Zimpapers Logo

Dube (47), and Manwere (43) passed on in Harare at St Anne’s and West End hospitals while Mutasa (51) succumbed to diabetes at Masvingo Provincial Hospital.
Dube is a former news producer and presenter at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), where he also produced several dramas.
Manwere is the former Sunday News chief reporter and at the time of his death, was National Aids Council spokesperson while Mutasa was the editor of Masvingo Star.

Manwere’s wife, Monica, yesterday said her husband was admitted to the hospital two weeks ago after he complained of a severe headache.
“We rushed him to the hospital after he complained of a headache. The doctor said he had meningitis but on Sunday, his condition was stable and we had been informed that he would be discharged the next day,” said Monica.
“When I visited him on Monday, his condition had suddenly deteriorated and he could not talk. He passed away at about 7pm and I received a phone call from the hospital asking me to come back.”

Manwere was born at Muriel Mine near Banket in 1969 and did his primary and secondary education at Dalny Mine.
He worked for the then Mashonaland West Telegraph and became a teacher after school before joining the police force, where he worked in the public relations department based in Bulawayo and the Outpost Magazine.
He then joined the media fraternity and worked at The Sunday News and the Zimbabwe Independent.

He is survived by a wife, three children Destiny, Devotion and Diligence.
Manwere will be buried in Harare tomorrow.
Mourners are gathered at Lot 62A Ashdown Park, Harare.
Mutasa’s daughter Miriro said her father complained of chest pains and was rushed to hospital.
“My father had chest problems and the doctors said it could be sugar diabetes. When they did their tests, it was not clear what the problem was. We are still waiting

for the post-mortem results,” she said.
Mutasa did his primary and secondary education in Zambia before he came to Zimbabwe and briefly joined the teaching profession after attaining a teaching certificate at a teachers college in            Harare.

He then joined the police force and was based in Bulawayo in the 1980s, where he served for seven years and resigned  after attaining the rank of assistant inspector.
He enrolled for a diploma in Mass Communication at the Harare Polytechnic. After completing his studies, he joined Ziana.
Mutasa later left Ziana and joined Chronicle as its Midlands Bureau Chief.

He was then posted to Bulawayo where he worked as re-write editor, health editor   and features editor.

He left Chronicle and joined the immigration department where he worked as a public relations officer. He returned to the journalism fraternity when he joined Masvingo Star as its editor, a position he held until his death.
Mutasa is expected to be buried at his rural home in Chiyendambuya, Makoni District, on a date yet to be announced.
He is survived by his wife Elizabeth, and three children, Miriro, Salatiel Junior and Rangarirai.
Mourners are gathered at 9648 Chin’ayi Street, Rujeko C in Masvingo.
Dube’s sister, Ms Medeline Dube, said her brother succumbed to a brain tumour.
The veteran broadcaster worked at ZBC as a producer and presenter for a long time.

He is survived by his wife, Mary and three children Nomzamo, Jabulani and King Junior.
He will be buried tomorrow at Greendale Cemetery.
The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) secretary-general, Foster Dongozi, yesterday said 2012 was a difficult period for the media industry.

“I had the privilege to work and interact with these three seasoned journalists on different platforms and fondly cherish their work ethics  and professionalism.
“It was unfortunate that death has robbed the media industry of three experienced scribes within 24 hours. It is indeed a major blow to the media industry. May their dear souls rest in peace,” said Dongozi.

He said the gap that these three astute media practitioners have left would be difficult to fill.
“Dube, Mutasa and Manwere were committed to the strengthening of the union’s operations and prioritised the cause for improved livelihoods for journalists,” he said.

Dongozi said the three journalists made immeasurable  contributions to the union in the quest for better working conditions.
“We have received with extreme shock and sadness the information regarding the death of the three veteran journalists. What is particularly worrying about the incident is that the deaths occurred a few hours from each other,” said Dongozi.

“2012 has been a difficult year for ZUJ and the media industry as in January alone, we lost cadres such as Makuwerere Bwititi, Bornwell Chakaodza and veteran broadcaster, Freedom Moyo.”