Prominent academic Dr Hikwa dies

By Oliver Kazunga

BULAWAYO – Prominent National University of Science and Technology lecturer and social political analyst Dr Lawton Hikwa has died. He was 50. Dr Hikwa died at Mater Dei Hospital in the early hours of yesterday after a short illness.

When journalists visited his home in Morningside in Bulawayo yesterday afternoon, mourners had gathered to pay their condolences. A comment could not be obtained from his family.

Nust director of communication and marketing Mr Felix Moyo said members of the institution had learnt with a heavy heart of the death of Dr Hikwa.

“His death was so sudden. He died in the early hours today (yesterday) after he hadn’t been feeling well.

“He complained of a blocked respiratory system. His wife rushed him to hospital at 11pm on Saturday and he died after being put on a respirator,” said Mr Moyo.

He said Dr Hikwa would be sorely missed by the university because he was a key member of the Nust development community.

“As we speak, some of his students have just called me telling me that he was a friendly tutor who was also concerned about their future,” said Mr Moyo.

Dr Hikwa joined Nust as a part-time lecturer in 1994 before he was engaged as a full-time lecturer in 2000.

Before joining the university, the late Dr Hikwa worked at institutions such as Harare and Bulawayo Polytechnics, the Rural Libraries and Resources Development Programme and the National Library and Documentation Service where he served in various capacities such as lecturer, training and publications officer as well as senior librarian and cataloguer.

He was also a commissioner for the Zimbabwe Media Commission and several other boards internal and external to Nust. Dr Hikwa published papers in disciplines that include library and information science, journalism, knowledge management and publishing studies.

Mr Moyo described Dr Hikwa as a man who executed his duties diligently and professionally.

“At the time of his death, Dr Hikwa had just completed his second term of deanship in the Faculty of Communication and Information Science.

“Despite him having completed his second term, I was certain that he would still be dean,” said Mr Moyo.

Yesterday, Dr Hikwa’s Facebook page was awash with condolence messages. Dr Hikwa is survived by wife Didekile and three daughters. The Chronicle