2026 Media AWARDS

CALL FOR SUBMISSION OF ENTRIES: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ZIMBABWE 2026 MEDIA AWARDS

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ZIMBABWE 2026 MEDIA AWARDS

Amnesty International Zimbabwe will host its 2026 Media Awards on 24 November 2026 to celebrate human rights reportage in Zimbabwe. Winners will include some of the most recognized and groundbreaking players in human rights reporting. The awards will recognize the vital role journalists play and the risks they face in highlighting human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. Awards will go to journalists working for, or supplying stories to, public and private media houses based in Zimbabwe whose stories were published or broadcast for the first time in Zimbabwe between 27 November 2025 and 1 November 2026.

AWARD CATEGORIES

After submitting entries for nomination in the 2026 Amnesty International Zimbabwe Media Awards, entries will be reviewed by a panel of independent judges.

Selected judges will consider the following award categories.

1. Written News: A hard news story relating to the promotion, protection, or respect of human rights. This can be in mainstream print media or online media.

2. Broadcast News (TV): A broadcast story relating to the promotion, protection, or respect of human rights. This may have been broadcast on TV or online. The entry should not be longer than 15 minutes.

3. Written Features: A feature story published in a newspaper, magazine, or online publication that relates to a human rights issue.

4. Broadcast Features (TV): A feature broadcast on TV or online that relates to the promotion, protection, or respect of human rights. It can be a story, report, or documentary between 15 and 60 minutes long.

5. Radio and Podcasts: A full-length podcast or radio program, documentary, or news report relating to promotion, protection, or respect for human rights. The whole entry (including compilations) should be between 15-60 minutes long and must have been broadcast or available online.

6. Digital Creativity: Innovative and interactive presentation creatively engaging people or uncovering human rights-related issues. Entries must have been published for the first time or have had substantial fresh content published between 27 November 2025 and 1 November 2026.

7. Photojournalist of the Year: A single photograph or a series of up to 3 photographs promoting, protecting, or respecting human rights. These must have been published by a Zimbabwe media outlet (newspaper, magazine, or online). Only the entered piece will be judged, but the overall impact will be considered if published elsewhere in Zimbabwe and submitted as supporting material.

8. The Candle Award for New Journalist: This category is open to journalists who have been working for five years or less in paid employment as a journalist. Journalists should enter one piece of either broadcast, print, radio, or online publication. Finalists will be asked for evidence of their eligibility.

9. Climate Reporter of the Year: This award recognises outstanding journalism that examines the climate crisis through a human rights and justice lens. It celebrates accurate, ethical, and impactful reporting that amplifies affected communities, highlights the unequal impacts of climate change, and promotes greater understanding of climate justice, accountability, and rights-respecting solutions.

10. SRHR Reporter of the Year: This award recognises outstanding journalism that advances public understanding of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). It celebrates accurate, ethical and impactful reporting that amplifies affected voices, challenges harmful practices and highlights issues including access to healthcare, bodily autonomy, maternal health, gender-based violence and adolescent SRHR.

ENTRY SUBMISSIONS

Entries for the 2026 Amnesty International Zimbabwe Media Awards will run for four weeks, from 2 October 2026 to 1 November 2026. Winners of the 2026 Amnesty International Zimbabwe Media Awards will be announced on 23 November 2026 at a ceremony to be held in Harare.

Each category has a maximum of three entries.

ELIGIBILITY

• For online and broadcast entries, submissions must be from a media outlet with headquarters in Zimbabwe.

• For print and photojournalism entries, submissions must have been printed specifically for a Zimbabwean audience.

• Work must have been published or broadcast for the first time between 27 November 2025 and 1 November 2026.

• All entries must be submitted online.

NB: All entries must be submitted on https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/xnfdsDES5p?origin=lprLink

The closing date for entries is midnight on 1 November 2026. No entries will be accepted after this.

ADJUDICATION PROCESS

A distinguished panel of judges will evaluate the submissions. Entries will be assessed on the quality and depth of the reporting and storytelling, how they center the voices and agency of the people and communities at the heart of the issue, and how they present possible solutions.

JUDGING CRITERIA:

The judging panel will be looking for excellence in human rights journalism, judged by the following criteria:

Relevance: Entries will be judged for how they:

  • fit the category description.
  • expose human rights issues.
  • introduce a human rights topic to the outlet’s audiences, either for the first time or in a fresh and innovative way.
  • include case studies or first-hand witness accounts, or testimonials.
  • Well-crafted and responsibly produced:
  • are balanced and fair (news reporting).
  • are engaging and appropriate for the audience for which they were intended.
  • show care and consideration for those whose stories are being told.

