The Zimbabwe National Editors Forum (ZINEF) has received with sadness news of the passing on of journalist, Zororo Makamba, who becomes the first case to succumb to the novel global pandemic COVID-19, commonly referred to as the coronavirus.
Health minister Obadiah Moyo confirmed that Makamba lost the battle to the coronavirus on Monday (March 23) in Harare.
Zinef sends its condolences to the Makamba family and the media industry at large.
In a statement Zinef National coordinator Njabulo Ncube said: “Makamba would have had a bright future in the industry and his void will certainly be felt.
It is unfortunate that his death comes at a time the nation is seeking practical interventions to prevent and combat cases of infections with the deadly virus. Journalists and health workers are in the frontline of the pandemic.”
Ncube also said Zinef urges all authorities within the media industry to implement measures that will ensure the safety of media practitioners and support staff.
“We urge media organisations to provide sanitisers and protective clothing such as mouth masks and gloves to ensure journalists are safe from contracting the virus,” he said.
