By TellZim Reporter
The news-editor for TellZim News, Theresa Takafuma last week received The List Awards Storyteller Journalism Impact award at a colourful ceremony in Harare.
The awards ceremony, convened by Identities Media Holdings was held at The Golden Conifer Conference Centre and was honouring community change makers across the African continent as well as local champions driving social change in their communities.
Selected under a public vote category, Takafuma was recognized for her work in community journalism, which she has been doing for over a decade.
Speaking at the ceremony, Identities Media Holdings founder and director, Advocate Nyaradzo Mashayamombe said the awards were meant to recognize people who work in communities to encourage them.
“We wanted our impact makers to feel seen, to be honoured in a luxurious way and for their work to be validated in such a great way. The nomination and selection criteria was so rigorous, to make sure that those deserving actually won the awards.
“This is the very first edition of the awards but it came out so well, and it felt good to see people happy, especially the award winners. The process was gruelling, but rewarding,” said Mashayamombe.
Receiving her award, Takafuma extended her gratitude to the work that TellZim News does in marginalized communities, which she also contributes to.
“I would like to honour TellZim for the work it does in promoting access to information in marginalized communities in Masvingo. To me, this is testament that the work we do is being noticed nationally.
“Many times, community journalism is not recognized in such a way, but I am grateful to have been nominated, voted for and winning this award. Reaching out to marginalized communities is very important, to enhance everyone’s civic participation,” Takafuma said.
Among other awardees were Youth Impact award winners Wellington Bakaimani and Jussa Kudherezera, who lead organizations that promote youth participation in Shamva and Mutare respectively.
Ruth Makandiwa, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and founder of Femme De Substance walked away with two awards from the Humanitarian Impact and Poverty Alleviation Impact categories respectively.
Prolific musician and writer Hope Masike won the Entertainment Impact Award, while businessman and Glytime Foods founder Lesley Marange won the Business Impact Award.
Other winners included Vengai Dzvedere, who founded Nzvedaz Crypto Hub and received the Role Model Pan African Impact Award for his work in promoting economic growth and financial inclusion across the African continent.
Prominent filmmaker Leonard Chibhamu received the Artist Pan African Impact award for his work in empowering over 1 000 actors and 300 crew members through his drama series ‘Village Secrets’.
Of those coming from across the borders, Virginia Mashomo-Sefume of South Africa was the runner-up in the Pan African Impact Award category.
For her community work in Matobo district, Sasha Ndebele received the Social Impact Award, while Elizabeth Gundu of Marondera received the Climate and Environment Impact Award for her recycling work.
Founder of the Dynasty Academy and Harava West League Ernest Muduwa won the Sports Impact Award, while Chantelle Moillah Shoko who founded Mothers Of Special Heroes (MOSH) that promotes children disability rights in Bulawayo got the Human Rights Impact Award.
Musicians Gary Tight and Hope Masike entertained guests at the awards ceremony, which was also attended by prominent figures in community development.
