THE digital screen flickered in January 2021, casting a cold blue glow across a small room in Eastlea low density suburb in Harare silenced by the heavy shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. Outside, the streets were empty. Physical gatherings had stopped, fear was a palpable weight in the air, and a quiet isolation threatened to break the Zimbabwe’s social fabric. Yet, it was precisely inside this vacuum of despair that a bold, defiance-driven idea took root.

Albert Masaka, a veteran publisher at Zim Community News, refused to let the quiet resilience of ordinary citizens go unnoticed. He envisioned a virtual stage to honour the invisible forces keeping society glued together. Recruiting Tariro Masunda, a sharp, tech-savvy young journalist capable of breathing digital life into the vision, the duo and six interns successfully launched a live broadcast on Facebook. It was the inaugural Zim Community News Awards.

It was a modest online event, but it carried an enormous heartbeat. The stream seamlessly juxtaposed legendary corporate titans like telecommunications mogul Strive Masiyiwa, Dr Nigel Chanakira, and Dr Philip Chiyangwa alongside faith-based laeders like Pastor Ruth Musarurwa and completely unseen heroes—the frontline doctors, rural teachers, church leaders, and youth organisers who risked everything during humanity’s darkest hour.

Little did the locked-down viewers know that this pixelated broadcast would ignite a sweeping national movement. Today, that digital spark has evolved into the prestigious Zim Community Trailblazers Awards (ZCTA), fundamentally shifting how corporate Zimbabwe invests in grassroots excellence.

From Pixel to Podium: The Red Carpet Awakening

The overwhelming success of that maiden virtual ceremony exposed a deep sociological truth: people craved recognition for honest, authentic, grassroots hard work.

Encouraged by the public responses, Masaka and his young team at Perfection Media moved quickly to institutionalise the initiative.

They were quick to set up a powerhouse advisory leadership board, appointing Dr Nigel Chanakira as the ZCTA board chairperson, with prominent medical practitioner Prof, Johannes Marisa and corporate strategist Tinashe Nyahwema steering institutional governance.

By its second and third editions, the awards underwent an explosive metamorphosis to physical red-carpet galas. Held at the iconic Harare International Conference Centre (HICC), these ceremonies turned into high-stakes convergence zones.

Influential government ministers—including Monica Mutsvangwa, Kindness Paradza, and Dr Jenfan Muswere Dr Torerai Moyo—rubbed shoulders with visionary corporate executives like Ken Sharpe, media heavyweights like Pikirayi Deketeke, and public enterprises such as the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC).

Spiritual and cultural icons, including musical minister Michael Mahendere, graced the stage, unifying the evenings under a powerful battle cry: “Celebrating Zimbabwe’s Success Through our Diversity.”

In shattering the myth that excellence belongs exclusively to elite boardrooms in the capital the ZCTA proved that innovation thrives in the dust of deep rural outposts, and remote manufacturing hubs.

The Metamorphosis into ZCTA: Institutional Rigour

As the initiative matured, its operational scope outgrew the boundaries of a traditional media-inspired ceremony. The honorees were no longer just news subjects; they were true pioneers carving out economic paths under tough global conditions.

The event underwent a powerful structural rebrand, emerging as the Zim Community Trailblazers Awards (ZCTA).

This was far more than a cosmetic facelift. The rebrand introduced permanent systems designed for legacy-building and strict corporate alignment:

The ZCTA Hall of Fame: A permanent legacy wing was created to honour lifelong titans across sports, arts, business, health, and community development. Early inductees included medical pioneer Dr Vivek Solanki and international cricket star Sikandar Raza, giving young Zimbabweans visible, living benchmarks of absolute excellence.
Honorary Independent Tracking: The criteria evolved to protect the platform’s integrity. Highest-tier categories became strictly honorary, bypassing self-nominations. Instead, an independent tracking desk was set up to surface unheralded local heroes who would otherwise never seek the spotlight.
Auditing True Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): The ZCTA began measuring corporate social initiatives based on real community transformation rather than public relations budgets. A prime example was telecommunications giant NetOne, which won widespread praise for its highly targeted initiative delivering specialised sunscreen lotions to vulnerable albino communities in remote, rural areas.

