Mawu mourns veteran writer Emmanuel Chinunda

Source: The Times Group Malawi
Author: Sam Banda

Malawi Writers Union (Mawu) said on Monday it was shocked with the death of veteran writer and consultant Emmanuel Chinunda.

Chinunda died on Monday at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre after a short illness.

Mawu President Chikumbutso Ndaferankhande said Chinunda was a passionate writer and that he helped a lot in the growth of the writers' body.

"His death is a huge blow to the writing family and creative industry as a whole. He was an active member and very vibrant. He was always available to help in imparting knowledge in budding writers.

"During the Mawu/FCB Short Story Writing Competition days, he used to be the master of ceremonies and at annual general meetings, he always had constructive ideas," Ndaferankhande said.

Chinunda, who was also a toastmaster authored several books and they include Customer Service: The Kingpin of Business Success in Africa and Practical Insights on Customer Service: An African Perspective.

His brother Francis Chikwemba said the family was at a loss over Chinunda's death, describing him as a humble, loving and hardworking man.

"Only God knows why it had to happen but we, as a family, are saddened. We have lost a pillar of the family," Chikwemba said.

According to him, Chinunda, who will be laid to rest at HHI Cemetery in Blantyre tomorrow, was born in 1965 and came from Likoma District.

He is survived by a wife and two children.