Online Reporter
Obadiah Thembani Moyo
I wish to convey my sincere condolences to the Nyarota family, his friends and former colleagues on the passing away of Geoff Nyarota, former editor of The Manica Post, Chronicle and The Daily News.
Between 1980 and 1983, I was working for the Ministry of Education and Culture based in Mutare, where I met Nyarota, who was the editor of The Manica Post. Besides working with the Ministry of Education and Culture, I was also Manicaland Chairman of the National Council of Disabled Persons of Zimbabwe (NCDPZ). It was during this period that I met Nyarota, leading to our friendship.
He gave NCDPZ wide coverage in The Manica Post on issues related to disability rights. Our branch developed a three-year Plan of Action (1981 to 1983) that The Manica Post featured weekly. One of the activities of the Plan of Action was the holding of a festival at Sakubva Stadium in Mutare to mark the 1981.
International Year of Persons with Disabilities.
The festival was held under the banner of the PHAB (Physically Handicapped and Able Bodied) Festival. This was a unique get-together of persons with disabilities and non-disabled persons. A festival committee was formed, with Nyarota being a part and responsible for publicity. The festival was a big success with Oliver Mtukudzi performing to a packed Sakubva Stadium. Former cabinet ministers Kumbirai Kangai and Edgar Tekere graced the occasion alongside other high-profile dignitaries.
NCDPZ became a household name in Mutare, and companies requested us to second persons with disabilities to join their employment. This was made possible as a result of Nyarota’s Manica Post coverage.
My branch was able to raise enough funds to enable us to open our administrative offices in Mutare in 1981, where we employed a qualified administrator to manage our branch’s affairs.
We were the first NCDPZ branch to be financially independent, with no support from donors or our main offices.
Following the successful staging of the initial 1981 PHAB Festival, it became an annual event and was staged during the entire period of the Plan of Action.
NCDPZ also developed a close relationship with the then-Mutare Mayor Davison Jahwi and his council. The council gave us a waiver at their halls when hosting our fundraising activities, and we did not have to make any payment to the council.
Taking advantage of this offer, we were able to stage profitable fundraising activities. Such events were given publicity by Nyarota in The Manica Post, leading to an influx of people.
In 1983 I moved to Bulawayo following a request by the leadership of the NCDPZ to join their main offices as head of administration. This was also the same time Nyarota moved to Bulawayo to take up a new post as Editor of the Chronicle.
It was a joy for us to team up in Bulawayo and continue our relationship. Nyarota went on to feature NCDPZ in the Chronicle under my new role at our head offices. We would also meet for social get-togethers in the evenings or weekends and relax while looking back at our encounters in Mutare.
One of the projects I was responsible for was the construction of Freedom House Social Centre. NCDPZ and the Freedom House project became a regular feature in the Chronicle, and the efforts of persons with disabilities were undertaking to lead independent lives. Freedom House was officially opened in 1984.
I introduced Nyarota to some of the pioneers of the NCDPZ, who included the late Cde Joshua Malinga, who was the national chairman, and Jabulani Ncube, then Director of NCDPZ.
In all the years of my association with Nyarota, I found him to be a good listener, a great thinker and a sociable person.
In September last year, prominent former Chronicle cartoonist Boyd Maliki informed me that our friend Nyarota was not feeling well. We both agreed on undertaking a joint fundraising project to raise money to go towards Nyarota’s medical bills. Nyarota departed before this plan could be fulfilled.
The fact that Nyarota has written a couple of books about his journalism ideas, I am sure that his works will live beyond his passing away.
We shall always remember Geoff Nyarota’s contribution to literature and information advancement in this country.
May His Soul Rest In Everlasting Peace!
*Dr Obadiah Thembani Moyo is the Secretary-General Rural Libraries and Resources Development Programme (RLRDP). He writes in his personal capacity.
