Inaugural Midlands Community Trailblazers Awards set for March 27

Mthabisi Tshuma

The Zim Community Trailblazers Awards (ZCTA) is expanding its reach with the launch of five regional ceremonies, ensuring local achievements are recognised at the grassroots level.

The Midlands Province will host the first-ever regional event, the Midlands Community Trailblazers Awards (MCTA), on March 27 at a hotel in Kwekwe under the theme “Harvesting Excellence: Celebrating Community Champions of Midlands’ Rich Heritage”. The theme reflects the province’s dual identity as the heart of Zimbabwe’s mining and agricultural sectors.

The 2026 MCTA features 190 categories across 12 strategic sectors, including Arts, Mining, Agriculture and Rural Development.

ZCTA chief executive officer Albert Masaka said the awards aim to shift recognition beyond the capital, celebrating the “human gold” of the provinces.
“The inaugural awards will decentralise recognition, showcase the best of the Midlands, and inspire a new generation of leaders by highlighting achievers who turn vision into reality,” Masaka said.

He added that the awards align with National Vision 2030, bridging theory and practice through initiatives like Education 5.0 and Heritage-Based Learning, while promoting provincial pride as the nation’s metallurgical and agricultural hub.

The awards will also serve as networking hubs for “captains of industry”, traditional leaders, and civil society, enabling collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Masaka encouraged public nominations to ensure unsung heroes, from artisanal miners in Shurugwi to climate-smart farmers in Gokwe, receive recognition.
“The Midlands is the metallurgical and agricultural heart of Zimbabwe. By launching 190 categories, we ensure no hero is left behind as we advance towards Vision 2030 and the national devolution agenda,” he said.

The awards’ board, chaired by business mogul Nigel Chanakira and supported by medical professional Dr Johannes Marisa, will oversee a rigorous adjudication process based on impact, innovation, and sustainability.

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