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JOURNALISTS from Zimpapers Bulawayo branch dominated the 4th annual Zimbabwe Agricultural Media Awards (ZAMA) held in Harare last Friday.
The two previous editions were held virtually because of Covid-19 but this year the organisers resumed the physical presentation of the awards to honour best journalists in agricultural reporting.
The Zimbabwe Agricultural Society introduced the awards in 2019 in partnership with Merjrkh Communications to capacitate the media to impactfully and objectively report on agriculture.
Matabeleland South Bureau Chief Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu scooped the Dairy and Beef Sector Best Reporter Award.
Sunday News Reporter Judith Phiri bagged the Horticulture and Oilseeds Sector Best Reporter Award and Poultry Sector Best Reporter Award and was also the runner-up in the Dairy and Beef Sector Best Reporter Award and the Agricultural Equipment, Mechanisation, Irrigation, Storage and Innovation Best Reporter Award.
The night belonged to the Victoria Falls reporter Leonard Ncube who was the overall winner and bagged seven awards.
He won the Agricultural Finance and Development Best reporter award and Agricultural Equipment, Mechanisation, Irrigation, Storage and Innovation Best reporter.
Ncube was a runner-up in the Tobacco Sector, which was won by Mitchell Chifamba of The Africa Report, Horticulture and Oilseeds Sector, which was won by Phiri and Small Grains Sector category that was won by Lovejoy Mutongwizo of 263 Chat, as well as the Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change category also won by Mutongwizo.
In the end, Ncube was adjudged the overall 2022 ZAMA awards winner. The awards ran under the theme: “Promoting Agricultural Sector Contribution to National Development.”
Winning journalists walked away with cash prizes, certificates and trophies.
ZAS president Mr Ngoni Kudenga said the awards have been growing each year and have benefited more than 60 journalists countrywide.
He thanked the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development and the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services for supporting the awards since their inception.
“We would like to acknowledge the support we have received from our sponsors over the years and towards the hosting of this year’s event,” said Mr Kudenga.
“We will continue as ZAS to give value and provide a networking platform where the media, agriculture value chain enterprises and the Government will meet to ensure the growth of the agriculture sector, which anchors Government’s Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 1.
He said ZAS recognises the importance of agriculture in driving growth and creating wealth for the majority of the country’s population, which is resident in rural areas and other farming communities.
“It is, therefore, imperative to be able to follow and amplify that farming narrative, which is at the base of the country’s economy and growth prospects,” said Mr Kudenga.
He invited other agricultural organisations to come on board and partner ZAS to enable it to continue rewarding and organising training workshops for journalists.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Deputy Minister, Kindness Paradza and his Lands counterpart, Vangelis Haritatos who was guest speaker, graced the event.
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