Covid-19: TellZim reporter bags world journalism award

TellZim Reporter

TellZim News’ Beatific Gumbwanda,
is one of the two Africans who recently won the Deutsche Welle (DW) Freedom of
Speech Award 2020 which recognises immense contribution to freedom of speech.

Gumbwanda is among 17 journalists
from 14 countries being honoured for their immense contribution to the
profession.

Zimbabwe and Uganda are the only
African countries with journalists who are getting the recognition.

Gumbwanda, a Zimbabwe Media
Commission (ZMC)-accredited journalist, is being honoured after he was arrested
and detained by the police in Chiredzi on April 8 after going to Chiredzi
District Hospital to inquire about a suspected Covid-19 fatality.

The deceased woman’s body had
remained on the deathbed for several hours after nurses refused to take it to
the mortuary as they lack personal protective gear.

The police accused him of
breaching the Covid-19 regulations despite the media being recognized as an
essential service provider.

DW director general Peter Limbourg
has announced that the awards are dedicated to all journalists who have shown
courage in the execution of their duties in the face of the novel coronavirus.

“The Freedom of Speech Award
2020 is dedicated to all courageous journalists worldwide who are suffering
repressions because of their reporting on the pandemic. In 2020, in the midst
of the coronavirus pandemic, DW has decided to honor 17 journalists from 14
countries.

“They represent all journalists
worldwide who have disappeared or been arrested or threatened because of their
reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Limbourg.

Since 2015, DW has presented the
Freedom of Speech Award annually to a person or initiative that has shown outstanding
commitment to human rights and freedom of expression in the media.