Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
THE Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe has partnered the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists to introduce the Medicines Safety Journalist of the Year Award, a new category under the National Journalism and Media Awards 2025/2026.
The move is aimed at strengthening public awareness on medicines safety through responsible journalism.
This will recognise journalists whose published or broadcast work promotes public understanding of medicine safety, adverse drug reactions, rational medicine use and Zimbabwe’s pharmacovigilance system.
Announcing the initiative yesterday, MCAZ director-general Mr Richard Rukwata said the award has been introduced to encourage quality reporting on medicines regulation and public health.
He said the partnership comes at a time when access to reliable health information has become increasingly important in protecting communities from misinformation relating to medicines and healthcare products.
Responsible journalism is critical in strengthening pharmacovigilance and ensuring that members of the public make informed decisions on the use of medicines and medical devices. The award is open to journalists who, during the eligibility period, produce stories that educate the public on medicines regulation and safety.
Mr Rukwata said the partnership with ZUJ, the country’s largest media trade union, is expected to foster stronger engagement with journalists, editors and media owners while encouraging sustained coverage of medicines regulation issues in support of the authority’s public health mandate.
The Medicines Safety Journalist of the Year Award forms part of broader efforts by the authority to enhance collaboration with the media in disseminating accurate, evidence-based information on medicines safety to Zimbabweans.
MCAZ, established under the Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act, is mandated to regulate the safety, quality and efficacy of medicines and allied substances in Zimbabwe.
The authority is also the country’s National Pharmacovigilance Centre and has attained the World Health Organisation’s Global Benchmarking Tool Maturity Level 3 status, signifying that its regulatory systems operate at internationally recognised standards.
