By A Correspondent- The former NewsDay Sports Editor Wellington Toni passed away on Thursday night at Harare Hospital after a long illness.
The veteran sports journalist, who left NewsDay in 2015 after working for the publication for five years, was 44 years old.
Toni’s death was confirmed on Friday by his brother, Christian, saying they were arranging to take his body to Plumtree for burial on a day yet to be advised. Christian said:
He died yesterday (Thursday) night in Harare. He had been unwell for some time. Arrangements are being made for him to be buried at our rural home in Plumtree.
Meanwhile, condolence messages have already started pouring in with the Alpha Media Holdings Editor-in-Chief Wisdom Mdzungairi describing the late as a “fair-minded, impartial journalist whose thought-provoking writing will remain etched in our minds.”
The Sports Writers Association of Zimbabwe (Swaz) also extended condolences to Toni’s “family in Plumtree and to the many friends he made during his lifetime. May his dear soul rest in eternal peace.”
Meanwhile, Southern Sports Journalists Association (Spoja) chairman Muziwethu Hadebe said Toni’s death was a huge loss to sports journalism.
Newsday