The renowned veteran journalist Geoffrey Nyarota, who passed away on March 22, 2025, was widely recognized across Zimbabwe and throughout the Southern African region and farther abroad.
Similar to how Okonkwo’s reputation was built in Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart,” his renown was grounded in substantial accomplishments within journalism.
As a journalist, Nyarota gained recognition in the late 1980s after serving as the editor of The Chronicle. He exposed a corruption scandal implicating high-ranking government figures such as ministers. These officials were alleged to have abused their positions to buy vehicles from Willowvale Motor Industries through governmental channels before selling these vehicles at a profit.
This led to the formation of the Sandura Commission, headed by High Court Judge Justice Wilson Sandura, which resulted in the scandal becoming infamous as the Willowgate Scandal.
As the inaugural chairperson of MISA Zimbabwe, Nyarota strived to adhere to the principles outlined in the 1991 Windhoek Declaration on Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Press.
The Declaration characterizes an independent press as one that operates without being influenced by governmental, political, or economic pressures, and is free from control over resources and infrastructure necessary for producing and distributing newspapers, magazines, and journals.
Regarding this, Nyarota, who received multiple prestigious international journalism accolades throughout his distinguished career, served as the inaugural editor of the groundbreaking Daily News.
So far, MISA Zimbabwe functions as the regional hub for MISA Regional and serves as a key thinker on issues like media freedom, freedom of expression, and access to information. This has been influenced by the significant strides made by individuals such as Nyarota.
His existence was fraught with challenges and hardships, yet it also left lasting impacts, demonstrated by the multiple books he authored reflecting his dedication to investigative reporting.
Nyati, who was widely recognized through his clan name, also presided over the government’s Information Media Panel of Inquiry (IMPI).
The IMPI report serves as an evolving and essential reference for actions required to ensure a democratic media landscape in Zimbabwe, where the press functions autonomously and performs its oversight duties without interference.
In an article marking MISA Zimbabwe’s 25th anniversary, Nyarota described the increased efforts to regulate the press (known as media capture) as “short-sighted” and a “violation” of the principles outlined in the Windhoek Declaration.
Efforts at media control, particularly those involving blatant corruption, should not just be strongly opposed but completely eradicated.
MISA needs to address these challenges by developing tactics to prevent any detrimental media manipulation.
One effective approach could involve instilling in journalists the habit of conducting impactful investigative reporting along with adhering to ethical standards.
Nyarota dozed, dreamed, breathed, and embraced journalism.
Cris Chinaka: Chairman of the MISA Zimbabwe Board of Trustees
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