The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Erick Kabendera
20 July 2008
Accra — The Citizen's News Editor, Mr Richard Mgamba, has won this year's CNN Multichoice Africa Journalist of the year award in the print news category.
He was named the winner of the prestigious award at a gala awards ceremony held in Accra, Ghana on Saturday. Ghanaian President John Kufour attended the ceremony in The State Banquet Hall.
Mr Mgamba has been honoured for his coverage of the fate of small-scale miners at the Buzwagi Gold mines in Western Tanzania.
The miners were evicted from the mining area early last year to pave way for a Sh520 billion ($400 million) project by a foreign investor.
His recognition becomes the third for a Tanzanian journalist in the 13-year history of the awards. Other journalists who previously won the awards in different categories are Ms Betty Mkwasa and former Sunday Citizen Editor Sakina Datoo in 2002 and 2004, respectively.
Ms Mkwasa was then with ITV as a senior news anchor. She is now the District Commissioner for Korogwe.
In this year's finals, Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Rugoho-Chin'ono scooped the overall winner's award. The competition received 1912 entries from 44 countries throughout the continent, including French and Portuguese speaking Africa. There were 23 finalists from 14 countries.
Tears of joy overcame Mr Mgamba after receiving his trophy. "I dedicate this award to the small-scale miners who suffered at the expense of multinational companies," he said.
And as he left the aisle, he bowed to the cheering crowd in appreciation, and was embraced by Mwananchi Communications former Managing Director, Mr David Waweru.
The Chair of the Judging Panel, Mr Azumbuike Ishiekwene, said Mr Mgamba's submission "took readers to the mines and showed the fear of the miners".
He said in a recorded interview: "It was a comprehensive story with a lot of facts. There was nothing you could take off from it."
Mr Mgamba started his journalism career as a staff writer at Habari Corporation in 2000. He joined Mwananchi Communications in 2004 as its Mwanza Bureau Chief.
He holds a postgraduate diploma in Financial Journalism from Wits University, Johannesburg.
Among the 2008 finalists was Tanzanian Mwondoshah Mfanga, who is The Guardian Newspaper's Chief Sub Editor. He was nominated for the Arts and Culture award, which went to Ms Barbara Angopa of Ugandan Nation Television (NTV).
Journalists from East Africa scooped five awards in total with Kenya and Uganda scooping two each while Tanzania got one.
Kenyan Boniface Mwangi, a staff photojournalist at the Standard Newspaper won the Mohamed Amin Photographic Award while his colleague Mutwiri Mutuota, the Associate Sports Editor at the Kenya Times won the Sports Award.
Ugandan Bamuturaki Musinguzi, a correspondent with the East African Newspaper, won the MSD Health & Medical Award.
President Kufour told the gathering comprising journalists, media managers and stakeholders that journalists should strive to cover areas that promote investments in their various communities.
The Ghanaian President also urged journalists to acquire and disseminate information on technical areas such as energy, communications, transport, agriculture and health to promote development.
Soon after the awards presentation ceremony, Mr Kufour joined the crowd on the dance floor as Channel O's DJ Waxxy played the tunes.
The CNN African Journalist of the Year Award was founded in 1995 by Mr Edward Boateng (formerly African Regional Director for Turner Broadcasting System Inc., CNN's parent company) and the late Mohamed Amin, to recognise and encourage excellence in journalism throughout Africa.
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