adminNyemudzai Kakore Herald Correspondent
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation news reporter Thulani Miga, who died on Monday, was yesterday buried at Warren Hills Cemetery. He was 31. Miga died when a vehicle he was travelling in veered off the road and hit a tree along the Harare-Nyamapanda Highway.
Miga, who was on his way to Harare from Murewa where he had attended a funeral service, died on the spot along with two others – Richard Nsingo, the driver of the vehicle, and a cousin of Miga’s wife, Abna Museve, who was a nursing sister at Harare Central Hospital.
Speaking at Miga’s burial, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Christopher Mushohwe said Miga left a void in the media industry that will be difficult to fill.
“As the media industry and ZBC, we are at a loss for words because we are pained by the sudden death of Miga. As the media, we are migrating from analogue to digital and Miga was one of the journalists whom we were looking forward to assist in spearheading the process,” he said.
“Miga was part of my family as I worked with his father since independence. I heard the news when I was in South Africa and I was devastated and I called many times to verify if it was true.”
Minister Mushohwe urged ZBC not to forget the young family Miga had left behind.
Harare Metropolitan Provincial Minister Miriam Chikukwa slammed reports that some people in the ZBC hierarchy wanted to block the national broadcaster from covering Miga’s burial.
It is understood that a ZBC board member had gagged ZBC from covering Miga’s funeral arguing that he was now being portrayed as a hero.
“Miga was a hard worker and he deserves the coverage he is getting. Let us learn that our work should speak for ourselves. I hear reports that there are others who are complaining about this coverage,” she said.
Miga’s father, Bheki Miga, said his family had been robbed of a leader who united the family.
“He was soft spoken and I never heard him shout at anyone. He was a person who united the family,” he said.
Miga was due to celebrate his 32nd birthday in March this year. He is survived by his wife Tendai Liwewe and three children – Ruvarashe (10), Mzwandile (5) and Thandika (4).
Online Reporter