FORMER Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services deputy minister Kindness Paradza yesterday said the late Simba Rushwaya had left a yawning gap in the journalism fraternity.
Rushwaya, who died on Tuesday of colon cancer at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, is expected to be buried in Birchenough Bridge today.
One of the country’s top sports journalists, Rushwaya was working for Zimbabwe Newspapers’ Manica Post as a senior reporter at the time of his passing.
Rushwaya joined Alpha Media Holdings in 2010 as a sports reporter when NewsDay was formed and rose to become the group sports editor before he left in 2014.
Speaking during a church service for the late sports journalist in Harare yesterday, Paradza described Rushwaya as a hard worker who kept the industry updated.
“I first knew Simba when we started as youngsters, during my days at Modus Publications. He was a serious writer, someone who would always want to keep the industry abreast of what is happening.
“He was a hard worker and we miss Simba because we used to learn from him as well. So, it’s a very big gap that has been left with Simba Rushwaya,” he said.
Rushwaya family spokesperson Tinos Rushwaya said the late sports editor was a quiet and courageous man.
“As the Rushwaya family, we are heartbroken and deeply hurt with this dark cloud that is upon us. We were hoping that the sickness will end and we tried all means to do what we can, but in the end, God has done his will.
“Simba was a man of great courage and integrity and will be sorely missed by those who knew him,” he said.
Zimbabwe Union of Journalists secretary-general Perfect Hlongwane said: “It is a very sad moment for us as a media industry and we are celebrating the work that one of us was doing.”
He added: “Rushwaya was one of the best journalists who was concerned about issues of the community and bringing them out in the form of writing.
“A professional and respectful individual, Rushwaya worked across various media houses in Zimbabwe, mostly as a sports journalist.”
“I was shocked to learn that Simba is no more because he was the kind of a person who would come and sit with us and discuss issues surrounding challenges faced by journalists and how we could improve them.”
Rushwaya started his professional journey as junior sports reporter for the Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ) in 2000, rising through the ranks to become deputy sports editor in March 2003.
After AMH, Rushwaya had stints at Flame News from February to April 2015, and Gauteng Guardian (2016-2017) as news editor in both cases.
In June 2019, the veteran journalist rejoined the ANZ as the deputy news editor for Daily News.