Gone Too Soon – Mourning Ephraim Nyirenda
Millions of people who used to tune in to Tuntufye FM a diocesan radio station of the Catholic Diocese of Karonga will miss audible and soft spoken voice of one of its great radio broadcasters.
The death of Ephraim Nyirenda has left millions of people in the country hands on their heads disagreeing to agree that the Tuntufye radio personality is no more.
On Thursday 22 March 2018 people from all corners of the country flocked to his home village at Chizani in Mzimba District to pay their last respect to the veteran young fast rising star in media industry in Malawi.
According to police report, Ephraim Nyirenda and the driver Mack Donald Mkwaira died on spot after the car they were travelling in Toyota Hilux Double Cabin Registration number, BR4136 collided with Fuso Fighter Registration number BP 5094 on 21 March 2018 at around 08:40 AM at Ibanda area along Chitipa Karonga road.
The Bishop of Karonga Diocese, Right Reverend Martin Anwell Mtumbuka has described the death of Ephraim Nyirenda as a shock to the church and radio Tuntufye. The bishop said this at St Mary’s parish during late Ephraim’s requiem mass.
The bishop said Ephraim was a humble, very dedicated and hard working person both at church and radio station and losing him in this way is a great loss. The bishop further expressed deep sorrow to the bereaved family and the entire media fraternity in the country due to the death of Mr Nyirenda.
The Bishop Said, “The death of Ephraim Nyirenda is a big loss to the church and the media fraternity in the country, especially to Tuntufye FM. Ephraim loved his job and he was very dedicated to the church.
The Bishop adds, “It’s very sad to loose such a young boy in this tragic and shocking situation which will not be forgotten. As he joins the father, we pray for his soul so that the good Lord should console his family and the entire media fraternity, may his soul rest in peace”.
In his eulogy the Secretary General of Synod of Livingstonia, Reverend Levi Nyondo said Ephraim Nyirenda was good and credible journalist who worked with integrity when discharging his duties. Nyondo advised journalist who attended the burial ceremony at Chizani in Mzimba district to emulate from the deceased.
Said Nyondo, “If Ephraim was a bad journalist we couldn’t have come here for burial, but Ephraim Nyirenda was a humble person who discharged his duties with integrity. He was one of the pioneers at Voice of Livingstonia radio. While at VOL together with Mzondi Banda Ephraim did one of the famous programs called Salaula, it will take time to find someone like him”.
While trembling in a sombre mood due to the death of his close workmate, Moses Kamanga Head of News at Tuntufye FM and the representative of Association of Catholic Journalist in Malawi at the funeral said the ACJ was shocked to learn the demise of Ephraim Nyirenda who until his death was a member and Secretary General of the Northern Region Chapter of the ACJ.
Kamanga said, “The Association of Catholic Journalist in Malawi is deeply shocked with the demise of Ephraim Nyirenda who until his death was the Secretary General of the ACJ from Northern Chapter”.
He adds, “Despite his busy schedules at work but Ephraim was also a dedicated person to his church, this rarely happens to us as journalist in most cases we like earthly things, money building houses and so on, but Ephraim was not like”.
According to the Diocese of Karonga official communication Ephraim Nyirenda died on spot on fatal road accident in Chitipa between Chipoka and Lufita while he accompanied people from the 50-50 campaign from Lilongwe as Nyika Media club delegate.
Until his death the late hailed several positions in media clubs and association, at Tuntufye FM Ephraim was the Head of Programs. He died at the age 34, and hailed from Zebedia Village T/A Mabulabo in Mzimba District.
By Augustine Kambuzi Banda