Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa)-Malawi has joined the media fraternity in mourning veteran journalist Francis Tayanjah-Phiri. Tayanjah-Phiri died at Blantyre-based Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital yesterday after a short illness. Misa-Malawi Chairperson Golden Matonga said Tayanjah- Phiri contributed greatly to the growth of journalism in the country.
“We will miss him because he was one of the veterans in the profession [someone] who immensely contributed to the growth of journalism in the country. “He was our committed member and, at some time, served in various positions in Misa-Malawi. He worked for a number of media organisations, was a brilliant feature writer and groomed a number of journalists in the country,” Matonga said.
Close friend Macdonald Bamusi said Tayanjah- Phiri’s death had shocked him. “He was in good health and interacted with some friends, only to learn that he went to QECH this morning [yesterday] where he died,” he said. Bamusi said family members were yet to come up with a funeral programme but said that he would certainly be buried at his home in Salima District.
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The Times Group Chief Media and Digitalisation Manager Bayana Chunga said Tayanjah-Phiri left an indelible mark on Malawians during his time at the institution. “Francis Tayanjah-Phiri was among journalists who won the first-ever Misa-Malawi awards when the awards were first introduced in the country. He left an indelible mark on the media industry.
“He was also the first journalist to use the word ‘Cashgate’ in Malawi. As an organisation, we are grateful for the work that Francis did during his years of work at The Times Group. We mourn his loss,” Chunga said. Tayanjah-Phiri worked for a number of media institutions in the country and finished his career at media giant The Times Group, where he retired in 2018.
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