DAR ES SALAAM, March 28 -- THE news of the passing of Honourable William Vangimembe Lukuvi (pronounced Lukuwi?), the Minister of State in the Prime Ministers Office (Policy, Parliamentary Affairs, Coordination and Persons with Disabilities), spread like wild fire on the morning of 25 March, 2026.

The following day, all newspapers carried frontpage stories on the sad event, some saying he was 70, others saying he was 71 (whats in a year?). They all agreed, however, that he was born on 15 August 1955.

He would have been 71 come this August. There was a lot to learn from how the stories about his life and death were narrated. The Custodian (26 March) had this front-page heading reading: “Samia conveys condolences on death of long-ser...