairperson of the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) and a member of the media complaints committee which adjudicates complaints against the media.
VMCZ executive director, Takura Zhangazha said it was a tragic loss to both journalism and the nation at large.
“He was committed to media freedom and self regulation. He was the founder member of the VMCZ and this demonstrates his commitment to media freedom,” he said.
Burial arrangements will be announced in due course and mourners are gathered at his Bluff hill home in Harare.