Decentralizing the Dream: Regional Devolution Ecosystems

A national movement cannot remain trapped in the capital city. The defining chapter of the ZCTA’s rapid rise has been its aggressive decentralisation drive across Zimbabwe’s provinces. Under Albert Masaka’s leadership, the ZCTA realised that localised challenges require localised auditing, validation, and celebration.

Blueprints have been successfully rolled out into regional clusters. Highly targeted offshoots like the Dungwiza Community Trailblazers Awards took over Chitungwiza and Mashonaland East, while the massive Midlands Community Trailblazers Awards (MCTA) shook Kwekwe under the heritage-focused theme “Harvesting Excellence: Celebrating Community Champions of Midlands’ Rich Heritage.”

These regional pushbacks succeeded due to direct endorsements from Provincial Ministers of State, including Honourable Owen Ncube (Midlands), Honourable Ezra Chadzamira (Masvingo), and Advocate Itayi Ndudzo.

These provincial playbooks function as data-driven socio-economic audits. For example, the Masvingo Community Trailblazers Awards, hosted at the Urban Lifestyles Hotel, partnered directly with provincial development offices to map indigenous economic solutions.

By profiling top regional economic actors—such as the City of Masvingo and Bikita Minerals mine—the ZCTA compiles these milestones into a premium, post-event Investor Digest.

This digest is handed directly to the Permanent Secretary for Devolution, Prof. Addmore Pazvakavambwa, creating a permanent, clean baseline to attract development and track capital inflows. It turns the second republic’s national philosophy—“Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo”—into empirical, undeniable reality.

Re-Engineering Corporate Sponsorship: The Value Proposition

To attract tier-1 financial institutions, mining houses, and international embassies, the ZCTA completely abandoned the outdated “feel-good awards dinner” pitch. Modern corporate sponsors no longer cut checks simply to see their brand logos displayed on a vinyl banner. Today, corporate capital flows into platforms that mitigate market risk, build real consumer intelligence, and offer concrete alignment with the National Development Strategy (NDS).

The ZCTA structures its partnership packages across five high-yield, data-driven pillars:

I. Market Intelligence Gateways

Major corporate entities frequently struggle to gather reliable, warm consumer insights in deep rural and provincial markets. The ZCTA positions its provincial chapters as structured B2B hubs. Sponsors don’t buy vanity space; they purchase secure, direct access to the top economic players, agricultural cooperatives, and high-net-worth individuals within that province, supported by an exclusive Provincial Market Insight Report built from verified nomination data.

II. The Devolution Asset

Large-scale corporations look favorably upon initiatives that tie directly into state devolution mandates. By securing active endorsements from the offices of Provincial Ministers, the ZCTA offers a secure environment for public-private collaboration. The event embeds a formal “Public-Private Dialogue” segment into its VIP dinners, allowing headline sponsors to host fireside panels with regional policymakers, placing the brand at the epicenter of national development.

III. Solutions Journalism Media Bundles

Traditional event sponsorships vanish the moment the lights turn off. Because Perfection Media owns established media assets like Zim Community News and Dungwiza News, they offer a year-long narrative footprint. Sponsors become “Socio-Economic Storytelling Partners.” If a commercial bank backs a specific youth or women’s empowerment category, Perfection Media produces deep-dive, solutions-journalism documentaries profiling the nominees, cementing the sponsor’s brand equity throughout the entire calendar year.

IV. Stratified Value-Driven Corporate Seating

The ZCTA replaced flat-rate ticketing with a highly competitive corporate table structure designed to drive networking and high-level deal-making:

Package Tier	Practical Value Proposition	Target Audience
VVIP Anchor Partner	Seating at the principal table with the Guest of Honor/Provincial Minister, an exclusive 5-minute keynote address slot, and direct category presentation branding rights.	Tier-1 Telecoms, Mining Houses, Major Embassies
Strategic Network Table	Premium layout placement adjacent to the VIP lounge, custom corporate backdrop, and a full-page feature within the official Investor Digest booklet.	Commercial Banks, State Universities, Public Enterprises
Community Builder Table	Standard corporate seating layout, inclusion in the general awards program index, and structured social media brand mentions.	Local SMEs, Growing NGOs, Progressive Municipalities

V. Auditable Adjudication Frameworks

Corporate compliance departments are highly risk-averse. To guarantee absolute brand safety, the ZCTA enforces strict institutional transparency. The awards utilise an independent, external adjudication panel comprising vetted legal experts, civil society leaders, and industry professionals. By publishing rigorous validation guidelines and maintaining a clean, verifiable audit trail of how every single “Trailblazer” is surfaced, corporate confidence is protected, unlocking serious corporate investment.

