Zambian Journalist and Global Voices Contributor Gershom Ndhlovu Dies
Gershom Ndhlovu speaking at Global Voices Citizen Media Summit 2015 in Cebu, Philippines. Photo by Jeremy Clarke. Used under a Creative Commons License
It is with great sadness and pain that we announce the death of one of our active members, Gershom Ndhlovu, who passed away in Basingtoke in the United Kingdom on Sunday, November 22, 2015. He was 51.
Ndhlovu joined Global Voices on July 9, 2010. In his more than five years in the GV community, he contributed tirelessly, even when he was not in the best of health, with posts covering economic and socio-political events happening in his home country of Zambia. He wrote a total of 136 posts.
His first post, Zambia: Meet Zambian Citizen Broadcasters, was published on July 20, 2010. His last post, Zambia’s Master Class in Mishandling ICT Exams, was published on November 7, 2015.
This is how he described himself on his profile on Global Voices:
I am a Zambian journalist and blogger with a passion for all things Zambian. In the process of commenting on the political, social and economic issues of my country of birth, some people obviously get hurt which is not my intention. My mission is to present facts as they are. Whatever the case, the idea is to leave a better Zambia for our children and their children.
Gershom worked at the government's Zambia Daily Mail in Zambia for 12 years as the deputy news editor and later as deputy Sunday Mail editor. He studied for a bachelor's of mass communication from the University of Zambia and later obtained a master's degree in 2008 from University of Winchester in the United Kingdom where he relocated for political reasons. He was pursuing a postgraduate degree at the same university.
Gershom is the founder of news website Zambia News Features and co-host on popular Zambian podcast Political Crossfire on CrossFire Blogtalk Radio. He also used to blog at Issues Over Matters.
In 2013, he published a book titled “The Declaration of Zambia as a Christian Nation: Blessing or Curse“.
Gershom Ndhlovu in Cebu, Philippines, during Global Voices Citizen Media Summit. Photo from Facebook
A former workmate wrote:
Uncle Gershom Ndhlovu a colleague, former workmate and friend. i cant believe you are gone. i remember last year July 17th, you left your busy schedule in Basingstoke suspended all your programs and travelled to London to come and see me, accompanied me to my Graduation Ceremony at the University of Greenwich. you took me for Lunch in the company of my mum Maria Kapambwe Kasolo and my friends, you spoiled me Uncle Gersh with all i needed that special day. As if it was not enough, you took me out for a post celebration at the O2 with my friends Mutulu Shalyako Chilenga. you really coloured my day, made me feel special and loved. you treated me like a Son/brother together with my man Champo Nkonjela. Uncle Gersh, as long as that day will remain memorable to me i shall always live to remember you. you left me with a selfie as you use to love selfies. your also promised to come a do a project in Zambia with me, why do you have to go….!. May your Soul Rest in eternal Peace. you will be greatly Missed.
His friend, Benjamin Esau-Mkono remembers the first time he met Gershom after being friends on Facebook:
In November 2010, one Facebook friend, Gershom Ndhlovu, came to life. When I informed him I was in the Queen's land; he insisted we must meet. He invited me to his Basingstoke base. I had planned for a day's visit but he insisted, I spend a night there, in his house; he arranged everything.
After a few drinks, nshima and all, our discussions moved to the nearby Lloyd's Pub. The stories were endless, from how he got into the politicians’ hot soup in Zambia, how he ended up in the UK to the way social media is shaping up governance (access to information) in Africa and beyond […]
Fast forward to November 22, 2015; this blogger, journalist, father, uncle is no more. Life is but a candle in the wind! Shush!
Hamba Kahle! Rest well, ba Gersh!
Gershom Ndhlovu will be deeply missed by the Global Voices community. Our heartfelt condolences go to his family, friends, and Zambia's media fraternity. May his soul rest in peace.
4 comments
Gershom we will miss you terribly. Rest in peace.
Good man. He lives on in the hearts of everyone who experienced his kindness and read his illuminating words. The world is a better place for his having lived in it.
Sad. Hopefully it wasn’t a painful death. May he rest in peace.
It is with deep sorrow that I learned of the sudden death of our colleague Gershom Ndhlovu.
Translating his posts about Zambia was for me a unique expériencce. Often I found myself laughing when translating his posts on the comedy of power in his country of origin or the woes of Zambiawatchdog with censorship.
They are full of humor while dealing with serious topics. That’s why I was curious to know him in person. The 12th GlobalVoices summit gave me this opportunity. I found even more brilliant.
Rest in peace, my friend!