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Angela Sibanda, Showbiz Reporter

All is set for the second edition of the Great Dyke Youths Awards slated for Pote Hill Hotel in Zvishavane on Saturday.

 The awards meant to recognise the success of young people who have had a positive impact in different sectors of the community are being hosted by the Zvishavane Youth Development Initiative and radio station YAFM.

 Running under the theme “Level up: highlighting and celebrating all achievements in Great Dyke”, the awards will see people being honoured in 16 categories including arts and culture, radio and television, business entrepreneurs, mining, education, health, science and technology, agriculture, and social media.

 The overall winner from all the categories will walk away with the Great Dyke Youth of the Year trophy while others will be awarded prizes from different sponsors.

 People from towns along the Great Dyke including Kadoma, Chegutu, Kwekwe, Gweru, and Zvishavane are to be honoured.

 Some of the notable nominees for the awards include Mrs Zebras who is nominated for the Chairman’s award and the Great Dyke woman of the year award and Brighton Munaku (known as Pablo), a Midlands State University lecturer who has been nominated under the Education award as well as the Arts and Culture award.

 Running for the Best Male Musician award are Mega Miles, Admire Nago, Brave the Soloist, Proskan, Goda Moyo, Blaq and Paddy Music. Maroza, Ruth Dion, Sithole and Scarlet Rose are competing for Best Female Musician of the year. Nominated in the arts and culture category are Evidence Siziba, Brighton Munaku (Pablo), Sir Ikap, Marufu and Shawn Ruhukwa.

 Great Dyke awards and events director, Professor Tupac Chivhanga said preparations for the event are at an advanced stage. He said the awards are a step towards creating a database of game-changers in the area.

“The hope is that these awards motivate and set a goal for the coming generations so that they also aim at becoming better and greater innovators as they seek to impact economic growth. We also aim to build a sense of pride among the youth so that in whatever they do, they give it their all and create reputable names for themselves and our community at large,” Chivhanga said.

 Last year, YAFM executive chairman Munyaradzi Hwengwere scooped the Lifetime Achievement award.