3 journalists Manwere, Dube, Mutasa die

Masvingo General Hospital yesterday.
Manwere’s daughter Destiny said her father will be buried at Warren Hills cemetery tomorrow.
She said Manwere was admitted to hospital two weeks ago complaining of a severe headache and the medical staff at the hospital said it was meningitis.
“He was complaining of headache when he was admitted in hospital and it was pronounced to be meningitis,” she said.
Manwere (43) attended Dawn Mine Primary and Secondary Schools before he worked for Mashonaland West Telegraph. He later worked as a teacher before he joined the Zimbabwe Republic Police in the early 1990s. Manwere left the ZRP to join the media and worked for the Sunday News and the Zimbabwe Independent.
Until his death, he was the communications officer at the National Aids Council. Mourners are gathered at  Lot 62A Bloomingdale, Ashdown Park in Harare.
Dube is a former Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation producer and presenter.
He joined ZBC in 1984 as a newsreader before becoming a drama producer.
Dube (47) produced a number of dramas among them Rage of Innocence and Wakavimbisa.
He later left ZBC to pursue private business and formed a company called Video Audio Network together with his colleagues John Phiri and Farai Matambidzanwa.
At the time of his death Dube was a media consultant for an international organisation GRM.
Family spokesperson, Mrs Medeline Dube, said King was admitted to hospital last year complaining of headache and it was pronounced to be blood pressure.
She said King was again admitted to hospital this year at St Anne’s complaining of the same headache, which was then diagnosed to be a brain tumor. She said King will be buried today at Greendale Cemetery at 2pm.
Mourners are gathered at Number 7 TipTop Close, Mandara.
Mutasa who was Masvingo Star Editor succumbed to diabetes early yesterday morning.  He was 51.
Family spokesperson, Mr Thomas Makurirofa, described him as an honest and hardworking journalist who always stood for the truth.
Mr Makurirofa said the family had been robbed of a dedicated father and breadwinner who was always there for his family.
ZUJ Masvingo chapter provincial chairman Zachary Gava said Mutasa was a role model in journalism.
He said Mutasa was not only consistent but also a fountain of wisdom and expertise to the young journalists especially in Masvingo.
“Mutasa’s death is a blow to the whole journalism fraternity in Masvingo, he was a father figure to many scribes in the province and beyond and would be sadly missed by many,” he said.
Mutasa was born in 1961 and grew up in Zambia before he came to the newly-independent Zimbabwe in 1981. A veteran journalist Mutasa worked for such publications as the police Outpost magazine, the Immigration Department and New Ziana before he  joined the Chronicle in Bulawayo.
In 2009 Mutasa rejoined New Ziana as Editor at Masvingo Star.
He will be buried on Thursday in Chiendambuya, Headlands.
Mourners are gathered at Stand number 19648 Chin’ai Street in Rujeko.
He is survived by wife Elizabeth and three children.
Zimbabwe Union of Journalists, ZUJ described the death of the three journalists as a blow to the media industry.
In a statement, ZUJ secretary general Foster Dongozi said: “This is a very difficult period for the media industry and for me personally.
“I had the privilege to work and interact with these three seasoned journalists on different platforms and fondly cherish their work ethic and professionalism.”
Dongozi said it was unfortunate that death had robbed the media industry three experienced scribes within 24 hours.
“It’s indeed a major blow to the media industry,” Dongozi said. 
“The gap that these three astute media practitioners have left will be difficult to fill.”
Dongozi said the practitioners made immeasurable various contributions to the Union in the quest for better working conditions.
“Dube, Mutasa and Manwere were committed to the strengthening of the Union’s operations and prioritised the cause for improved livelihoods for journalists.
“The year 2012 has not been kind to us as it has already robbed us of other journalists such as Makuwerere Bwititi, Bornwell Chakaodza and Freedom Moyo” said Dongozi.