Reach and impact: Entries will be judged for reach and impact. This could be demonstrated through:

• total audience reached and the audience demographic – particularly those less likely to be well informed about human rights.

• further media coverage of the issue as a result of the piece.

• positive attitudinal change towards human rights.

• demonstrable human rights change – this could be a change in policy or law, or proof of a positive impact on the lives of those whose stories have been told.

HOW TO ENTER:

You will be asked to submit your entries in one of the following ways:

• by uploading files ideally as PDF, JPG, MP3, or MP4.

• a link to your own viewing platform (e.g., YouTube or Google Drive).

• URL link (for entries published online).

PLEASE NOTE:

Any links supplied must be accessible up to 23 November 2026. Should this not be the case, alternative access to the entry must be provided. We do not require high-resolution or HD versions at this stage, as these will only be used for judges to view online. If you are a finalist, we will come back to you to request higher resolution versions to show during the ceremony if necessary. If submitting more than one entry, a separate online entry will be required for each.

PRIVACY STATEMENT:

Amnesty International Zimbabwe will store and process your data to provide you with the information necessary to process your entry to the awards, and as a past entrant, to inform you of future award events. You can opt out of receiving information about future awards at any time by emailing “unsubscribe” or calling us. Contact details will not be shared with any third parties without your agreement.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ZIMBABWE 2025 MEDIA AWARDS

  1. BEST WRITTEN NEWS
    Nominees: Thandiwe Garusa, Edgar Gweshe, and Nathan Guma

Special mention award: Thandiwe Garusa.
Runner-up: Edgar Gweshe.
Winner: Nathan Guma

  1. BEST BROADCAST NEWS (TV)
    Nominees: Tamuka Charakupa, Paddington Muguti, Ruvimbo Nyikadzino, and Yeukai Tazira.

Special mention award: Tamuka Charakupa
Special mention award: Paddington Muguti
Runner up: Ruvimbo Nyikadzino
Winner: Yeukai Tazira

  1. BEST WRITTEN FEATURES.
    Nominees: Moses Mugugunyeki and Lulu Brenda Harris, and Muchaneta Chimuka

Special mention award: Moses Mugugunyeki
Runner up: Lulu Brenda Harris
Winner: Muchaneta Chimuka

  1. BEST BROADCAST FEATURES (TV).

Nominees: Takudzwa Musukasa and Peace Patrick Musoro, and Lynette Manzini

Special mention award: Takudzwa Musakasa
Runner-up: Peace Patrick Musoro
Winner: Lynette Manzini

  1. BEST RADIO AND PODCASTS.
    Nominees: Folake Makonese, Blessed Mhlanga, and Costa Nkomo

Special mention award: Folake Makonese.
Runner-up: Blessed Mhlanga
Winner: Costa Nkomo

  1. BEST DIGITAL CREATIVITY:
    Nominees: Lynette Manzini and Sikhanyisiwe Sebatha

Runner-up: Lynette Manzini .
Winner: Sikhanyisiwe Sebatha

  1. BEST PHOTOJOURNALIST OF THE YEAR.

Nominees: Shorai Murwira and Emma Zihonye

Runner up: Emma Kudakwashe Zihonye
Winner: Shorai Murwira

  1. THE CANDLE AWARD FOR NEW JOURNALIST.

Nominees: Florence Tafadzwa Kayungwa and Thabisani Dube

Runner up: Florence Tafadzwa Kayungwa
Winner: Thabisani Dube

Full list of 2024 Winners

  1. Written News:

Runner Up: Miriam Magwanya and Evans Mathanda – Toilet Tyranny: HCC Workers Exploit Citizens.

Winner: Privilege Gumbodete – Zim performs dismally on human rights.

  • Broadcast News (TV): 

Runner Up: Andile Tshuma – Bulawayo’s Burning Problem- Richmond Landfill Site A Health Catastrophe.

Winner: Tall Grass Media / Michelle Gahadza: The role of women in preserving traditional knowledge.

  • Written Features:

Runner Up: Tatenda Prosper Chitagu – Zimbabwe’s lithium liability.

Winner: Edgar Gweshe – Wetlands Protection In Harare Is A Human Rights Issue.

  • Broadcast Features (TV):

Runner Up: Marvellous Matswimbo – Life after Masaya: The Family of Murdered Pastor Tapfumaneyi Masaya Speaks Out.

Winner: Trevour Sagota /ALZ FILM FELLOWS – A fragile existence.

  • Radio and Podcasts:

Runner up: Brighton Ncube– Right to Documentation, struggles in accessing identity documents: Interview with Trinity Project Programs Manager.