Conclusion: The Quiet Heartbeat of a Nation

As the final spotlights dim and the echoes of celebration fade into the Zimbabwean night, the true essence of the Zim Community Trailblazers Awards reveals itself. It is not found in the gleaming glass trophies, the crisp corporate handshakes, or the glamorous red carpets of our grandest arenas.

Instead, the heartbeat of the ZCTA lives in the quiet, dusty corners of our nation where headlines rarely reach. It lives in the sleepless dedication of the frontline healthcare worker in a remote clinic. These are the threads from which Zimbabwe’s true greatness is woven.

What began in the dark isolation of a global pandemic proved once and for all that our greatest asset is not buried in our mineral-rich soils—it is alive in the hearts of our people.

By unearthing this human gold, the ZCTA reminds us that no matter how steep the climb, a nation built by its own people, driven by love for its communities, can never be broken.

As we look forward to the next chapter of honouring our trailblazers, let us carry their light forward, knowing that the story of Zimbabwe’s triumph is being written by each and every one of us, one community at a time.

The Zim Community Trailblazers Awards (ZCTA) officially announces the opening of nominations for its prestigious 6th National Edition. Moving under the national framework of NDS1/NDS2, Devolution, and Education 5.0, this premier platform identifies and honors the “human gold” driving Zimbabwe toward Vision 2030.

---

📌 Key Event Details

Event Metric	Official Details
Theme	Empowering the Future: Connecting Youth, Driving Digital Devolution, and Achieving Vision 2030 through Grassroots Impact
National Policies	NDS1 / NDS2
Launch Date	Tuesday, 6 October 2026
Grand Finale	Friday, 29 January 2027
Venue	Harare International Conference Centre (HICC), Harare
Executive Leadership	• CEO: Albert Masaka • Advisory Chair: Dr. Nigel Chanakira • Board Chair: Prof. Johannes Marisa

---

🛑 Critical Eligibility Policy: Who Should Respond?

⚠️ IMPORTANT PROVINCIAL RESTRICTION: To prevent duplication, this national call applies ONLY to individuals, corporates, and organizations from provinces where standalone regional awards ceremonies were NOT held this cycle.

✅ ELIGIBLE PROVINCES (Apply Now)

If your operations are based in the following provinces, THIS CALL IS FOR YOU:

• Harare
• Bulawayo
• Manicaland
• Mashonaland Central
• Mashonaland West
• Matabeleland North
• Matabeleland South

❌ EXCLUDED PROVINCES (Do Not Re-Apply)

If you belong to the following regional chapters, DO NOT SUBMIT A NEW NOMINATION:

• Midlands (MCTA – 190 Categories)
• Masvingo (Elite 60)
• Dungwiza / Chitungwiza & Mashonaland East (DCTA)

---

⚖️ Judging & Selection Architecture

• 300 Categories Opened for public nomination.
• Only 100 Winners will be chosen to receive the ultimate national honor.
• Selected winners will be officially profiled in the exclusive Elite 100 Investor Digest.

---

🏆 Complete National Nomination Categories (1 to 300)

Sector 1: ICT & Digital Devolution

1. Outstanding Youth in ICT – Connecting Youth Pillar
2. Outstanding Rural Digitalisation Champion – Growth Points
3. Outstanding Smart Council – E-Services
4. Outstanding E-Government Champion
5. Outstanding FinTech for Financial Inclusion
6. Outstanding AgriTech – Drones & AI for Food Security
7. Outstanding EdTech – Education 5.0
8. Outstanding HealthTech – Telemedicine
9. Outstanding AI & Emerging Tech Innovator
10. Outstanding Women in ICT
11. Outstanding Telecoms – Rural Coverage
12. Outstanding ISP – Community Connectivity
13. Outstanding Community Information Centre / Innovation Hub
14. Outstanding Software Development SME
15. Outstanding Digital Entrepreneur – Under 35
16. Outstanding ICT Training Institution / Coding School
17. Outstanding Cyber Security Champion
18. Outstanding E-Commerce Platform – Linking Farmers to Tourism
19. Outstanding Digital Media & Tourism Storytelling
20. Outstanding Content Creator Using ICT for Development
21. Outstanding Digital Devolution Champion – Ministry of ICT
22. Outstanding Digital Village Business Unit Enabler
23. Outstanding Digital Jobs Creator
24. Outstanding Assistive Tech – ICT for Persons with Disabilities
25. Outstanding ICT for Tourism
26. Outstanding ICT for Mining Safety & Mapping
27. Outstanding Digital Marketing Agency – Tourism Focus
28. Outstanding Fibre & Infrastructure Rollout Champion
29. Outstanding Digital Financial Literacy Champion
30. Outstanding Digital Devolution Youth Leader
31. Outstanding E-Learning Champion
32. Outstanding Digital Agriculture Marketplace
33. Outstanding Mobile App for Community Development
34. Outstanding Township Digital Economy Champion
35. Outstanding ICT CSR – Connecting the Unconnected

Sector 2: Tourism, Heritage, Hospitality & Water

36. Outstanding Domestic Tourism Promoter
37. Outstanding International Tourism Marketer – Forex Earner
38. Outstanding Hotel of the Year
39. Outstanding Lodge / Resort
40. Outstanding Tour Operator
41. Outstanding Tour Guide – Heritage Storyteller
42. Outstanding Community-Based Tourism Project
43. Outstanding Township Tourism Experience
44. Outstanding Cultural Heritage Champion
45. Outstanding Water Body Tourism
46. Outstanding Wildlife Conservation & Eco-Tourism
47. Outstanding Agri-Tourism Farm
48. Outstanding Mining Tourism
49. Outstanding Gastronomy Tourism – Traditional Foods
50. Outstanding Faith Tourism
51. Outstanding Festival / Carnival
52. Outstanding Travel Agency / Transport Tourism Enabler
53. Outstanding Chef / Hospitality Personality
54. Outstanding Tourism Training Institution
55. Outstanding Rural Homestay / Village Homestay
56. Outstanding MICE Tourism Promoter
57. Outstanding Tourism Innovation
58. Outstanding Tourism Photographer
59. Outstanding Safari Operator
60. Outstanding Tourism Investment Project – Community Benefit
61. Outstanding Youth in Tourism
62. Outstanding Women in Tourism
63. Outstanding Restaurant – Local Cuisine
64. Outstanding Smart Tourism Village – ICT Enabled
65. Outstanding Tourism & ICT Integration – Online Booking
66. Outstanding Tourism Ward Champion
67. Outstanding Heritage Site – Natural
68. Outstanding Heritage Site – Man-Made
69. Outstanding Tourism CSR / ESG Spend
70. Outstanding Tourism Legacy Award

Sector 3: Disability Sector

71. Outstanding Disability Affairs National Champion – Christine Peta Model
72. Outstanding Person with Disability – Business Leadership
73. Outstanding Person with Disability – Arts & Culture
74. Outstanding Person with Disability – Sports Champion
75. Outstanding Person with Disability – ICT & Innovation
76. Outstanding Person with Disability – Agriculture / Mining / Education
77. Outstanding Disability-Inclusive Employer – Private Sector
78. Outstanding Disability-Inclusive School / Tertiary Institution
79. Outstanding Assistive Technology Innovator
80. Outstanding Disability NGO / Organisation of Persons with Disabilities
81. Outstanding Disability Advocate – Rights & Policy
82. Outstanding Sign Language Champion / Braille / Interpreter
83. Outstanding Disability-Inclusive Tourism Facility
84. Outstanding Disability-Inclusive Health Service
85. Outstanding Parent / Caregiver of Persons with Disabilities
86. Outstanding Disability-Inclusive Council
87. Outstanding Disability-Inclusive Transport
88. Outstanding Disability Role Model
89. Outstanding Disability CSR
90. Outstanding Disability Champion in Energy / Service Delivery Sector

