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Oliver Kazunga Senior Reporter
A PROMINENT lecturer at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) and political analyst Lawton Hikwa has died.
He was 50.
Hikwa died at Mater Dei Hospital in the early hours of yesterday morning after a short illness.
When The Chronicle news crew visited his home in Morningside, Bulawayo, yesterday afternoon mourners had gathered to pay their condolences.
A comment could not be obtained from his family.
Nust director of communication and marketing Felix Moyo said members of the institution had learnt with a heavy heart of the death of Hikwa.
“His death was so sudden. He died in the early hours today (yesterday) after he hadn’t been feeling well. He complained of a blocked respiratory system. His wife rushed him to hospital at 11PM on Saturday and he died after being put on a respirator,” said Moyo.
He said Hikwa will be missed by the university because he was a key member of the Nust development community.
“As we speak, some of his students have just called me telling me that he was a friendly tutor and who was also concerned about their future,” said Moyo.
Hikwa joined Nust as a part-time lecturer in 1994 before he was engaged as a full-time lecturer in 2000.
Before joining the university, the late Hikwa worked at institutions such as Harare and Bulawayo Polytechnics, the Rural Libraries and Resources Development Programme and the National Library and Documentation Service where he served in various capacities such as lecturer, training and publications officer as well as senior librarian and cataloguer.
He was also a commissioner in the Zimbabwe Media Commission and several other boards internal and external to Nust.
The late Hikwa published papers in disciplines that include library and information science, journalism, knowledge management and publishing studies.
Moyo described Hikwa as a man who executed his duties diligently and professionally.
“At the time of his death, Dr Hikwa had just completed his second term of deanship in the Faculty of Communication and Information Science. Despite him having completed his second term, I was certain that he would still be dean,” said Moyo.
“During his tenure for two years as dean, he was part of the senior staff, chairperson of the Nust library committee and also served exceptionally well on appointments boards. As dean, he was one of those who always met deadlines. Often, he submitted his work ahead of deadlines and his work was meticulously written as he was concerned about how he communicated his facts,” said Moyo.
He said Hikwa looked at all colleagues as friends and key members of the university.
“He loved humour and sometimes we travelled together on university business and he would offer constructive ideas for the development of the institution.”
Yesterday, Hikwa’s Facebook page was awash with condolence messages.
Ynghild Solholm of Norway wrote: My dearest Lawton Hikwa. I am in shock. I don’t know what to say. I have no words and this is so painful. I cannot believe it. You were the best, wise, so wonderful and full of life. I’m so grateful for all our precious talks and time spent together. My thoughts are with your beautiful family. The pain is just too much”
Lennox Mhlanga poured his heart out in a poignant message.
“As I go through these messages my tears flow of their own volition. But a lingering smile floats in the background. The happy memories, laughter and intellectual debates we had. Ngubani ozenelisa ukukhipha inhlamba with a flourish the way you did? Ever the master of the repartee. Gone too soon mzukulu wami. You are cracking their ribs in heaven right now,” he wrote.
Hikwa is survived by wife Didekile and three daughters.
Online Reporter