The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Correspondent
ZIMPAPERS journalists dominated this year’s second edition of the Zimbabwe Agriculture Media Awards (Zama).
The 2020 edition of the Zama was held recently in Harare under the theme “Supporting Livelihoods for Sustainable Development.”
Leroy Dzenga of The Herald won Best Reporter Agriculture, Finance and Development, while Kwayedza’s Muchaneta Chimuka won Best Reporter in Agriculture Equipment and Sustainable Agriculture categories.
Sunday News Senior Business Reporter Dumisani Nsingo scooped the best reporter accolade in the Dairy Farming category.
Chronicle’s Stanford Chiwanga walked away with best reporter award on Small Ruminants.
Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Dr Anxious Masuka said agriculture reporting should show the resilience of local farmers and the agricultural sector, especially at a time when many communities have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The awards are even more important for the agricultural sector and for capacitating journalists who write about agriculture.
“Seventy percent of Zimbabweans are engaged in one form or the other in an agricultural activity; the sector was a prime driver of economic development and the achievement of Government’s Vision 2030, of attaining (upper) middle-income status,” he said.
“Through the awards, partnerships between ZAS (Zimbabwe Agricultural Society), the media and the cross section of stakeholders in the agricultural value chain, which include Government, will be grown and nurtured to create a sector well-oiled to dialogue and find solutions to nagging challenges.
“It is, thus, imperative to honour journalists with impactful reportage of the sector,” he said.
Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana implored content creators to focus on key sectors of the economy such as agriculture.
“We need to know more about agriculture.
“Where are the journalists that inform us about what is happening?
“In this era of climate change, land degradation and other challenges happening on the topology, where are the journalists?”
Chairperson of the adjudication committee, Mr Nevanji Madanhire, urged newsrooms to set up agriculture reporting desks to enhance coverage of the sector, which is the backbone of the economy.
