winners 2025

From Market Stalls to the Boardroom: How Chanazi Drums Washaya is Building an Empire of Women’s Empowerment Chanazi Drums Washaya’s entrepreneurial drive was forged in the fires of early adversity and fueled by a powerful maternal legacy. Raised by a resilient late mother who successfully brought up seven children against formidable odds, Chanazi learned early […]

The Literate Landscape of Heritage: How Pan-African Impact Winner Zwelihle Banks Nsiiwa is Reclaiming Mother-Tongue Education BULAWAYO — True cultural preservation does not belong in the quiet halls of museums; it is actively forged in the hands of rural children learning to read their very first words. For Zwelihle Banks Nsiiwa, the newly crowned winner

The Pen of Parity: How Climate and Social Justice Journalist Tafadzwa Mwanengureni is Redefining Women’s Narrative in Zimbabwe HARARE — True investigative journalism does not merely observe institutional gaps; it aggressively exposes them until the wheels of policy begin to turn. For Tafadzwa Mwanengureni, the newly named first runner-up for the prestigious Storytelling Journalism Impact

The Chronicler of the Unseen: Calvin Manika Wins Top Honor for Championing Environmental and Social Justice BULAWAYO —In a media landscape frequently dominated by urban-centric narratives, elite political discourse, and fast-paced press releases, the structural struggles of rural populations and vulnerable children are often pushed to the absolute periphery. For Calvin Manika, the newly crowned

From Cowdray Park to Nationwide Retail: How Tech Pioneer Mark Tawana Kumwenda is Rewriting Zimbabwe’s Digital Narrative BULAWAYO — Five years ago, in the bustling but often economically overlooked suburb of Cowdray Park, a teenager sat with a borrowed or hard-earned screen, teaching himself lines of code via free online resources. He had no venture

From Rural Plumtree to Humanitarian Laureate: The Inspiring Journey of Thina Mpofu BULAWAYO— For more than two decades, Thina Mpofu has operated at the critical intersection of education, social equity, and grassroots philanthropy. Recently crowned the winner of the prestigious Humanitarian Impact Award, the 44-year-old civil servant and serial social entrepreneur has systematically transformed personal

Grassroots Voice Rising: Yeukai Munetsi Wins Youth Impact Award for Championing Women and Community Justice Yeukai Ottilia Munetsi is redefining what youth leadership looks like in Zimbabwe through fearless storytelling, grassroots activism and an unwavering commitment to empowering young women and marginalized communities. As the winner of the Youth Impact Award, Yeukai has emerged as

Beyond the Classroom Walls: Muziwandile Dube’s Strategic Blueprint for Elevating Matabeleland’s Rural Schools True community transformation rarely happens in a vacuum; more often than not, it is the continuation of a quiet, multi-generational promise. For Muziwandile Dube, the newly crowned winner of the prestigious Poverty Alleviation Impact Award, the path toward dismantling rural poverty was

Looking Back at the 2025 List Awards: Celebrating Excellence, Leadership and Impact As preparations gather momentum for the 2026 edition of The List Awards, it is worth reflecting on the success of last year’s event, which brought together some of Zimbabwe’s most influential leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals, innovators and change-makers. Hosted by Identities Media, The List

From Aid Recipient to Global Crisis Leader: How Shepherd Gudyani is Rewriting the Rules of Humanitarian Innovation MT DARWIN- Shepherd Gudyani’s career in humanitarianism spans over 12 years and multiple continents, but its roots are planted deeply in the soil of Dare Village, Mount Darwin. During his childhood, severe climate-induced droughts completely devastated his family’s