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Journalist Hastings Maloya dead

Malawi’s environmental journalist Hastings Maloya is dead. He died on Friday at Blantyre Adventist Hospital (BAH) after a short bout with meningitis. He was 40 years old.

His younger brother Jimmy Maloya said Hastings was admitted to the hospital on Friday last week with a presentation of vomiting. He added that prior to the BAH hospitalisation, the environmental journalist also spent four days at Malamulo Hospital in Thyolo with a leg problem.

Said Jimmy: “After his discharge from Malamulo, his leg problem subdued but he became weak from the continued vomiting. We took him to Mulanje District Hospital from where we were referred to BAH because they did not have medication to treat his ailment. He passed away at 8:45 pm.”

Maloya was until his death working as programme officer responsible for environmental education, awareness and communications at Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT).

According to his brother, Maloya has worked for the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), Guardian Newspaper, Blantyre Synod of the CCAP and Danida Wetlands.

One of his close friends, Raphael Tenthani, said the two of them argued a lot on many issues but remained good friends. He described him as a person who adhered to and passionately defended his beliefs.

Said Tenthani: “Malawi has very few journalists who are committed to promoting environmental issues. Maloya was one specialist and Malawi has lost an exceptional environmental journalist.”

He is survived by a wife, Tiaone, and two girls, aged 11 and 13.

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