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Mashonaland West Bureau
The country’s biggest media house, Zimbabwe Newspapers (1980) Limited, dominated the Mashonaland West Provincial Journalism and Media Awards (Pjama) 2020 at a ceremony held in Chinhoyi on Saturday, bagging nine of the 10 awards on offer.
Pjama is an annual event coordinated by the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) Mashonaland West Chapter in partnership with several sponsors, including Zimplats.
The Herald’s Conrad Mupesa was the overall winner after scooping three awards.
He won the Impact to the Society Article of the Year Award for an article on a 60-year-old Mhangura woman who decided to enrol for primary school education and is now in Grade Four.
Mupesa was also voted Agriculture Journalist of the Year runner-up to ZBC’s Regis Mhako and Mining Journalist of the Year runner up to ZBC’s Tambaoga Gora.
Kariba-based Herald Senior Reporter Walter Nyamukondiwa bagged the Courts and Crimes Journalist of the Year Award, while Chegutu-based Heather Charema of Zimpapers’ radio station, Star FM, walked away with the runner-up award in the Municipal Journalist of the Year category.
H-Metro’s provincial correspondents, Paul Pindani won the Municipal Journalist of the Year Award and Environmental Journalist (runner-up) Award. John Murwira also of H-Metro, scooped the Photos and Visuals Award.
Mines and Minerals Development deputy Minister, Polite Kambamura, who was the guest speaker, thanked journalists for continuing with their duties despite challenges posed by Covid-19.
“Journalists left their homes to go out in the frontline, like soldiers in a battle, to spread messages to reduce the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
“This war is not yet won and as part of the frontline staff, we will give journalists priority in the provision of personal protective equipment.”
Deputy Minister Kambamura paid tribute to the late ZBC diplomatic correspondent, Janet Munyaka, who succumbed to Covid-19 on December 5.
Zimplats head of corporate affairs Ms Busi Chindove, whose company has been the major sponsor of the provincial journalistic awards since their inception, thanked other organisations and individuals for sponsoring the event.
She highlighted how the media had risen to the occasion during the battle against Covid-19.
“The role of the media and journalists was repositioned and you played a pivotal role in giving provincial, national and worldwide statistical figures on the pandemic,” she said.
“Journalists became our ears and eyes as we were holed up at home.”
ZUJ secretary-general, Foster Dongozi, applauded the province for maintaining a level of consistency in organising the awards which are now in their eighth year.
“We want to thank all the sponsors, including perennial funder, Zimplats,” he said.
“I’m delighted that more organisations have since rallied behind the event to sponsor outstanding journalists for their good work.”
Chinhoyi University of Technology Hotel, FBC Holdings, the Environmental Management Agency, the Mashonaland West Agricultural Show Society and Mr Nunurai Jena, Mr Langton Mabhanga and Mr Melusi Moyo were the other sponsors.
Online Reporter