Voice of America is in mourning following the death in a road accident of South Sudan in Focus reporter Simon Wade Kasmiro.
Kasmiro, 29, was one of the first reporters to work on South Sudan in Focus, joining the radio show when it was first set up in 2010.
"Simon was a great colleague in every way -- this is shocking and deeply sad news," English to Africa head Sonya Laurence Green said after learning of Kasmiro's death earlier this week.
"He was a hard-working and dedicated journalist," South Sudan in Focus managing editor and Washington-based co-host John Tanza said.
"He would go out of his way to get all elements of a story, no matter how long it took or how difficult or dangerous the assignment," Tanza said.
Alan Boswell, who was Kasmiro's first VOA editor in Juba, said, "Simon was one of the smartest and most conscientious young South Sudanese I ever met. He was going to do big things.”
Kasmiro and a friend were killed on Monday evening when they were hit by a truck as they rode on a boda boda, one of the small motorcycles that are a common mode of transportation in Juba. A third person was also struck and killed.
Around 300 people attended a Roman Catholic prayer service held at Kasmiro's house in Gumbo, outside Juba, on Saturday. His Voice of America colleagues have launched a fund to help provide for his family.
Kasmiro, 29, was one of the first reporters to work on South Sudan in Focus, joining the radio show when it was first set up in 2010.
"Simon was a great colleague in every way -- this is shocking and deeply sad news," English to Africa head Sonya Laurence Green said after learning of Kasmiro's death earlier this week.
"He was a hard-working and dedicated journalist," South Sudan in Focus managing editor and Washington-based co-host John Tanza said.
"He would go out of his way to get all elements of a story, no matter how long it took or how difficult or dangerous the assignment," Tanza said.
Alan Boswell, who was Kasmiro's first VOA editor in Juba, said, "Simon was one of the smartest and most conscientious young South Sudanese I ever met. He was going to do big things.”
Kasmiro and a friend were killed on Monday evening when they were hit by a truck as they rode on a boda boda, one of the small motorcycles that are a common mode of transportation in Juba. A third person was also struck and killed.
Around 300 people attended a Roman Catholic prayer service held at Kasmiro's house in Gumbo, outside Juba, on Saturday. His Voice of America colleagues have launched a fund to help provide for his family.
