Muluzi, others mourn photojournalist Mlazie

Former president Bakili Muluzi, the media, colleagues and family yesterday paid tribute to veteran media personality Dick Hamis Mlazie who walked his last mile in Blantyre yesterday.

In his eulogy delivered at Ngumbe in Blantyre, the former president, who was represented by former Cabinet minister and diplomat Ziliro Chibambo, said he was saddened by the death of Mlazie, a dedicated photojournalist, humble and professional.

He said: “Uncle Dick, as he was popularly known, was a selfless person, a very loyal civil servant who never compromised his work ethic with politics. He has worked with various presidents in the country from the British to the founding president Hastings Kamuzu Banda, Muluzi and the late Bingu wa Mutharika.

“Later on, the other presidents would call him on duty because of his skills. His professionalism should be a reminder to colleagues in the media industry to always stick to your work ethic regardless of the political party in power. Young journalists should emulate his work ethic.”

Minister of Information and Digitisation Gospel Kazako, speaking through Nation Publications Limited (NPL) deputy chief executive officer Alfred Ntonga, described Mlazie as a rare human resource the country could have to benefit.

He said: “There are spaces and positions that cannot find replacement for a very long time. National development depends on skilled, responsible and qualified human resources in various sectors.

“Uncle Dick Mlazie was one such human resource we could have to benefit from forever. Unfortunately, God’s plans are not our plans. May his soul rest in peace.”

Speaking on behalf of NPL and veteran journalists, Ntonga said NPL was Mlazie’s last duty station.

He said Mlazie did not only help train fellow professionals in the industry, but also taught colleagues to always plan for the future.

Ntonga said: “NPL was his last duty station as a journalist. When we asked him to work with us, it was when Kamuzu Banda died in 1997. He was advanced in age, but he accepted and we hired him on a part-time basis to help us with the pictures.

“He was eventually employed for almost a decade to help train fellow photojournalists with skills before leaving to take up a presidential photographer post for former president Bakili Muluzi during his second term.

“He has taught us journalism. Today, we are where we are because he helped train us. He has trained a lot of journalists. We are saddened by his departure but we thank God that his skills have been fruitful to journalism.”

Representing Media Institute for Southern Africa Malawi Chapter and Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ), journalist Lloyd Kayisi hailed Mlazie for his contribution towards journalism in the country.

He said Mlazie was instrumental in the establishment of MIJ in 1995 and served on its board in various committees since 1997.

“We are worried but we thank God for giving us Mlazie to help nurture journalism in this country through various media houses, including MIJ,” Kayisi said.

Mlazie, 90, died on Friday at Mtengoumodzi Private Clinic in Blantyre after a long illness.

His funeral was attended by hundreds of people from all walks of life.