Editors Guild leads journalists in mourning Tanzanian colleagues who died in accident

The Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) has released a statement mourning the untimely death of six Tanzanian Journalists who perished in a road accident.

The six journalists, Abel Ngapemba of RS Mwanza, Vanny Charles of Icon TV Online, Johari Shani of Uhuru Digital, Pembezoni TV Online, Steven Msengi of Habari (H) Ukerewe, Husna Mlanzi of ITV and Antony Chuwa of Daily News Digital are among 14 people who died in a road accident Tuesday morning in Mwanza’s Busega district.

Authorities in Tanzania have confirmed that the six were in a convoy while on tour with Mwanza Regional Commissioner, Robert Gabriel.

In a statement, KEG President Churchill Otieno noted that the Guild learnt with great sadness the death of Tanzanian colleagues.

“We commiserate with our brothers and sisters in the journalism fraternity in Tanzania following the unfortunate occurrence, and are sorry for the loss of life visited on all the victims,”

“We send profound condolences to the families, colleagues, friends and respective media houses of the deceased. We pray for strength during this trying time,”said Otieno

The Eastern Africa Editors Society (EAES) is also condoling with Tanzanian journalists. The society said it was not only tragic to lose six colleagues at the same time but equally while on duty.

“It is painful for their loved ones and a big loss to the media fraternity in the country and region at large.” EAES said in a statement Tuesday evening.

According to EAES, the departed journalists will leave behind a huge gap “and we as the media fraternity owe it to them to continue to flame journalism independently, fearlessly and without favor.”

Earlier, President Samia Suluhu Hassan issued a statement expressing her condolences to the families of the dead and praying for the quick recovery of the injured.

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