admin
Senior Reporter
SUNDAY News editor Paul Mambo who died on Saturday will be buried at his rural home in Beitbridge tomorrow. Mambo (46) whose journalism career spanned 19 years, succumbed to meningitis at Mater-Dei Hospital. According to a programme released by the family yesterday, a service would be held for Mambo at Nyaradzo Funeral Parlour in the city at 8am today, followed by another one at the Brethren in Christ Church in Mahatshula at 9.10am.
His body would be taken to his rural home, Mpande area in Beitbridge for burial.
Mambo’s nephew, Mr Richard Manabela Ndou, said: “We shall observe the Venda culture and bury him at his rural home on Wednesday morning.
“People travelling from Bulawayo should turn to the right off the main road into Siyoka Road at the 228 kilometre peg near Makado. They will travel about 18km and turn to the right again towards Zezane before travelling about 5km and turning right once more, towards Chief Sitaudze’s homestead,” said Mr Ndou.
He said the Mambo homestead is less than a kilometre from the chief’s home, adding that the family would put posters on trees to direct mourners from the main road.
Mambo’s death has sent shockwaves in the media industry where he has been a force, known especially for prioritising rural coverage.
In a condolence message yesterday Zimpapers editor-in-chief Pikirayi Deketeke, said the company had lost a visionary leader who would be difficult to replace.
“Paul will be greatly missed by the Zimpapers group. He was a hardworking editor who provided visionary leadership for Sunday News, while contributing immensely to the growth of the newspaper, its circulation, design and content,” said Deketeke.
He said the paper grew under his stewardship and sharpened its focus on hard news, business, sport and light hearted reading material.
“He was a keen believer in ensuring the rural voice was covered in Sunday News. As Zimpapers we have lost a great editor who had great potential. I would like to express our condolences to his family for the loss of a loved one,” said Deketeke.
Chronicle Editor Itayi Musengeyi said Mambo’s death was a huge blow to the Zimpapers Bulawayo Branch and the group as a whole.
“His shrewd contributions to both editorial and management issues will be greatly missed. We have lost a repository of knowledge, a humble professional who was always willing to proffer his wise counsel to all members of staff,” said Musengeyi.
Zanu-PF National Chairman Cde Simon Khaya Moyo said he had received with shock and dismay news of the untimely death of Mambo.
“He was a man of principle, a professional journalist, a man of vision and purpose as well as a selfless servant of the people. He was a man who never fell for money or personal gains.
“He was indeed a clean journalist who never hopped from stable to stable in search of lies at the expense of unity of our people,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.
He also described Mambo as a man who strongly believed that journalism was a noble profession based on ethics and must not be contaminated by selfish and misguided actors whose love for money is incredible.
“Some misguided journalists would prefer to push foreign interests rather than defend the sovereignty of their country. Cde Mambo has left behind a legacy of uprightness and unflinching service to his motherland. Go well Paul, we will miss your jovial character. Go well son of the soil,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.
Zanu-PF National Secretary for Education Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said Mambo was a humble but deep thinker, an analyst of issues nationally and internationally.
“The passing on of Paul Mambo came as a shock to me. I was in touch with him about a month ago about Zanu-PF activities and political coverage, to thank him and the news editor for a job well done.
“I have known Mambo for many years from the time I was Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education and when I was Minister of Information and Publicity and patron of the Bulawayo Press Club. Indeed Mambo was a journalist and an editor par excellence. May his soul rest in peace,” said Dr Ndlovu.
The Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) described Mambo as “a receptive, honourable and progressive editor committed to the upliftment of journalism standards in the country.”
“VMCZ had the opportunity to work with Mr Paul Mambo during the in-house training of journalists at Sunday News where he was the editor. VMCZ also worked with Mr Mambo in his capacity as the chairman of Zimbabwe Association of Editors (ZAE), where his work towards bridging the gap between State and private media editors was still ongoing.
“He will be sorely missed by all in the journalism field and we pray that the comforting spirit of the Lord be with his family and friends during this difficult time. May his dear soul rest in peace,” read the statement.
Mambo was born in Gwanda and attended Mpande Primary School in Beitbridge. He went to Manama High School in Gwanda for secondary education.
Mambo was a teacher at Nuli Secondary School in Beitbridge from 1988 to 1989 before going to Harare Polytechnic to study Journalism and Mass Communication. He joined Sunday News as a reporter in 1991 and was promoted to senior reporter in 1994.
In 1998, Mambo was promoted to news editor and was later Chronicle assistant editor in 2001. He was promoted to senior assistant editor in 2002 and later became Chronicle deputy editor in 2003.
In 2005, Mambo was appointed editor of Manica Post up to 2007 when he rejoined Sunday News as editor, a position he held until his death.
Mambo also held a Bachelor of Arts in English and Communication with the Zimbabwe Open University and a Master of Business Administration Degree with the National University of Science and Technology.
He was a former board member of the Mutare Community Advisory Board.
Mourners are gathered at House Number 464 Mahatshula.
He is survived by four children and his wife Ms Egith Moyo.
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo