ZEJA Secretary-General, Gilbert Munetsi, left, talks to member Garikai Chaunza during a cocktail party held to honour Environmental Reporter of the second quarter recipient, Patrice Makova, at the Rainbow Towers in Harare. Patrice is pictured, above right, receiving the award
ZIMBABWE Environmental Journalists Association’s Central Region secretary for Information and Publicity, Patrice Makova, is the winner of the Environment Africa/Rainbow Tourism Group’s Environment Award for the second quarter of 2011, with Chipo Masara of The Standard winning the first quarter award.
Makova’s winning article focused on conservation efforts by rural communities and how forests are providing an essential link to livelihoods, addressing climate change and other environmental challenges.
Masara was honoured for her story titled “Smoking Ruins the Environment”, which outlined the dangers of smoking which include veld fires.
The two winners each walked away with a cash prize, a trophy, a certificate and two nights’ accommodation for two at an RTG lodge in Hwange.
Makova, who is the Features Editor of The Mail newspaper, expressed gratitude for the award, saying it will go a long way in encouraging other journalists to write about issues to do with the environment.
He urged environment journalists to continue to inform the public and make constant effort to increase awareness about the need to protect the environment.
“Special attention should be given to issues to do with climate change, pollution in cities and towns, deforestation and conservation,” said Makova.
He also called on Environmental organizations to provide regular training programmes for journalists to enable them to keep abreast with issues to do with the environment and climate change and fully understand the technical and specialized scientific information so they may report from a more informed perspective.
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well done comrade
congratulations Cde Pats.