Sector 4: Gender Sector

91. Outstanding Women in Leadership
92. Outstanding Women in Business
93. Outstanding Women in Mining
94. Outstanding Women in ICT
95. Outstanding Women in Tourism
96. Outstanding Women in Agriculture
97. Outstanding Gender Equality Champion
98. Outstanding Girl Child Education Champion
99. Outstanding Women Empowerment NGO / CBO
100. Outstanding Women in Arts, Media & Film
101. Outstanding Women in Health
102. Outstanding GBV Prevention Champion / Victim Support
103. Outstanding Women in Devolution
104. Outstanding Young Woman Trailblazer
105. Outstanding Women in Cross-Border Trade
106. Outstanding Women in Disability Affairs
107. Outstanding Women in Sports / Sports Administration
108. Outstanding Women in Construction / Energy / Real Estate
109. Outstanding Women in Finance / Banking / Energy
110. Outstanding Women in Community Leadership

Sector 5: Mining Sectors

111. Outstanding Large Scale Miner of the Year
112. Outstanding Small Scale Miner of the Year
113. Outstanding Artisanal Miner Champion
114. Outstanding Women in Mining
115. Outstanding Young Miner
116. Outstanding Mining Innovation & Safety Champion
117. Outstanding Mining Equipment & Services Supplier
118. Outstanding Mining Community Development
119. Outstanding Lithium Champion
120. Outstanding Gold Champion
121. Outstanding Chrome / Platinum / Diamond Champion
122. Outstanding Coal / Energy Minerals Champion
123. Outstanding Mining Tourism Champion
124. Outstanding Mining Environmental Rehabilitation
125. Outstanding Mining Value Addition & Beneficiation
126. Outstanding Mining Investment
127. Outstanding Mining Cooperative / Association
128. Outstanding Mining Legal & Compliance Champion
129. Outstanding Mining Growth Point Linkage
130. Outstanding Mining Supplier – Female / Disability Led
131. Outstanding Mine Manager / Safety Officer
132. Outstanding Mining Education & Training Institution
133. Outstanding Mining Town – Kwekwe / Shurugwi / Zvishavane
134. Outstanding Mining CSR – Water & Schools
135. Outstanding Mining Export Earnings Champion

Sector 6: Education & Heritage-Based Innovation

136. Outstanding Primary School
137. Outstanding Secondary School
138. Outstanding Private School
139. Outstanding University / Tertiary Institution
140. Outstanding Vocational Training Center
141. Outstanding STEM Education Champion
142. Outstanding Innovation Hub Infrastructure – Education 5.0
143. Outstanding Heritage-Based Research Project
144. Outstanding Rural School Development Project
145. Outstanding Teacher / Educator of the Year
146. Outstanding School Head / Principal Leadership Award
147. Outstanding Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre
148. Outstanding Inclusive Education Pathway Enabler
149. Outstanding Special Needs Infrastructure Development
150. Outstanding Industry-Academia Linkage Partner
151. Outstanding Youth Innovation in Education
152. Outstanding Adult Literacy & Continuing Education Programme
153. Outstanding Infrastructure Development in Tertiary Institutions
154. Outstanding Primary School Heritage Arts Programme
155. Outstanding Secondary School Science & Coding Club

