Tributes are streaming in for a veteran journalist and autho Willie Zingani who died today Saturday, August 31 at Masm Med Clinic in Lilongwe.
Zingani was a literary giant who worked as a journalist, corporate and communications professional and author.
Born in March 1954, Zingani began his career in journalism at Blantyre Newspapers Limited (now Times Group) in 1982, rising to the position of Editor in the process. He also owned The Express newspaper at some point.
Misa Malawi chairperson, Gorden Matonga said Zingani worked as an Editor in the Ministry of Information, Presidential Press Secretary for former President Dr. Bakili Muluzi and in the office of the then Vice President Dr. Joyce Banda between 2009 and 2010.
“Zingani also worked as an Editor for the defunct Guardian newspaper before joining the corporate sector as Corporate Services Manager for Limbe Leaf Tobacco Company between 2010 and 2014.
“He was one of the doyens of the Malawi media industry yet one of the most humble around,” he said in a statement.
Matonga said he contributed a lot to the growth of the media industry in its nascent days as one of the pioneering editors for fledgling newspaper industry that emerged at the dawn of multiparty democracy.
“He made the transition to government and served the first president of the multiparty democracy with distinction and dignity,” Matonga said.
He added that Zingani returned to the industry and shared his vast experience in public office, corporate world and newsroom with a new crop of journalists.
“He remained an example of excellence and role model. We will miss his wisdom and warmth greatly,” Matonga sai,He received awards for his journalism and writing, including the Malawi Journalists Union’s Best Investigative Journalist award.
He helped expose corruption and human rights abuses in Malawi through his investigative journalism, and documented Malawian history and culture.
