Radio Veteran James Chipofya Laid To Rest In Rumphi

James Chipofya

Almost every person young and old who new James Chipofya was in tears as his family members together with his old friends were for the last time paying their last respect to Malawi's veteran Broadcaster at his home village Chifarasi in the area of Chief Principal Mwadandambi of T/A Chikulamayembe in Ruviri, Rumphi district.

The retired Malawi Broadcasting Cooporation (MBC) radio personality James Chipofya has been laid to rest on Sunday afternoon of 15th June 2014, following his death on 13 June after battling with Prostate Cancer since 2012.

Speaking when expressing the condolence, MBC Northern Region Controller Timpunza Mwansambo who represented MBC director general, described late Chipofya as a great man whose great works has unearthed many talented journalists at the State broadcaster.

"13 June 2014, we at MBC will remember it as a historical sad moment because we lost two of our great staff members, James Chipofya our teacher and James Makuluni who is also being burried today in Ntchisi district where our Director General Dr. Benson Tembo is right now"

"Chipofya remained a very humble man since 1976 when he was employed as a sub editor to 2010 when he resigned while serving as a News Controller. He used to treat us well and could interract with everyone. He was at a very point hard worker day and night which made him a reliable man at MBC''

"During his time at MBC he has helped many of us on how to work there and some of the journalist that are now very famous at MBC are his products. Surely when he trains someone, would always make sure that you know more than himself does" narrated Mwansambo

"In 2005 he wanted to  resign but MBC management asked him to stay till 2010 when he finally resigned" 

But even when he resigned Timpunza continued "James Chipofya was helping us in many ways including recently during just ended 20th May Tripartite elections, he was instructing some of assigned reporters covering outside broadcast of elections including giving them a word of encouragement. So this is why we are feeling sad for losing such irreplaceable man" said Timpunza

And the Village head man Chifarasi Chirambo said Chipofya's death is a big loss in his village. 

He said Chipofya was a able to help chief with good advice and on top of that he was even considered as one of shining examples to other young men in his village.

For those who knew James Chipofya said they have been respecting him as a father and mentor and that his death is hard to forget.

Apart from Secretary for Lands Ivy Luhanga, his husband Dr. Jeff Luhanga Secretary for Agriculture the funeral was also attended by some northern region Malawi Defense Force high rank officers

Late Chipofya was a member of Roman Catholic church for St. Anthony Chinyonga out station of Limbe Cathedral.

Born on 10th September in 1950, Chipofya died at Malamulo hospital in Blantyre on 13th June 2014 at the age of 64 and has survived with 5 children and a wife.