Malawi’s veteran journalist Hasting Maloya dies aged 40
Veteran environmental journalist in Malawi also a blogger Hastings Maloya died Friday at Adventist hospital in Blantyre after a long battle with meningitis.
Nyasa Times has gathered that burial ceremony is expected to take place at his home village in the Traditional Authority Mabuka in Mulanje District.
An Adventist Christian, Maloya was an experienced journalist, writer and also a specialist in development communications, public relations, publications, desktop publishing, information technology, photographer, environmental education and rural development.
Until his death he was working as Programme Officer responsible for Environmental Education, Awareness and Communications for the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust.
He was also the founding publicity Secretary for Mulhakho wa Lomwe heritage group. Maloya has also worked as a journalist at Malawi Broadcasting Corporation.
One of the country’s international journalists Edson Chagara who files for Reuters News Agency, has said Maloya was “a very sociable, interactive, friendly and development conscious person”.
Tributes flowed on social media network.
Former MBC boss Eunice Chipangula expressed shock with the dead, saying initially she thought the news was a bad joke.
“I thought his admission in hospital was just one of those things, he will come back on the Namisa forum with his usual jokes, criticisms..but He is gone..why? Hastings Maloya..aka…iprophet..death has been so cruel my friend and former workmate..who will joke with me and keep me and fellow journalists laughing..who? Who will keep the Namisa (Misa-Malawi) forum lively? Who?” she wrote.
Nyasa Times editorial director Thom ‘Twee’ Chiumia tweeted: “I am deeply saddened to hear about the death of Hastings Maloya. He was a tireless defender of press freedom in Malawi. He was one of the frank journalists I have had the pleasure to work with. I have been fortunate to be able to call Hastings, not just a colleague, but a friend.”
Many journalists were devastated with the death of Maloya as status updates by media practitioners were dominated with sorrow, they included Innocent Chitosi, Thomas Chafunya, Kondwani Munthali, and George Mkandawire.
“God I can’t manage this, be just God and explain your reasons,” Kondwani Munthali posted on Facebook.
Zodiak radio’s Tiuzeni Zoona host, Pilirani Phiri wrote: “Death is a coward , RIP Hastings Maloya.”
Maloya died at the age of 40 and is survived by a wife and two daughters; Eva and Eve.
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