Online Reporter
Gibson Nyikadzino
FRIENDS and former workmates of veteran broadcaster Joseph Madhimba, who died yesterday morning in Windhoek, Namibia, have paid tribute to the journalist describing him as a humble icon and a man of impact and repute in the broadcasting, marketing and academic sectors in Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Madhimba, who became the face of the main news bulletin at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) for years after independence, died after a long illness following a stroke he suffered sometime last year.
Burial arrangements are yet to be announced.
Namibia Press Agency (NPA) chief commercial officer and journalist Mr Confidence Musariri yesterday confirmed Madhimba’s death, saying his influence in the media sector was also felt in Namibia, where he practiced as a journalist and lecturer.
“I can confirm that Mr Madhimba passed on today (yesterday) around 4am resulting from a stroke he suffered last year. He never recovered from it. Here in Namibia, he established himself in the media and education sectors where he left his credentials at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST).
“What is key from his passing is recognising the impact he left in Zimbabwe and Namibia’s media sectors. He was impactful here in Namibia,” he said.
Mr Musariri said Madhimba worked at the Confidente newspaper and lectured at NUST, previously known as the Polytechnic of Namibia.
In his eulogy, ZBC Chief Correspondent Reuben Barwe described his former workmate as an “icon” and “newscaster of repute” along with his peers, among them Busi Chindove, Temba Hove, Collin Harvey and Shingirai Tungwarara.
“I worked with Joseph Madhimba when I joined ZBC in 1985. During those days his fellow newscasters were Shingi Tungwarara, Busi Chindove, Temba Hove and Collin Harvey.
“He was a good, humble and unassuming man who was fluent in English and French. When we talk of Madhimba, we are talking about an icon,” Barwe said.
According to Barwe, what made Madhimba and his colleagues exceptional newscasters is that they not only read the news, but also edited news scripts before going on air.
“I met him the last time I went to Namibia. Madhimba was an icon cut from the same cloth with his peers, including people like Mike Munyati. They were newscasters of repute who not only read the news, but also edited news scripts,” he added.
Head of Corporate Affairs at Zimplats Ms Chindove, who co-presented the main news bulletin with Madhimba, expressed sadness over his death.
Ms Chindove described her former workmate as “very professional in his approach to work”.
