By Diaspora Insurance News
A public appeal is running for donations to fund the funeral of veteran Zimbabwean journalist and former BBC World Service producer Lewis Machipisa who died in London earlier this month.
Machipisa, aged 52, was found unresponsive at his southeast London home on the 8th of January.
“Lewis Machipisa, or simply “Lew” as we all affectionately knew him, has left an indelible mark on countless lives,” wrote friend and colleague Chofamba Sithole.
“An award-winning journalist par excellence, unifying figure, and a friend to all, Lew passed away peacefully at his home in Catford, Southeast London, on Wednesday morning, January 8, 2025.
“As we reflect on his life, we remember his infectious joy, his knack for bringing people together, and his tireless efforts to uplift others.
“Whether through his work at the BBC World Service, his contributions to the Zimbabwean diaspora, or his legendary ability to turn any gathering into a vibrant celebration with song, dance, and laughter, Lew embodied the spirit of Hunhu/Ubuntu—“I am because we are.”
After training at the then Harare Institute of Mass Communication, Machipisa worked for Inter Press Service (IPS) in Harare before joining the BBC’s Zimbabwe bureau.
He later relocated to London in 2003 where he worked on flagship programmes such as Network Africa and Focus on Africa until 2020.
Machipisa is survived by three children and will be laid to rest in London.
“At this stage, we can categorically share that Lewis will be buried in London. This will likely be in his home borough of Lewisham (how fitting, although we should hasten to confess that the borough isn’t named after him!),” Sithole explained.
A GoFundMe appeal has since been launched to raise about £9,000 needed for the funeral.
“We’re appealing to Lew’s friends, colleagues, and well-wishers to respond generously to this campaign and help cover the cost of laying him to rest in his home city of London,” reads the appeal which was launched by Sithole.
“Your contributions will help us give Lew the send-off he so richly deserves—a celebration of his remarkable life and the friendships he cherished.”
