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He was 52.
Mutume died on Sunday from a brain haemorrhage and high blood pressure.

The veteran broadcaster — who worked for Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings for many years — suffered stroke in 2005.
The stroke attacked him while he was attending a broadcasting course in China.

According to Tazzen Mandizvidza, the general manager in the news and current affairs department at ZBC, Mutume was one of the first broadcasters to join the corporation and shape it into what it is today.
“He was not just a broadcaster, but also a war veteran. He went to war in 1974 and was trained at Chimoio before leaving for Nyadzonia.
“He was later transferred to Tanzania and Madagascar where he received training in broadcasting. Mutume worked as a producer-announcer together with Victor Zhizha Murira,” said Mandizvidza.
From there, Mutume moved to Bulawayo where he helped in setting up Mtwakazi radio station.

Mutume will be remembered for working alongside Cde Webster Shamu during his tenure as a producer-announcer.
Listeners with a long memory will remember Mutume — or Baba Shupi as he was fondly called on the airwaves — for his programmes like “Africa Yotinhira” which was a rhumba programme, Kwaziso and the current affairs programme Zvepasi Rino, among others.
He was elevated to the position of senior producer and while he was still in Bulawayo, Mutume was one of the few presenters who promoted local languages on television through his programmes.

At the time of his death, he was a part-time executive producer.
“His death is a big loss to ZBC. He was one of those people with a long history in broadcasting and his experience was quite helpful especially to the young presenters who came later and made up the blend of new and old ones at the corporation.
“He not only shaped the direction of broadcasting but was also a patriotic Zimbabwean,” said Mandizvidza.

Mandizvidza revealed that war veterans through their association were lobbying for Mutume to be accorded a provincial hero’s status.
Simon Pashoma, the chief producer at Radio Zimbabwe, also lamented the death of Mutume, saying it robbed the corporation of a very skilled broadcaster.
“It is indeed a sad loss. I worked with him since 1985 and he was my first supervisor. I learnt a lot from him especially in terms of attitude and commitment towards work. Even when I was retrenched in 2002, he was instrumental in making sure that I come back,” said Pashoma.

Another presenter, Richmond Siyakurima, bemoaned Mutume’s death, saying his departure left a big void.
Meanwhile, Mutume will be laid to rest today in his rural home of Gandanzara in Rusape.
He is survived by three kids.