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Peter Tanyanyiwa Herald Correspondent

Harare Polytechnic College head of the Department of Mass Communication, Peter Banga, has died.

Banga reportedly died early morning at his home in Harare.

Fellow lecturer, Dr Wellington Gadzikwa confirmed the death and said he and other staff members received word early in the morning from Banga’s wife that he had passed on. He expressed shock at the death of the great broadcaster.

“I am deeply shocked and saddened that our colleague in journalism training Mr Peter Banga has passed on in Harare this morning. May his dear soul rest in peace,” said Dr Gadzikwa.

Condolence messages have started pouring on social media, with many expressing shock and narrating how the late Mr Banga changed their lives.

“Deepest condolences. I worked closely with Peter Banga, Robson Mhandu and Caroline Gombakomba when l served as ZBC Manicaland Correspondent a little over 20 years ago. He was an accomplished journalist who freely mentored me as l surged through the frontiers of journalism. A man of furious intellectual and professional energy, his passing on is utterly devastating,” said Moses Magadza.

“We called him uncle. He was a man who was passionate about the growth of journalism in Zimbabwe. A renowned broadcaster himself, Peter Banga was an expert in teaching Broadcast Journalism at Harare Polytechnic School of Journalism and Media Studies where he was the Head of the Department. I remember when through his mentorship we pioneered one of the first cable radio at Harare Polytechnic in 2006.The news of his death has left the journalism training fraternity poorer. May your soul rest in peace Uncle,” said Zanu PF youth leader Cde Tendai Chirau.

“So heart breaking to learn about the passing on of my lecturer Mr Peter Banga. A very demanding lecturer, always challenging our competence. He always drilled us to some potentials we never imagined we possessed. It’s heart breaking to think of the ground we were going to cover with him and now he’s no more without even a farewell to us. A bond had been created and death had other ideas. It’s unbelievable that he’s gone for real… Rest in Power Sir, your legacy lives on,” wrote one of his current students Raynald Ngwarati.

“At some point, my life had no direction. I was a total failure. This man Peter Banga adopted me and invited me to his office. He would give me transport money, buy me lunch and treat me like his own. After training me, he got me a job where I’m still working today. This great man, my hero, passed on today and I am in pain,” wrote Herbert Leeroy Dube.

Banga worked for ZBC for several years, before joining Harare Polytechnic College in 2005.