Sector 7: Agriculture, Climate-Smart Innovations & Food Security

156. Outstanding Large Scale Commercial Farmer
157. Outstanding Small Scale Master Farmer
158. Outstanding Young Farmer – Under 35
159. Outstanding Woman Farmer of the Year
160. Outstanding Climate-Smart Agriculture Innovation
161. Outstanding Irrigation Infrastructure & Water Harvesting Champion
162. Outstanding Livestock Breeder of the Year
163. Outstanding Poultry Producer of the Year
164. Outstanding Horticulture Producer – Export Earner
165. Outstanding Fisheries & Aquaculture Pioneer
166. Outstanding Agriculture Value Addition & Processing SME
167. Outstanding Seed & Input Supply Enabler
168. Outstanding Community Seed Bank & Biodiversity Project
169. Outstanding Rural Traditional Grains Champion
170. Outstanding Agri-Wholesaler & Value Chain Distributor
171. Outstanding Youth Agriculture Cooperative
172. Outstanding Mechanisation & Tractor Scheme Enabler
173. Outstanding Agro-Forestry & Conservation Farming Initiative
174. Outstanding Veterinary Services & Animal Health Supporter
175. Outstanding Farm Manager of the Year
176. Outstanding Post-Harvest Loss Reduction Innovation
177. Outstanding Urban Agriculture Project
178. Outstanding Beekeeping & Honey Value Chain Enterprise
179. Outstanding Agriculture Extension Officer Leadership Award
180. Outstanding Farming CSR – Drought Relief & Free Inputs

Sector 8: Health, Wellness & Community Medical Support

181. Outstanding Public Hospital / Clinic Facility
182. Outstanding Private Medical Institution / Hospital
183. Outstanding Community Health Worker / Caregiver Lead
184. Outstanding Medical Practitioner / Doctor of the Year
185. Outstanding Nursing Leadership Excellence
186. Outstanding Maternal & Child Health Champion
187. Outstanding Mental Health Advocacy & Rehabilitation Initiative
188. Outstanding Rural Mobile Health Clinic Outreach
189. Outstanding Pharmaceutical Service & Distribution Network
190. Outstanding Traditional & Complementary Medicine Innovation
191. Outstanding Medical Research / Infectious Disease Control Project
192. Outstanding Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Provider
193. Outstanding Substance Abuse Prevention & Awareness Campaign
194. Outstanding Corporate Wellness Programme Implementation
195. Outstanding Health Sector CSR – Free Surgeries & Screenings

Sector 9: Business, SME Development & Corporate Governance

196. Outstanding Corporate Leader / CEO of the Year
197. Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year
198. Outstanding Micro-Enterprise / Informal Sector Enabler
199. Outstanding Retail Brand of the Year
200. Outstanding Manufacturing Excellence Award
201. Outstanding Logistics & Transport Enterprise
202. Outstanding Real Estate & Housing Development Project
203. Outstanding Banking Institution for Grassroots Inclusion
204. Outstanding Microfinance Institution (MFI) of the Year
205. Outstanding Green Economy / Sustainable Business Leader
206. Outstanding Township Enterprise / Grocery Retail Chain
207. Outstanding Made in Zimbabwe Product Innovation
208. Outstanding Cross-Border Trader Cooperative Hub
209. Outstanding Young Entrepreneur Leadership Award
210. Outstanding Corporate Social Investment (CSI) Flagship Project
211. Outstanding Consumer Protection & Rights Advocate
212. Outstanding Business Association / Chamber of Commerce
213. Outstanding Family-Owned Business Legacy
214. Outstanding Financial Literacy Training Provider
215. Outstanding Workplace Safety & ESG Standards Compliance

Sector 10: Arts, Culture, Media & Creative Industries

216. Outstanding Cultural Ambassador – Global Reach
217. Outstanding Contemporary Musician Promoting Social Impact
218. Outstanding Traditional Music & Heritage Ensemble
219. Outstanding Film, Drama & Television Production Company
220. Outstanding Community Radio Station – Information Access
221. Outstanding Grassroots Journalist – Development Focus
222. Outstanding Upcoming Artist / Musician – Youth Pillar
223. Outstanding Visual Artist / Sculptor / Painter
224. Outstanding Fashion Designer Showcasing National Heritage
225. Outstanding Theatre & Spoken Word Performer
226. Outstanding Online Content Creator For Social Upliftment
227. Outstanding Comedian / Satirist Driving Civic Awareness
228. Outstanding Arts Festival / Cultural Expo Organizer
229. Outstanding Heritage Book Author / Literature Champion
230. Outstanding Dance Group / Choreographer Celebrating Culture
231. Outstanding Music Producer / Sound Engineer
232. Outstanding Creative Arts Academy / Training Hub
233. Outstanding Media House Supporting Devolution Reporting
234. Outstanding Photojournalist documenting Community Development
235. Outstanding Arts & Culture CSR – Supporting Veteran Artists

