Zimpapers Logo

From Walter Mswazie in Masvingo—
The Herald’s Masvingo Bureau chief George Maponga has scooped the 2016 inaugural Lowveld Journalist of the Year Media Award for writing incisive developmental stories that improve livelihoods among communities in the Lowveld and beyond. The Herald which is the flagship of the country’s largest media house, Zimpapers 1980 (Pvt Ltd), was also named winner of the 2016 Lowveld Media House of the Year award during a ceremony held in Chiredzi last Saturday.

The awards are a brainchild of the Lowveld Community Development Trust that was formed last year to promote socio-economic development mainly among rural people in the Lowveld that covers Chiredzi, Chikombedzi, Mwenezi and beyond.

According to the adjudicators, Maponga’s award was based on nominations received from the Lowveld community and beyond, recognising the role played by an individual journalist to objectively cover critical developmental issues that influenced community development in the region.

The Print Media House Award that was won by The Herald was based on nominations received from the Lowveld community and recognised media houses that objectively covered critical developmental issues that changed people’s lives by precipitating development.

In accepting the award Maponga (35) said he was humbled to be chosen as the best among other journalists in the province adding that the award was going to spur him to work harder to promote development in remote marginalised parts of Masvingo province.

“I am elated to be the first winner of this prestigious award and it is quite refreshing that my contribution towards promoting development in rural communities is appreciated. I, however, want to pay tribute to my editor Mr Caesar Zvayi and the entire editorial team at The Herald for the support they continue to give me in my work,’’ said Maponga.

The Herald deputy editor Joram Nyathi said the awards were further confirmation that the daily continues to be the best and most effective media house in Zimbabwe.

“We are excited about the news. This shows that despite all the vilification, what we do resonates with the nation’s objective of development. It goes on to encourage and give us the right focus to development. I would like to congratulate our Bureau chief George Maponga for keeping the nation and the Lowveld well informed. This means The Herald remains an established national media house for political, social and economic development,’’ said Nyathi.

The awards coordinator, Mr Douglas Jiri, said the Lowveld Community Development Trust was thrilled to honour journalists and media houses that promote community development through reporting on pertinent issues affecting the Lowveld area and beyond.

“We are happy that the reporter, Mr Maponga and The Herald won awards based on selections made by the Lowveld community and this means that the work they are doing is having a positive impact on the community.

“Mr Maponga has extensively covered developmental issues that affect the entire Lowveld and we want to congratulate him for winning the best journalist award,” said Mr Jiri. Maponga received a floating trophy and a certificate.

Other notable winners on the night was Lowveld sugar producer Tongaat Hulett, which won the Lowveld Sugar Cane Value Addition Award while ethanol producer Green Fuel walked away with the Sugar Cane Green Energy Award.

The Malilangwe Conservancy won the Wildlife Management Award while the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (zinwa) walked away with the Lowveld Water Security Award for ensuring uninterrupted water supplies to the Lowveld cane plantations.

Croco Motors won the Lowveld Super Brand of the Year, while PSMAS scooped the Lowveld Community Award while Chiredzi resettled sugar cane farmer Mr Murius Dzinoreva won the overall Lowveld Sugar Cane Farmer of the Year Award. Industry and International Trade Minister Mike Bimha, who was the guest of honour handed trophies and certificates to the winners.