Local News

Scores pay last respects to Ogunde

Journalists carry the coffin bearing the body of the late Willy Edward moments before paying their last respects at Mnazi Mmoja grounds in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday. The late Willy’s body has been transported to Mara region for burial scheduled for Saturday. (Photo by Fadhili Akida)

MNAZI Mmoja grounds were on Wednesday plunged into grief mood as media practitioners and other mourners turned out in  large numbers to pay last respects to their beloved comrade, the former Chief Editor with Jambo Leo, Willy Edward Ogunde, who died in Morogoro on Saturday night.

Various dignitaries described the 38-year-old Ogunde as a man of the people, hard worker, humble and a young leader who made it to top positions in the newsrooms within a short time. "I worked with the late Ogunde for seven years as a reporter at Majira Newspaper and I can confess that he was a person who displayed better qualities and he acted as a role model to others," said the Owner and Managing Director of Jambo Concepts (T) Limited, Mr Juma Pinto.

Mr Pinto noted that even after he came up with an idea to open up a company and establish a newspaper he again considered, the late Ogunde as the person who could take his company to the next levels. "Since I employed him in 2010, Ogunde rose through the ranks from News Editor to Chief Editor and he was the best in teamwork and giving advice whenever he found it necessary. We will indeed miss him," he said.

Mr Pinto thanked various individuals including the Morogoro Regional Commissioner, Mr Joel Bendera, the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) and the Tanzania Editors Forum (TEF) among others for extending their support. The Media Owners Association of Tanzania (MOAT) Chairman, Mr Reginald Mengi said that the demise of Mr Ogunde leaves behind an opening for media owners as his contribution was of great importance.

"We as media owners, we cannot be more important than journalists, in fact media needs talented journalists like the late Ogunde, therefore, as we pay our last respects to Mr Ogunde we regret to lose him in this industry," he said. Political parties were also represented; the Chairman of the Civic United Front (CUF) Prof Ibrahim Lipumba and the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Secretary of Ideology and Publicity, Mr Nape Nnauye graced the occasion.

Prof Lipumba described Mr Ogunde as a person who was important in ensuring sustainable construction and growth of democracy in the country. While addressing the same gathering, Mr Nape noted that the late Ogunde was more than a mere journalist to CCM as he on several times played an advisory role and that his untimely death was a big blow to CCM as well.

The TEF Chairman, Mr Absalom Kibanda said he would lead family members and other relatives in accompanying the body to Mugumu town, Serengeti district in Mara region for burial on Saturday. The late Ogunde started his professional life in 1996 when he joined the Business Times Limited (BTL) as a reporter at Majira newspaper where he rose through the ranks to become editor.
Between 2007 and 2008 he moved to New Habari Corporation where he worked as assistant news editor of Bingwa Newspaper.

Between 2008 and 2009 he joined an advertising company-ZK as a Public Relations Officer. He joined Jambo Concepts Ltd, publishers of Jambo Leo in 2010. The late Ogunde is survived by a widow and three children.