AJAAT awards 15 journalists for excellent reporting

FIFTEEN Journalists from different media organizations in the country have been awarded prizes after they have emerged winners of a three month long media writing competition on National HIV/AIDS Voluntary Testing and Counseling (VCT) campaign popularly known as “Tanzania Bila UKIMWI Inawezekana Media Competition” The competition which was prepared by the Association of Journalists Against IDS in Tanzania (AJAAT) in collaboration with the Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) included journalists working in both print and electronic media organizations in the country. The five top winners received cash Tsh. 300,000 each, while the second batch of other five winners received Tshs. 150,000 each. The third group of another five winning journalists was awarded each with cash Tshs. 120,0000. Apart from cash, all winning journalists were also presented with the certificates of their participation to the competition in a colorful ceremony which was held on 22nd of October last year (2008) at Tanzania Information Services, known by many as MAELEZO House.

I emerged among the top five winners and was proud to have been presented with cash and a certificate of participation in this prestigious annual media competition. In the photo above, I am being presented with the awards by the Executive Chairperson of the TACAIDS in the country Dr. Fatma Mrisho. On her left is the Chairman of the AJAAT Association Mr. Simon Kivamwo.

The five top winners who scooped the bigger token of money from the guest of Honour, the Executive Chairperson of the Tanzania Commission of AIDS (TACAIDS) Dr. Fatma Mrisho were, Emmanuel Onyango who writes for the Business Times, a weekly newspaper, Agatha Mshanga from Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC one), Reuben Kagaruki of Majira newspaper, Alfa Nuhu from This Day newspaper and Jacqueline Mosha of Nipashe newspaper. The second top winners were Rosina John who writes for the Citizen newspaper, Lilian Timbuka and Dolphina Rubyema who writes for Kiongozi, Phillip Mwihacva of Clouds FM and Sara Mossi who writes for Mtanzania.

Some of the journalists outside Tanzania Information Services building shortly before the award presenting ceremony started. The building is located along Samora Avenue in the heart of Dar es Salaam city.

The third group category of winners included Eckland Mwafissi of Majira, Victor Muhanika from Hoja, Benjamin Sawe and Mwirabi Sise of Tanzania Information Services (MAELEZO) whose joint article appeared in the Kulikoni newspaper, Jackson Kalindimya of Nipashe and Selemani Msuya from Changamoto. Apart from the above, two other journalists who participated in the competition were only given certificates of participation and NOT cash. These were Japhari Mwipi and Shabaan Matutu of Wasaa and Tanzania Daima newspapers respectively.


Mr. Charles Kayoka an official from TACVAIDS in his introductory remarks while introducing to the audience other officials from the High table.

According to the organizers, the aim of the competition was to mobilize journalists in print and in electronic media to write more emphatically about the social and economic impact of HIV/AIDS to t6he nation with the view to encourage more people so as to see the importance of VCT services in the country. The National VCT campaigns in Tanzania was kick-started by His Excellency President Jakaya Kikwete on 14th July 2007 and was followed by a national wide response in different regions in the country. Statistics shows that more than 4 million Tanzanians have undergone HIV testing since then. According to the organizers, the competition required journalists to write not only about the magnitude of the problem of HIV/AIDS affecting people in the country, but also to highlight together with other things HIV/AIDS testing as a principal strategy towards prevention. This also included preventing mothers from infecting their new born babies as well as enabling those people already living with the HIV access treatment and care services that are currently provided freely by the government of Tanzania.

Journalists at work during the function, they are seen taking photos from the high table while others with their shooting cameras.


Under the slogan “Tanzania without AIDS disease is possible by all means” which literally is expressed by Swahili words, “Tanzania bila UKIMWI Inawezekana.” was launched in July 15th 2008 to October 30th 2008, attracted more than 45 entries countrywide with some participants sending more than three entries on different themes. “The competition was opened to all practiced journalists/columnists from both print and electronic media based in the country, says AJAAT Chairman, Mr Simon Kivamwo, adding that, it was made possible because of the support AJAAT had received from TACAIDS. During his speech, Mr. Kivamwo thanked the organization and that AJAAT was so excited with the results particularly the big number of entries that signified increased awareness among journalists over the matter. However, he said AJAAT’s philosophy was to complement government’s efforts in fighting HIV/AIDS by looking for current issues brought-up by the former and used the time to make fresh stories for public awareness through such competitions.

A cross section of journalists seated in the hall. In the middle an awardee walking along the corridor with a grin of happiness in his eyes to the high table to receive his award.

He reiterated AJAAT’s system of awarding many journalists at a time instead of one or two winners as this provided competitors with wider chances of winning and thus encouraged wider participation. Mr. Kivamwo who is the founder member of AJAAT association since 2004, is always in the forefront to see his organization is growing. Explaining the procedures used to select winners, he disclosed the names of four judges who took part in the selection. These were Mr. Baraka Mpora-BCC Officer from National AIDS Control program (NACP), Mr. Benjamin Thompson, Media Manager from the Executive Solution Ltd, Gloria Mziray Public Relations Manager from TACAIDS, and Mr. Perege Gumbo Senior Business News Reporter from Guardian Limited. Mr. Gumbo is also Health and HIV/AIDS Media specialist. According to him, each judge read the entries separately and awarded marks basing on a marking scheme provided without having seen each other or consulted one another and the marks were afterwards added together and divided by four to get an average. This system ensured fairness and reflected true results of all participants’ work and their scores.