Malawi Mourns Veteran Journalist

Thousands of people converged at College of Medicine mortuary to pay their last respects to Malawi veteran journalist and trainer Edward Chitsulo who died on Sunday morning at Adventist Hospital after a short illness.

The late Chitsulo who died aged 56, was until his death Managing Editor for the Nation Publications Limited (NPL).

According to the family, Chitsulo, who authored one of Malawi's best columns, 'Raw Stuff' in the Weekend Nation, died of anemia.

Chitsulo's sons mourns after viewing the body of their father - Pic by Francis Mphweya

At exactly 10:00, the remains of the late Chitsulo left College of Medicine mortuary for his home in Nyambadwe, where various people made speeches and viewed his remains.

After speeches, the body of the late Chitsulo was taken to St Columbus CCAP in Church where prayers were conducted.

In his speech, Nation Newspaper deputy chief executive officer, Alfred Mtonga described the late Chitsulo as not only a journalist but a mentor and a trainer, who trained a lot of journalists and editors at the Polytechnic.

Mtonga also saluted Chitsulo for taking a leading role in the establishment of Malawi Institute of Journalism and Media Council of Malawi.

Regional Information Officer for the south George Pemba pays his last respect to the body of Edward Chitsulo - Pic by Francis Mphweya

"In Chitsulo's death, we have lost a pillar, an icon of media freedom. He was also like a father to our newsroom at Nation because he was always resolving conflicts whenever people have differed," said Mtonga.

State President Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika also learnt with deep shock on the untimely death of Chitsulo.

In a statement on Sunday, Mutharika joined the bereaved family, NPL, the Media Institute of Sothern Africa - Malawi Chapter, the entire media fraternity and the Malawi nation in mourning the loss of a journalist par excellence.

The president described the late Chitsulo as not an ordinary media practitioner but also a patriot who, through his writings, fought for and shaped democracy in Malawi.

Mutharika said as a media trainer, Chitsulo helped in the growth of the industry not only in Malawi but in the entire region.

The president said Chitsulo will be missed for his charm, courage, zeal, skills and willingness to share ideas with all.

"May the Almighty Lord sustain the bereaved family during this difficult time, and may his soul rest in eternal peace," reads the Press release from government and signed by the Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture Kondwani Nankhumwa.

The remains of Chitsulo, will be buried on Tuesday at Ntepele Village, T/A Likoswe in Chiradzulu.

Born on April 19, 1958, the late Chitsulo is survived with four children and one grandchild. Before joining NPL, Chitsulo worked at Blantyre Newspapers Limited, Polytechnic and lecturer in the Department of Language and Communication, Malawi Institute of Journalism and the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM).

(Malawi News Agency)