The last of the true greats is gone

The doyen of journalism in Eswatini is gone. The tributes that have been pouring in for the late, great Thulani Thwala, since the news of his tragic death emerged on Thursday morning, tell half the story of the man he was. Thwala will go down as the finest journalist of his generation and surely deserves his place in the pantheon of Eswatini journalism greats.

But behind Thwala the brilliant, fierce and no-nonsense journalist, was a lovely soul. It is this beautiful soul and kind heart that endeared ‘Mr T,’ as he was affectionately know, to the many journalists he worked with in his stellar journalism career, most of whom he groomed. It is a measure of the man that even the Times of Swaziland, a rival newspaper to Thwala’s Swazi Observer, ran the story of his untimely demise of its front page on Friday. Writing in his weekly column on the same day, the Times’ Managing Editor Martin Dlamini paid tribute to the fallen scribe.

Thwala was more than an Editor. He was a mentor and father figure to many in the newsroom. He saw talent and invested in it. He was always measured, always a calm face in the madness of the newsroom. Besides being an encyclopedia of the newsroom, a reference point, Thwala was the ear always ready to listen, always ready to help, motivate and advise his journalists. He wasn’t that just to journos only, but every member of the Observer family.

Over the past couple of days, former colleagues at the Observer have been sharing with me how Mr T went out of his way to help them have fantastic experiences when they went out on international trips. I also experienced that. He was that kind of a man. Thwala protected his journalists, he backed them. His charisma in that Observer newsroom will surely never be replaced. It was infectious.

More than anything, Thwala demanded excellence. That set him apart. He would urge his journalists to travel the length and breadth of the country to find all the voices needed in a story, adding that, “angeke kukutsatse more than three hours kusuka la-Mbabane uye ka-Lavumisa.” He was immensely passionate about the profession and the Observer.

Thwala gave responsibility to his journos. He understood that doing such would only help them grow. If you were good enough in his eyes then you were old enough. He, of course, gave me the unenviable task of going to scene of Victor Gamede’s murder on January 14. If you had done well he would always tell you.

But Thwala was no ‘softie’ and was infamous in the newsroom for his office call-ins. But journalists loved him for this because Mr T was never one to shout at anyone in full view of others. He would call you into his office and would leave no word unsaid. However, the moment you walked out of the office, that issue was over. He held no grudges. A pure man with a pure heart.

It is hard to envisage where Eswatini journalism goes from here. It is even harder to believe that we will ever see one like Thulani Thwala ever again. All we can do is to celebrate his legacy by ensuring that the profession he so dearly loved doesn’t go to the dogs. He has done his part and his turn to leave this earth had come. Right now we pray that the Almighty God gives strength to his family, the Swazi Observer and everyone affected by this heartbreaking loss. It is still so hard to believe that Mr T is gone. Wherever you are Shivakati, may you find everlasting peace.

By Sibongiseni Zondi