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Veteran Zimbabwean journalist Ropafadzo “Big Ropa” Mapimhidze passed away in Zambia in the early hours of Friday, 6 November 2026.
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The cause of death is cancer and diabetes; she lived with diabetes since 2006, later hypertension, and was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in 2023.
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Known as “Big Ropa” in newsrooms due to her build.
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She mentored a generation of journalists and gave a voice to health, children and vulnerable people.
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Her career spanned decades across state, private and international media.
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She began as an information officer with the Ministry of Information.
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She worked at The Herald, covering major national stories including child sexual abuse and the Girl Child Network.
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She later joined NewsDay, rising to Features and Supplements Editor and columnist.
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She was a founding leader of the Health Communicators Forum and served as its Deputy Secretary General.
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After retiring from formal employment over 10 years ago, she continued stringing for local and international outlets, including Voice of America health articles.
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The Ministry of Health and Child Care described her as a respected health reporter whose contribution to health journalism and public awareness will be remembered.
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The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists said her death is the loss of a seasoned media practitioner whose work forms part of Zimbabwe’s rich journalistic history.
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ZUJ extended condolences to her family, friends, former colleagues and the wider media fraternity.
