Veteran ZBC reporter Janet Munyaka has died after she contracted COVID-19.
She was 48.
Munyaka died on Saturday evening at St. Anne’s Hospital in Harare where has had been admitted since last week battling Covid-19.
Janet had risen through the ranks at ZBC and was now the diplomatic correspondent at the time of her death. She had taken over the role following the death of another senior reporter Judith Makwanya.
Munyaka becomes the second prominent journalist in Zimbabwe to succumb to the coronavirus following the death on 23 March of Zororo Nakamba, who was Zimbabwe’s first known COVID-19 victim.
She is survived by husband Jackson and four children.
Meanwhile, condolence messages for the senior reporter have started coming in.
Secretary for Information Nick Mangwana said in a tweet;
Janet worked closely with the Taskforce on Covid19 giving updates to the nation. She was good at her job. Highly professional. She will be sorely missed by those who knew her, worked with her and those who were touched by her work. Condolences to her family, friends & colleagues.
AB Communications chief executive Susan Makore, who is also a Commissioner with the Zimbabwe Media Commission, said:
“Devastating news. Such a huge loss. Janet was a hard-working senior journalist.”
Professor Solwayo Ngwenya who I based in the UK said;
Such a wonderful lady. She would interview me even from Harare. She would view my status on WhatsApp and comment. Absolutely devastated. Terrible. MHSRIP.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Senator Monica Mutsvangwa described veteran ZBC reporter Janet Munyaka as an accomplished scribe
She said’
“On behalf of Government, I wish to express our heartfelt condolences to the Munyaka family, her workmates, the journalism fraternity, her friends and Zimbabweans in general. May you find solace and comfort in the good work that Janet did for her country.
Minister Mutsvangwa said Munyaka’s death was a huge loss to the media fraternity, as she was an inspiration to many, especially female journalists.
