Zimpapers Logo

Chronicle Reporter

ZIMPAPERS Bulawayo branch journalists bagged several awards in the 2020-21 National Journalistic and Media Awards (NJAMA) held in Harare on Thursday.

Sunday News senior reporter Robin Muchetu was the recipient of the Gender Based Violence (GBV) Journalist of the Year while Sunday News reporter Nkosilathi Sibanda won the Yasser Arafat Journalist of the Year award.
Chronicle reporter, Nqobile Tshili, was a runner up in the Maternal Health Journalist of the Year and Sino-Zim Journalist of the Year.

Muchetu said the award recognises the media efforts in exposing GBV in communities.

“It gives me a great sense of pride to have won this prestigious award sponsored by UNFPA. GBV is a cancer that has left families torn apart, careers destroyed and dreams shattered.

“I will continue to be the voice of the voiceless through my work. I will continue to educate and inform the public about GBV and its devastating effects. I also encourage all men and women who are victims to speak out and get help, no one should be left behind in this fight,” said Muchetu.

She expressed gratitude for the support she got from her colleagues at Sunday News saying the award is a result of team work.

Tshili said: “I want to thank the Njama adjudicators for nominating me in the two categories. I also want to express my gratitude to colleagues within the Chronicle newsroom and our editors who continue to guide us as we do our work. Maternal health issues continue to affect society and the Covid-19 era has worsened the situation as observed by the increase in teenage pregnancies. Some teenagers conceal pregnancies and do not get antenatal care which increases their risk of developing complications that could lead to death.”

Sibanda said his winning article was about exposing corruption in the registry.

“We delved into a story that had for so long been left unresolved and we did what is expected of journalists — to expose and inform the nation on corruption. I thank the editors, in particular Limukani Ncube, Gugulethu Ncube and Gabriel Masvora for the opportunity to do my best as a writer and journalist.

We do not forget our sources as well and the people of Matabeleland North who were so instrumental in shaping the story,” said Sibanda.

Several other journalists from the Zimpapers stable also walked away with several accolades.

Herald’s Enacy Mapakame won the Business Journalist of The Year award while Thupeyo Muleya bagged the Customs, Transport Freighting Journalist of the Year, Muchaneta Chimuka of Kwayedza won the Foster Dongozi and the Maternal Health Journalist of the Year.

Zimpapers new baby, the Zimpapers Television Network (ZTN) scooped two awards — the Disaster Risk Reduction Journalist of the Year Award — which was won by Munashe Mukahlera and the Tourism Journalist of the Year, which was grabbed by Takudzwa Chihambakwe.

The competition had a total of 18 categories and winners walked away with cash and certificates.
Last week, Chronicle journalists dominated at the inaugural Midlands Media Awards ceremony which were held in Gweru.

Meanwhile, speaking during the Njama awards ceremony, United Nations (UN) country’s representative Dr Alex Gasasira challenged the media to be agents of social development.

“As we celebrate the achievement of the media and journalists in Zimbabwe, we would like to share a few perspectives on why the media can engage with critical issues such as Covid-19, climate action, national and international development frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals.

The media and journalists are on the frontline in the fight against Covid-19 through sharing facts and dispelling myths and misinformation, accurate and timely reporting is one of the best tools that we have at our disposal to stop the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Dr Gasasira.

He said the media should also amplify all voices in the national discourse processes.

“Through providing accurate and reliable information, the media should inspire people to be part of the solution in national development challenges. They should advocate for quality education, universal health care, gender equality and sustainable development goals in which no one is left behind.

“I will like to use this occasion to encourage the media to maintain and strengthen public dialogue and empower people with information, particularly in rural areas.

“I would like to reiterate that the UN values the strong partnerships with the media in advancing SDGs and assisting the Government and people of Zimbabwe to achieve these goals,” Dr Gasarisa. — @nqotshili