By A Correspondent- Veteran play writer, Stephen Chifunyise has died.

He was 70.

Chifunyise was born on September 21, 1948, in Nhema, Shurugwi, in the Midlands province of the then Southern Rhodesia.

He attended St Linus Matoranjera School in Chitomborwizi, Chinhoyi, for his Sub A up to Standard I.

He then moved to Shamweti Primary School, Mumbwa, Zambia in 1960 for his Standard II, transferring to Chisengalumbwe from 1961 to 1964 to pursue Standard III up to VI.

Between 1965 and 1969 he moved from Libala Secondary School to St Mark’s Secondary School to complete his high school education. The following year in 1970 he enrolled for his BA with education at the University of Zambia.

He went abroad to the USA where he successfully completed his MA in Theatre Arts in 1977 returning to Zambia the same year to take up a post as drama lecturer at UNZA until 1979.