Broadcasting legend Charles Hilary remembered for his unmatched voice and generosity

Unguja. Tributes continue to pour in following the death of veteran broadcaster and State House Director of Presidential Communications, Charles Hilary, who passed away in the early hours of Saturday, May 11, 2025, at Mloganzila Hospital in Dar es Salaam.

Colleagues and media practitioners have described Hilary as a consummate professional with a distinctive voice and an unmatched passion for the craft of broadcasting.

Veteran broadcaster Abdallah Majura, who worked with Hilary in the late 1980s, said the late journalist was a generous mentor with a voice that captivated listeners.

“Charles was gifted with a rare broadcasting talent. His voice had a charm that made every programme he hosted—be it sports or news—engaging and memorable,” said Majura.

He noted that while many people are often praised posthumously, Hilary truly earned every accolade.

“I worked with him at Radio Tanzania in 1988. He was cooperative and never withheld knowledge. His door was always open,” Majura added.

Hilary was also remembered for his versatility on air, with popular programmes such as Mpwitompwito on what is now TBC Taifa, which he helped grow into a major audience favourite.

“He made news bulletins engaging to the point that you didn’t want him to finish. He was one of the top three newscasters I looked up to,” said Majura.

When Majura joined Radio One in 1995, Hilary was his supervisor. Despite his seniority, Hilary remained a humble and constructive mentor.

“He wasn’t shy to correct you if you were wrong. He helped me improve and never stopped learning himself,” Majura said.

Hilary is also credited with introducing Machalanga, a music show on Radio One that helped popularise the genre in Tanzania. The late IPP Chairman Reginald Mengi was among its devoted listeners and reportedly brought music CDs from abroad for Hilary whenever he travelled.

“He was a master of Kiswahili—his fluency, pronunciation, and tone were exemplary. You’d always be drawn in,” said Majura, who described him as “witty and naturally humorous.”

Another media personality, BBC Swahili’s Regina Mziwanda (Mwalekwa), offered a heartfelt tribute, describing Hilary as both a mentor and a father figure who helped shape her career.

“Charles pulled me out of despair during my time at Radio Uhuru. He gave me a chance at Radio One when others doubted me. That moment changed my life,” said Regina.

She recalled how Hilary stood up for female broadcasters, ensuring they were not assigned night shifts, out of concern for their families and marriages.

“In the office he was a boss, but in the neighbourhood, he was a friend. He entrusted me with two of his key programmes—Charanga Time and a Kiswahili show—even when I doubted myself,” Regina said.

“His dream was to see me succeed in this field, and while I haven’t yet reached the peak he envisioned, I owe so much of my journey to his support.”

Regina described Hilary as one of the last giants in Tanzanian broadcasting, saying the industry had lost “a man of creativity, humility, and immense talent.”

“Truly, a baobab has fallen,” she said.