WINNER: Blessed Mhlanga – Torture is a crime, end it now.

  • Digital Creativity:

Runner Up: Brighton Ncube (CITE) – Torture, arbitrary arrests, treatment by security services in Zimbabwe

Winner: Bustop TV – Transcending the ballot box.

  • Photojournalist of the Year.

Runner Up: Obey Sibanda – Images used for “Water Crisis in Bulawayo: Luveve Residents resort to shallow backyard wells.”

Winner: Emma Kudakwashe Zihonye – Images used for (The Harrowing Ordeal of Namatai Kwekweza: A Fight for Justice.)

  • The Candle Award for New Journalist:

Runner Up: Privilege Gumbodete – Tortured unionist relives 35-day ordeal behind bars.

Winner: Darlington Gatsi –Inside Madzibaba Ishmael’s ‘Canaan’: Everything that happens here is God’s will – ‘disciples’ say.

  • Outstanding Impact Award: Judges’ Choice

Lucy Selemani Yasini – Posthumous Award.

Lucy’s illustrious career in journalism spanned several institutions, including the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, the South African Broadcasting Corporation, and Studio 7. Throughout her tenure, she demonstrated unwavering dedication to fearless and unbiased reporting, undaunted by the challenges and dangers inherent to her profession. As a voice of reason and integrity, Lucy earned the respect and admiration of her peers. Female journalists, in particular, found in her a trustworthy confidante, willing to listen and offer guidance on sensitive matters, including sexual harassment. Though soft-spoken, Lucy’s words carried significant weight, as she consistently spoke truth to power and highlighted the challenges faced by journalists. Her legacy serves as a testament to the transformative power of courageous journalism. This award is given to her posthumously to honor her immense contributions.

Host – Nonkululeko Zandile Ndlovu

2024 Adjudicators

A distinguished panel of judges evaluated the submissions. Entries were assessed on the quality and depth of the reporting and storytelling, how they centered the voices and agency of the people and communities at the heart of the issue, and how they presented possible solutions. Below is the full list of the adjudicators.

  1. Lennox Mhlanga – a consultant communication specialist with 23 years of experience serving various organizations in the business, tertiary education, local authority, and civil society sectors. He has worked for the World Bank Group on the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) support for the Government of Zimbabwe’s ‘Ease of Doing Business’ Initiative. Lennox is an Associate Consultant with the dynamic team at Magna Carta Reputation Consultants, and an adviser to Conservations Africa and Purple Room Consultancies in South Africa, and Efficacy Media in Zambia. He also lectures under the Marketers Association of Zimbabwe’s (MAZ) Business Institute and Bindura University of Science and Technology. He is a broadcaster of note, presenting and producing radio programmes with Capitalk100.4FM. He serves on the following boards: the Zimbabwe Centre for Media and Information Literacy (Chairman), the Zimbabwe Association of Business Communicators, and the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe where he sits on the Media Complaints Committee. Currently runs Lenox Mhlanga & Associates as Managing Consultant. This is a boutique Public Relations agency that specializes in reputation management and media relations among other services. 
  1. Kizito Sikuka – is a researcher, journalist, and policy analyst. He is the head of the Regional Economic Development Institute at the Southern African Research and Documentation Centre (SARDC). 
  1. Anna Miti – Advocacy and communications specialist with a background in media, gender, and HIV/AIDS Advocacy. She has been a broadcast journalist for the past fifteen years, covering most of the beats in the newsroom including current affairs and politics, arts, gender, and even sports. She is a leader among health journalists in Zimbabwe, a member of the Federation of African Media Women in Zimbabwe, and a member of the Editor’s Forum on HIV/AIDS. She is also Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation-Pangaea Zimbabwe AID Trust (PZAT) – 2015 Fellow – 2015 
  1. Tariro Makanga – a health communications specialist who has worked in the SRH advocacy and HIV/ADS prevention sector for over a decade. 
  1. John Masuku – is a Media Consultant/Content Writer-Editor/Mentor. He writes articles and commentaries for different publications related to media trends, gender mainstreaming, training, and sustainability in Zimbabwe, Africa, and the world. He also edits some English Ndebele and Shona publications including translation roles. 

Full video of the Award ceremony

2024 Media Awards Gallery

Privacy Statement:

Amnesty International Zimbabwe will store and process your data to provide you with the information necessary to process your entry to the awards, and as a past entrant to inform you of future award events. You can opt out of receiving information about future awards at any time by emailing “unsubscribe” or calling us. Contact details will not be shared with any third parties without your agreement.