PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Veteran Malawian journalist Jika Nkolokosa dies at 53
Blantyre, Malawi (PANA) - Mr. Jika Nkolokosa, the 53 year-old doyen of Malawi journalism, has died, his cousin, Mzati Nkolokosa, told PANA, adding that his uncle enjoyed good health until this (Monday) morning.
"He complained that he was feeling unwell and went to Queens (Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital), where his wife works and in no time he was dead," he said.
Journalists in Malawi have described the death of Nkolokosa as a "national tragedy".
Known for his impeccable English, Nkolokosa worked as secondary school teacher after graduating from the University of Malawi.
He then joined the Blantyre Newspapers Limited (BNL) before joining an editorial team that was invited by businessman-cum-politician, the late Aleke Banda, to found the Nation Publications Limited before moving back to BNL as Managing Editor.
At the time of his death, he was Director of the Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ).
Nkolokosa's witty satirical opinions in two successful newspaper columns charmed readers and inspired young journalists.
His "Tongue In Cheek" in the Weekend Nation was a frank analysis on current news.
When he moved to BNL, he started another successful witty column "All I Can Say".
On the MIJ Radio, he started another opinion slot, where under the title "A Closer Look", Nkolokosa discussed current news with indepth analysis.
Long-time friend and colleague Alfred Ntonga, deputy CEO of NPL, summed up: "We're ending the year at a sad note."
Said Ntonga, who - with current Tourism Minister and academician Dr. Ken Lipenga, the late Patrick Kalagho and Nkolokosa - were founding editors of NPL which later became Malawi's second largest media group:
"I'm devastated. Jika and I came a long way. We joined journalism together at BNL, from a teaching background. When we started NPL, Jika literally was editing both The Nation (the media group's flagship title) and the Saturday Nation (now Weekend Nation) alone. When he left for BNL, we had to engage two editors for the two newspapers. That shows you how versatile he was."
He concluded: "This is a sad day for Malawi journalism."
A tentative programme indicated that the remains of Nkolokosa would be taken to his home in the southern town of Bangula in the southern Lower Shire Valley Tuesday for burial on Wednesday.
-0- PANA RT/BOS 26Dec2010
"He complained that he was feeling unwell and went to Queens (Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital), where his wife works and in no time he was dead," he said.
Journalists in Malawi have described the death of Nkolokosa as a "national tragedy".
Known for his impeccable English, Nkolokosa worked as secondary school teacher after graduating from the University of Malawi.
He then joined the Blantyre Newspapers Limited (BNL) before joining an editorial team that was invited by businessman-cum-politician, the late Aleke Banda, to found the Nation Publications Limited before moving back to BNL as Managing Editor.
At the time of his death, he was Director of the Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ).
Nkolokosa's witty satirical opinions in two successful newspaper columns charmed readers and inspired young journalists.
His "Tongue In Cheek" in the Weekend Nation was a frank analysis on current news.
When he moved to BNL, he started another successful witty column "All I Can Say".
On the MIJ Radio, he started another opinion slot, where under the title "A Closer Look", Nkolokosa discussed current news with indepth analysis.
Long-time friend and colleague Alfred Ntonga, deputy CEO of NPL, summed up: "We're ending the year at a sad note."
Said Ntonga, who - with current Tourism Minister and academician Dr. Ken Lipenga, the late Patrick Kalagho and Nkolokosa - were founding editors of NPL which later became Malawi's second largest media group:
"I'm devastated. Jika and I came a long way. We joined journalism together at BNL, from a teaching background. When we started NPL, Jika literally was editing both The Nation (the media group's flagship title) and the Saturday Nation (now Weekend Nation) alone. When he left for BNL, we had to engage two editors for the two newspapers. That shows you how versatile he was."
He concluded: "This is a sad day for Malawi journalism."
A tentative programme indicated that the remains of Nkolokosa would be taken to his home in the southern town of Bangula in the southern Lower Shire Valley Tuesday for burial on Wednesday.
-0- PANA RT/BOS 26Dec2010
