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Business Reporter
TechnoMag, a leading Zimbabwean-based Tech Magazine in-conjunction with the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services is set to launch the inaugral Young Achievers Tech Awards (YATA), which recognise young and upcoming tech players in Zimbabwe. The Minister of ICT Postal and Courier Services Supa Mandiwanzira will recognise 19 top young tech players in Zimbabwe across the technological sector from ICTs, science and engineering by providing mentorship support, workspace, cash prizes and trophies to be presented on December 3 this year at Holiday Inn in Harare.

According to TechnoMag this has been necessitated by the need to promote and celebrate young and upcoming tech players and expose their prowess to the industry. The Young Achievers Tech Awards (YATA), are a new brand which focuses on recognising youths who are outstanding in the technology industry nationwide. Primarily it looks at technological projects, products and services that are emerging, have been a success or made a positive impact to the society.

This inaugural event will be officially opened by Minister Mandiwanzira and is also expected to be graced by other reputable dignitaries to witness the official opening. Speaking to the brains behind, YATA, Mr Toneo Rutsito, the minister said by recognising the achievers “we are putting them in the lime light to trigger interest and publicity of what we have as a nation and more importantly connecting these techprenuers to their next possible deal or partner”.

“We have not done much to recognise our young techies who are immensely contributing to the tech eco-system in Zimbabwe, if we are to export talent, we will have to start somewhere and I hope these national awards will present a platform to expose our most promising techies to new opportunities in Zimbabwe.”

Many youths achieve a lot but do not get the desired recognition therefore, these are the first and crucial steps in acknowledging players and expose their creativity to industry for their next big projects.

To help select the best of Zimbabwe`s tech players there is a registration process that is now open on www.yata.co.zw <http://www.yata.co.zw/> whereby one needs to submit their brief profile, portfolio, references, actual project, product or service. The official Twitter handle for YATA awards is @yatazw and the Facebook page is also now live. All submissions must be done by 25th of November 2015.

A panel of adjudicators that are hands on and closer to the industry will select and identify the most outstanding players in the industry for the nominees and final winners list.

There are sponsors in every category that will present their prize money, awards and YATA trophies to the selected finest young Techies of the day and the 19 awards are inclusive of Most Promising Start-Up, Most Innovative Start-Up,Tech Entrepreneur of The Year,Best App Developer, (Male&Female),Best Online Web/Blog, Best Web Designer, Best Web Developer, Best Graphic Designer, Best Inventor (Software and Hardware), Best Animator, Best Social Media Influence On Twitter, Most Popular Social Media Facebook, Best Online Video Content, Sustainable Science Projects, Most Influential Twitter Account, Best E-commerce Website, Outstanding Ethical Hacker, Best Cartoon Animation and Lifetime Achievement Award.