Mike Sikawa Laid to Rest

REST IN ETERNAL PEACE MIKE.

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Kutoka Daily News:

Mike Sikawa laid to rest

CHARLES KIZIGHA in Arusha

Daily News; Monday, November 24, 2008

Former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa, accompanied by his wife Regina, yesterday led hundreds of mourners from all walks of life at the burial of veteran journalist Mike Sikawa at Mareu village in Arumeru district, Arusha region.

The well-attended burial service was preceded by paying last respects at the Mareu Rural Cooperative Society grounds, a stone’s throw away from his place of domicile. Mike was laid to rest at the family’s farm where his father and mother were buried.

Prior to paying last respects several speakers, including Mr Lowassa, described Mike as one of the outstanding journalists in the country and Africa at large. The same was echoed by the head of the BBC Kiswahili Service, Solomon Mugera who led a team of four BBC staff to represent the Broadcasting House.

“Although Mike had been sick for a long time, his colleagues did not know because he did not show any sign and continued working normally. This proved that Mike was a hard working journalist and was ready to go out for assignments without showing any hesitation much as he was sick,” said Mr Mogera.

The mourners, who included the clergymen from various churches, government leaders, representatives from AICC, Tanapa and Retired General Mirisho Sarakikya, said the only way to remember Mike is to continue practicing excellent journalism. Mike joined the 'Daily News' and 'Sunday News' in 1975 until 1994 when he joined the BBC. He begun battling with diabetes in 1978 and underwent several treatments inside and outside the country until November 18 when he lost the battle.

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Navyokumbuka mimi aliondoka Daily News 1984. Na siyo 1994. Walibandika notice ubaoni newsroom kutujulisha.

Mike Sikawa wa BBC Afariki Dunia

(Mike Sikawa 1982 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - Mike alinitumia hizi picha nikiwa denti Form Five, Tabora Girls. Mbona nilitamba nazo, kwanza zilikuwa za rangi, halafu pili alikuwa mwandishi wa habari maarufu sana hivyo kujuana naye ilikuwa fahari kweli. Miaka yote hii nimekaa nazo.)

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Nimepokea habari za kusikitisha sana leo. Mwandishi wa Habari wa BBC, Mike Sikawa, amefariki dunia. Aliwahi kufanya kazi Daily News. Alikuwa na kipaji mkubwa wa kuandika habari mpaka Daily News walimpa 'special privileges'.

Nilikutana naye kwa mara ya kwanza nikiwa nasoma 'A' levels Tabora Girls. Nilikuwa likizo Dar na tuliktana kwenye party Chuo Kikuu cha DSM. Wakati huo Mike Sikawa alikuwa maarufu sana. Nilimwambia kuwa nataka kuwa mwandishi wa habari na yeye alisema kuwa huo kazi haufai mwanamke. Nikamwambia kuwa hata hivyo bado nataka kuwa mwandishi wa habari. Nilianza kazi Daily News Agosti 1984, na baada ya muda mfupi yeye alitoka na kwenda Uingereza. Nilikutana naye tena miaka ya 90 na Mike aliniambia kuwa alijua nitakuwa na mafanikio makubwa katika uandishi wa habari.

Nakumbuka huo ugonjwa wa kisukari ulianza kumsumbua wakati huo na ndo ulimaliza.

Mungu ailaze roho yake mahala pema mbinguni. Amen.

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Kutoka Lukwangule Blog:

Mike Sikawa wa BBC afariki dunia

MTANGAZAJI wa idhaa ya Kiswahili ya Shirika la Utangazaji la Uingereza (BBC), Mike Sikawa (55) ,amefariki dunia jana mchana baada ya kusumbuliwa kwa muda mrefu na ugonjwa wa kisukari.

Sikawa, ambaye pia aliwahi kufanya kazi katika Kampuni ya Tanzania Standard Newspapers (TSN) inayomiliki magazeti ya Daily News na HabariLeo, alifariki dunia juzi majira ya saa 8.47 mchana nyumbani kwake Njiro, nje kidogo ya mji wa Arusha.

Kwa mujibu wa mdogo wake marehemu, Mchungaji Charles Sikawa, ndugu yake alikuwa akisumbuliwa na ugonjwa wa kisukari kwa muda mrefu na kutokewa na kidonda mguuni.
Mchungaji huyo alisema ndugu yake alipata matibabu katika hospitali mbalimbali hapa nchini ikiwamo AICC, KCMC, St. Thomas na Hospitali ya Rufaa ya Muhimbili iliyoko Dar es Salaam lakini hakupata nafuu yoyote.

Alisema ilifika wakati nusura akatwe mguu uliokuwa na kidonda lakini madaktari walifanikiwa kukwangua nyama ya mguu wa kidonda lakini haikuweza kusaidia.
Mchungaji huyo aliendelea kusema kuwa baada ya kuhangaika kwa muda mrefu katika hospitali mbalimbali hapa nchini na kushindwa kupata nafuu, Sikawa alikuwa akipata matibabu akiwa nyumbani kwake hadi alipofikwa na mauti.

Alizaliwa King’ori wilayani Arumeru mkoani Arusha na kusoma elimu ya msingi katika eneo hilo kabla ya kufaulu na kuendelea na elimu ya sekondari katika shule ya Ilboru na Mzumbe ya mkoani Morogoro.

Katika miaka ya 1970, aliajiriwa katika kampuni ya TSN kama mwandishi wa kawaida na baadaye kujiunga na idhaa ya Kiswahili ya BBC kama mtangazaji. Ameacha mjane na watoto wawili ambao wako Amerika ya Kusini.

Mipango ya maziko inasubiri ndugu, jamaa na marafiki walioko nje ya mkoa wa Arusha na sehemu zote alizofanyia kazi.

Wakati huo huo, Naibu Katibu Mkuu wa Umoja wa Mataifa, Dk. Asha-Rose Migiro ametuma salamu za rambimbi kutokana na kifo cha mwandishi huyo na kuelezea jinsi alivyoguswa na msiba huo.

Dk. Migiro alisema alipoteuliwa kushika wadhifa huo katika UN, Sikawa alikuwa mwandishi wa kwanza kumtafuta kwa ajili ya kumhoji juu ya uteuzi huo.

Kwa habari zaidi soma:

http://dailynews.habarileo.co.tz/home/index.php?id=8536