Online Reporter
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
THE management and staff of Star FM, one of Zimpapers’ leading radio stations, have joined the rest of the country in mourning the passing of Babongile Sikhonjwa — a vibrant broadcaster, comedian, actor, and arts promoter whose infectious personality made him a household name.
Sikhonjwa, who died yesterday at the age of 49, joined Star FM in 2023 as the host of The After-Drive. His presence was immediately felt on the airwaves, where his passion and charisma quickly endeared him to listeners across Zimbabwe.
In a statement, Star FM expressed profound sadness at his untimely death, describing him as more than just a presenter and highlighting his role as a mentor and advocate for the creative industry.
“Babongile joined the Star FM family in 2023 as host of The After Drive (Tues & Wed, 6:30pm) and quickly became a cherished voice on our airwaves. His passion, charisma, and deep commitment to the creative arts made him not only a remarkable broadcaster but also a powerful advocate for Zimbabwe’s artistic community.”
True to his Bulawayo roots, Sikhonjwa dedicated much of his career to uplifting young and upcoming talent. He used his platform to give exposure to emerging artistes, helping many build and sustain their careers.
“Throughout his time with us, Babongile made an indelible mark on the development of the arts industry. He was especially known for his unwavering support of emerging talent, consistently using his platform to profile and promote upcoming artists. His efforts helped launch and elevate many careers, and his legacy will live on in the voices and stories he helped bring to light,” Star FM noted.
The station extended condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and fans, saying his energy, laughter, and love for the arts would be sorely missed.
Meanwhile, broadcasters across the country have paid glowing tributes to the late Sikhonjwa, describing him as a jovial personality and a unifier in the broadcasting fraternity.
Phathisani Sibanda, who worked closely with Sikhonjwa, said words could not capture the depth of his loss.
“Words aren’t enough to express the pain I feel after Babongile’s death. He was always jovial and a unifier in broadcasting circles. I’ll always miss him and cherish the good moments we had together. To me, he was more than a colleague; he was family,” he said.
Sibanda added that Sikhonjwa’s passing was a reminder to value life’s moments.
“Losing a colleague like him is hard to bear. I have learnt to cherish every moment in life because we don’t know what the future holds.”
Fellow presenter Tinashe Chikuse echoed similar sentiments, expressing deep sorrow over the loss. “It’s a loss that we’ve suffered in the broadcasting fraternity. We worked for the same company, and losing a colleague is hard to take. He was a good colleague, and we will miss him dearly,” he said.
DJ and Star FM presenter Danny Lunga, popularly known as DJ Danny, also shared his grief on Facebook with a short but emotional message: “Babongile, why, why, why?”
