Mozambique: Veteran journalist Orlanda Mendes passes away

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Mozambique: Veteran journalist Orlanda Mendes passes away

4:14 CAT | 01 Aug 2023

File photo: Rádio Moçambique

Former Radio Mozambique journalist Orlanda Mendes died of an illness in Maputo on Sunday at the age of 83.

Her cremation will take place at the Hindu Crematorium in Maputo at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 3rd.

Colleagues and friends are mourning the death of the revered journalist, and describe her as a top-notch professional.

“It was from Orlanda Mendes that we learned rigor in journalism, discipline and integrity, values that she always demanded from Radio Mozambique professionals,” said Arão Cuambe, journalist and production manager at RM.

“I still remember her launching young people into doing live transmissions, coverage of great responsibility, and she did it with great caution, with strict control, which is why some of us here at Radio Mozambique today are not afraid to state categorically that we got where we are thanks to Orlanda Mendes. I am very sorry that she left us at a time when we really need her professional knowledge.”

“Orlanda Mendes was always available to teach and discuss work issues,” said retired journalist and former director of Rádio Moçambique, António Bernardo Cuna. “She was very strict regarding the use of the journalist’s main tool – the Portuguese language.”

Rui Barata, Director of Programs at RM described Orlanda Mendes as an exemplary professional. “She had an important particularity: she was very demanding. This was extremely important for our journey, from the professional point of view. She was very direct, frontal, very professional and fair,” he commented.

“Orlanda Mendes was a master, a person who taught us the rudiments of the profession of journalism. I also knew Orlanda Mendes as a manager,” said Ricardo Dimande, former Director of Information at Radio Mozambique.

Maria Orlanda Mendes joined the staff of Rádio Clube de Moçambique as an editor-news writer in November, 1974.

She held various positions at Radio Mozambique, notably Head of Department, Deputy Editor in 1987, Director of Information from 1994 to 1995 and Director of the RM Training Centre from 1997 to 2000.

Orlanda Mendes was the daughter of Mozambican writer Orlando Mendes (deceased) and mother of academic Miguel de Brito.

Source: Rádio Moçambique