I was deeply touched by Benson’s passing. He and I served together in Harare and ran into one another at meetings elsewhere in Africa.When I became the Director of the UNFPA Country Support Team on which he served he did hisvery best to steer a me, a profoundly under informed muzungu, away from saying culturally andpolitically inappropriate things to government officials and other decision makers.  I like to think that he wasreasonably proud of reining me in.  As I recall, my major mistakes occurred when the authorities would not allow him to accompany me into television studios where I was forced to deliver spontaneous remarks which he had not had the opportunity to edit first.  He was a serious professional,and I believe played an important role  in helping southern African countries find policy paths throughthe mazes of distorted age distributions, population growth and HIV/AIDS. We cried together at funerals for colleagues.  We laughed together at parties; I mainly because of his wry sense of humor.  After I retired and he assumed his role as an Eskimo in Canada we still madecontact once or twice a year — exchanges I greatly enjoyed. I shall miss him. Alan Keller Deputy Director UNFPA Africa Division  before becoming Director UNFPA Country Support Team in Harare

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This message should have been read by you, Benson while you were still alive.

You were one of the finest gentlemen that I met in my career with UNFPA which you partly shaped through CST Addis Ababa. You displayed rare leadership skills, an intent listener and an ardent believer in everyone's potential. Thank you for your exceptional commitment towards the implementation of UNFPAs mission. 

You will be truly missed. RIP. Stella Twea (former UNFPA Gender Advisor, Liberia and International Gender and Development Consultant)

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Dear Benson You made me learn that one could be boss, manager but still be also friend and simply human. You had remained truly big brother and this month it will be exactly two years when I decided to retire and you found time to zoom in and share nice words on how ‘La vie est caillou’ and all the ‘Mama put’ when you were impatient with restaurants in Monrovia. May our ancestors welcome you in that unknown world and please do rest in eternal peace. 🙏🏾 Benoît Kalasa

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