By Michael Gwarisa
The National AIDS Council (NAC) is mourning the passing of its long-serving Communications Director, Ms. Madeline Dube, an accomplished radio journalist and seasoned communicator whose work left a lasting impact on Zimbabwe’s HIV and AIDS response.
The tragic news was confirmed by NAC Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Bernard Madzima, who described Ms. Dube’s death as a profound loss not only to the health sector but to the nation as a whole.
The passing on of our Communications Director, Ms. Dube, is a tragic loss not only to the National AIDS Council or the health sector, but to the entire country. She was a dedicated professional whose contribution will forever be remembered,” said Dr. Madzima.
Before joining NAC, Ms. Dube built her career as a radio journalist at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC). Her strong background in media and storytelling enabled her to champion effective health communication strategies once she assumed her role at NAC.
During her tenure, she and her communications team spearheaded several media engagement initiatives that strengthened the visibility and accuracy of HIV and AIDS reporting in Zimbabwe. Through her leadership, the HIV and AIDS narrative gained prominence in the media, helping to shape public attitudes, influence behaviour, and rally communities behind the national HIV response.
“Her grasp of the importance of communication as a tool to influence behaviour was exceptional. She spearheaded programmes that helped NAC achieve its mandate and ensured that the HIV story resonated widely through the media,” added Dr. Madzima.
Her passing has drawn tributes and messages of condolence from across the media fraternity, development partners, and fellow communicators, who described her as a dedicated professional and mentor.
