Zimpapers Correspondent wins Nac award

Runesu Gwidi in Masvingo
ZIMPAPERS Correspondent for Masvingo Bureau, Walter Mswazie, won the first prize in the 2018 provincial National Aids Council Media Merit Award on HIV and Aids Reporting.

Mswazie walked away with a floating trophy, a certificate and cash prize.

Masvingo Provincial Star reporter, Sharon Chimenya and ZBC’s Josephine Mugiyo were first and second runners-up respectively.

Speaking earlier before presenting the awards at a local hotel last week, Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Ezra Chadzamira challenged the media to keep the public abreast with correct information on HIV and Aids in the province, so as to reduce the prevalence rate.

“I am happy with the way that the media is reporting on issues of HIV and Aids. Through disseminating accurate information on HIV and Aids, the media is contributing to the Government efforts of achieving a middle income economy by 2030,” said Minister Chadzamira.

He also called on the media to play a pivotal role in supporting the concept of devolution meant to develop the equitable sharing of resources found in the province.

“I therefore call upon the media to be part of the devolution narrative through reporting objectively about our province. The media should market our province so that we can attract the much needed foreign direct investment. We want to work as a team with those winners of these awards so that we can make Masvingo great,” he said.

Speaking at the same occasion, Nac provincial manager Mr Edgar Muzulu praised journalists for reporting on HIV and Aids matters but also challenged them to report on cancer, which his organisation was also responding to.

“As Nac, we want to thank the journalists in Masvingo for being able to cover HIV and Aids issues. This is our maiden merit award programme and I hope next year it would be bigger and better,” said Mr Muzulu.

“Our prevalent rate here in Masvingo stands at 12 percent where as our national rate stands at 13,7 percent. We are more concerned about behavioural change and prevention of new infections. We expect our media to play a leading role in shaping people’s sexual behaviour in light of the disease,” he said.