By Farai Dziva|The media community has been plunged into mourning following the death of two seasoned journalists, Gift Phiri and Muzambiringa Ray Matikinye over the weekend.

It was a catastrophic weekend for the country’s media fraternity following the painful departure of two scribes.Gift Phiri worked as reporter for The Zimbabwean, Daily News and several media organizations while Matikinye worked for ZIANA and was the editor of Masvingo Provincial Star in 2001.

In a Facebook journalist Loughty Dube said:

First it is Gift Gift Phiri and on the same day another journalism great Ray Matikinye breathes his last, shattered to learn of your passing, your laughter Muzambiringa was infectious, you helped a lot of young men climb the journalism ladder, ‘Njaninjani’ you had a lot of advice for me when was leading the Zimbabwe Independent Bureau. Go well big man, go well.”

Luke Tamborinyoka wrote:
Gift Phiri believed in telling truth to power.

Gift had a gift in writing. He waa a gifted wordsmith who loved his profession.

He was passionate about media freedom and democracy. Rest in peace, brother.”