Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
ZIMPAPERS will on March 20 host the inaugural Education Excellence Achievers Awards, honouring top-performing schools in Manicaland for their outstanding performance in the November 2025 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) examinations.
The event, organised by Zimpapers’ regional publication, The Manica Post and Diamond FM, will take place at Manica Skyview Hotel.
Zimpapers business development officer and event coordinator, Mr Tendai Mbirimi said the awards seek to recognise academic excellence in the province.
Mr Mbirimi said the awards ceremony is aimed at celebrating academic excellence, innovation and ethical leadership in schools across the province, and designed to recognise the hard work of learners, teachers and school administrators, who continue to produce impressive academic results despite various challenges faced in the education sector.
“The Zimpapers Education Excellence Achievers Awards are meant to celebrate schools that consistently demonstrate academic excellence and uphold the highest standards of achievement within their communities. This is our inaugural edition, and we are excited to honour institutions that are shaping the future through quality education. Their dedication to nurturing learners and maintaining high performance deserves recognition,” he said.
Schools that recorded exceptional performance in the 2025 ZIMSEC examinations were invited to attend the ceremony where the final positions among the top achievers will be announced.
Mr Mbirimi said the awards will become an annual event on the provincial calendar as Zimpapers moves to institutionalise the recognition of academic excellence in Manicaland.
“We want this programme to grow into a permanent platform that celebrates excellence in education every year. From now on, the awards will be held annually so that outstanding schools continue to receive recognition for their achievements,” he said, adding that the initiative will also expand next year to include primary schools, widening the scope of recognition to learners and educators at the foundational level of education.
“Beginning next year, we will introduce categories for primary schools as well. It is important to acknowledge excellence at the early stages of learning because strong academic foundations are built at primary level,” said Mr Mbirimi.
The awards are part of Zimpapers’ broader effort to promote development within communities by spotlighting success stories and encouraging institutions to strive for excellence. Through its media platforms, the organisation has over the years played a significant role in highlighting achievements in various sectors including business, sport, education and community development.
Mr Mbirimi said the response from schools invited to the ceremony was overwhelmingly, with many expressing appreciation for a platform that recognises the efforts of both educators and learners.
“Schools work extremely hard to maintain high standards and to produce good results year after year. Recognising their efforts, not only motivates them, but also inspires other institutions to aim higher,” he said.
The ceremony is expected to bring together school heads, educators, learners and stakeholders from across Manicaland, creating a platform for networking and sharing experiences on how best to sustain academic excellence.
Mr Mbirimi also said that with the launch of the Education Excellence Achievers Awards, Zimpapers hopes to inspire a new generation of learners and educators to pursue higher standards and maintain Manicaland’s reputation as one of the country’s strongholds of academic achievement
