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Elita Chikwati Features Editor
Scores of mourners yesterday gathered at the Warren Hills cemetery to bid farewell to prominent journalist and gender rights champion Abigail Rumbidzayi Gamanya, who was described by many as a heroine in the journalism profession.
Abigail succumbed to pneumonia at Dandaro Clinic on Monday.
She was 49.
The burial was attended by senior Government officials, journalists, relatives and friends.
Gamanya was described as a heroine, mentor, counsellor, advisor and loving sister who fought for the rights of women in the media industry and their elevation to leadership positions.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister Kindness Paradza said Gamanya’s death had robbed the media industry of a heroine.
“As media practitioners, Abigail was a heroine to us,” he said. “She worked hard at different organisations, uplifting journalists especially the females so they could be in leadership positions.
“She worked hard for the improvement of journalists regardless of political party affiliation. She trained female Members of Parliament so they could also go up the ladder. She was an expert in women empowerment and media reforms. She was very firm with that.
“She empowered many through her International Training Programme which was being sponsored by Sweden.”
Deputy Minister Paradza said Gamanya was also instrumental in the crafting of the Media Practitioners Bill on issues of uplifting female journalists.
“We took her recommendations seriously and we will continue supporting her programmes,” he said.
“I do not know now who is going to carry on with the ITP programme. I hope we will have some of our female journalists who will take it up especially those in the Media and Gender Connect.
“Gamanya’s death is quite a loss. In terms of the profession, she is a heroine.”
Veteran journalist Tambudzayi Jonhera said she had lost a dear friend who fought hard for the betterment of other women.
“Everyone is born for a purpose,” she said. “She worked hard and fulfilled her purpose. She was a unifier in the family, at work and the media industry. She has left a huge gap. I encourage my colleagues to continue working hard and continue with the legacy Abie has left.”
Gamanya, who was the executive director of the Gender Media Connect at the time of her passing on, is remembered for her immense contribution and leadership to the media industry, especially the empowerment of female journalists.
In her statement, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa described Gamanya as a self-motivated media professional with vast experience in media freedom advocacy, media law, media development, gender mainstreaming, training and research.
Gamanya had 20 years of experience cutting across broadcasting, print and digital media.
Minister Mutsvangwa said Gamanya did not only lament the absence of many women in senior leadership positions, but went the extra mile, working with the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services and other stakeholders, to push for the case of female journalists as deserving of top positions as much as their male counterparts. Gamanya is survived by daughter Ruvarashe.
Online Reporter