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Chinhoyi – Mashonaland West-based scribes were awarded for their efforts in the Mashonaland West’s Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) Tenth Provincial Awards held in Chinhoyi on Friday night with Spiked Online’s correspondent Elvis Dumba clinching The Health Reporter of the Year and Best Photos/Visual of the Year Awards.
The provincial media awards are sponsored by ZIMPLATS as well as Environmental Management Agency (EMA), Chinhoyi Municipality, and individual journalists among others.
Dumba’s winning entry for the Health Reporter of the Year Award was on a possible health outbreak due to perennial sewer blockages:
//spikedmedia.co.zw/health-disaster-looms-over-perennial-sewer-challenges-in-banket/
His photo of a homestead ravaged by veld fire caught also published on Spiked Online Media caught the judges’ attention.
Dumba thanked the support he gets from the Publisher and Editor of Spiked Online Media, Mr. Byron Adonis Mutingwende, that has enabled him to grow his career.
Mashonaland West Province’s Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon Mary Mliswa said media practitioners are key drivers for economic development through information dissemination and encouraged journalists to actively get involved in various government empowerment programs.
“As journalists, you also need to take your strategic position and be involved in economic activities offered by the second republic. Some of you want pieces of land but you have not applied. You need to be involved and as government, we are aware of the challenges you go through whilst doing your duties, and the government is seized with the issue to ensure that your welfare improves,” she said.
Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services who was the guest of honor at the tenth-anniversary awards said the government takes the safety of journalists seriously and will ensure that as the country heads towards the 2023 General Elections, journalists are allowed to freely carry out their duties.
“The government takes the safety of journalists seriously and as we approach the 2023 General elections, my ministry will engage other stakeholders in the security sector to ensure journalists’ safety as they cover the elections and carry out their duties as we do not want incidents of harassment of journalists. However, I would like to encourage journalists to write objectively, and truthfully and avoid peddling falsehoods,” he said.
Hon Paradza said journalists should assist in helping eradicate corruption in all sectors by exposing corrupt activities without fear and favour.
NewZimbabwe correspondent, James Muonwa, won two awards and was the Mashonaland West Overall Reporter of The Year 2022.
Meanwhile, the ZUJ Chinhoyi Branch held elections yesterday, and below are the results:
Chairperson James Muonwa – NewZimbabwe
Vice Chairperson Elvis Dumba – Spiked Online
Secretary Tichaona Katsvamutima – Zi Fm Stereo
Vice Secretary John Murwira- freelance
Treasurer Sharon Chikowore – New Ziana (Telegraph)
Committee Member Naomi Magorimbo- The Star
Committee member Farai Chikowore – New Ziana (Telegraph).
