MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-Hundreds of mourners including Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Larry Mavhima and journalists from different media houses, yesterday converged at Rupende homestead in Northlea suburbs to bid farewell to veteran ZBC Midlands Bureau cameraman.
Tinashe Rupende (38) a seasoned journalist, succumbed to kidney complications on Monday evening at Gweru Provincial Hospital.
He joined the ZBC in 2008 as a junior cameraman and rose through the ranks to Bureau Cameraman until the time of his death.
Mourners described him as a humble man who was dedicated to his work and amplifying the voices of marginalized communities in the country.
Mavhima said the nation has lost a committed worker who was passionate about national development.
He said he had known the late cameraman long back and attested to his unparalled work in the field of journalism.
“I worked with the young man from way back before I even became a Minister. He loved his work. Even during his last days, he would come and do his work without complaining. You would tell that the young man is not well but he would soldier on,” he said.
Vungu Constituency legislator, Omega Sibanda said he worked with Rupende in his area where he amplified development issues.
He said the veteran journalist “would go deep in the rural communities to tell the real story of the marginalized with an objective for the world to see and act”.
Affectionately known as ‘Big Tee’ by his colleagues due to his imposing stature, Rupende will be missed by the media fraternity for his hard work.
Zimbabwe Union of Journalist (ZUJ) national executive member, Michael Magoronga said the media fraternity and the union at large has been robbed of an experienced news man as the fraternity was richer with his experience and losing him was like losing gold.
Rupende’s death has also shocked the community he served as they remember him as a treasure who helped others in the time of need.
“I lived with him since his children were very little. He never gave me any problems as I welcomed him as my own child. Actually he was a treasure to some of us in this community as he would chip in, in times of problems. He was such a good gentlemen who was always jovial,” said his land lord Goodwill Mapanzure.
Angela Zivanai of Gweru Vendors Association added that the informal traders have lost the voice of the voiceless as they had “a cordial relationship which dates back to the time he came to Gweru”.
One of his workmates, Courage Bushe paid tribute to the late cameraman for his mentorship and guidance.
He said the late ‘Big Tee’ helped him “to interview and how to do stories, especially the political ones.”
Rupende is survived with his wife Primrose Mashegede and two daughters Anashe and Anopaishe.
He will be laid to rest tomorrow at his rural home in Mt Darwin in Mashonaland Central.