Sector 11: Community Development, Social Services & Youth Empowerment

236. Outstanding Community Development Foundation / Trust
237. Outstanding Youth Empowerment Organisation
238. Outstanding Child Rights Protection Advocate
239. Outstanding Elderly Care Facility / Community Initiative
240. Outstanding Orphanage / Child Care Institution
241. Outstanding Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Project
242. Outstanding Rural Electrification / Solar Mini-Grid Enabler
243. Outstanding Community Center Infrastructure Development
244. Outstanding Sports Academy for Youth Development
245. Outstanding Drug-Free Youth Campaign Leader
246. Outstanding Homeless Reintegration & Skills Programme
247. Outstanding Grassroots Philanthropist / Humanitarian
248. Outstanding Peace & Conflict Resolution Community Council
249. Outstanding Vocational Skills Instructor
250. Outstanding Disaster Risk Management & First Responder Team
251. Outstanding Rural Road Network Repair Initiative – Community Led
252. Outstanding Housing Cooperative for Low-Income Earners
253. Outstanding Financial Literacy Hub for Rural Women
254. Outstanding Boy Child Mentorship & Empowerment Initiative
255. Outstanding Community Food Kitchen / Nutritional Garden Project
256. Outstanding Wildlife-Human Conflict Mitigation Scheme
257. Outstanding Youth Leadership Bootcamp / Civic Trainer
258. Outstanding Diaspora-Led Community Investment Project
259. Outstanding Citizen-Led Suburb Security / Neighborhood Watch
260. Outstanding Community Spirit Lifetime Achievement Award

Sector 12: Devolution, Local Governance, Environment & Hall of Fame

261. Outstanding Rural District Council (RDC) – Devolution Execution
262. Outstanding Urban Council – Service Delivery Innovation
263. Outstanding Councillor of the Year – Community Infrastructure
264. Outstanding Traditional Leader / Chief – Community Upliftment
265. Outstanding Headman / Village Head – Grassroots Mobilisation
266. Outstanding Devolution Funds Utilisation Project
267. Outstanding Environmental Conservation & Afforestation Champion
268. Outstanding Waste Management & Clean-Up Campaign Leader
269. Outstanding Renewable Energy Community Pioneer
270. Outstanding Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for Devolution
271. Outstanding Urban Planning & Smart City Infrastructure Model
272. Outstanding Civil Society Organisation for Local Accountability
273. Outstanding Community-Led Wetland Protection Initiative
274. Outstanding Climate Change Adaptation Champion
275. Outstanding Anti-Poaching & Wildlife Protection Unit
276. Outstanding Clean Energy Innovator – Biogas & Biomass
277. Outstanding Township Rejuvenation & Parks Restoration Project
278. Outstanding Water Authority / Catchment Council Initiative
279. Outstanding Civic Education & Budget Participation Facilitator
280. Outstanding Provincial Development Coordinator Leadership Award
281. Outstanding Heritage Conservationist of Natural Monuments
282. Outstanding Recycling Enterprise Supporting Green Jobs
283. Outstanding Disaster Resilient Community Infrastructure Model
284. Outstanding Devolution Public Transparency Dashboard Innovation
285. Outstanding Local Governance Legal & Advisory Supporter
286. Outstanding Youth Inclusion in Local Governance Councils
287. Outstanding Women Inclusion in Devolution Frameworks
288. Outstanding Traditional Knowledge Systems Preservation Advocate
289. Outstanding Cross-Border Provincial Development Initiative
290. Outstanding Devolution Media Anchor / TV Programme
291. ZCTA Hall of Fame: Pioneer of Digital Transformation
292. ZCTA Hall of Fame: Lifetime Agriculture Infrastructure Pillar
293. ZCTA Hall of Fame: Lifetime Medical & Health Pioneer
294. ZCTA Hall of Fame: Industrialisation & Business Icon
295. ZCTA Hall of Fame: Cultural Heritage Legacy Guardian
296. ZCTA Hall of Fame: Philanthropic & Humanitarian Pillar
297. ZCTA Hall of Fame: Devolution & Public Service Icon
298. ZCTA Hall of Fame: Disability Rights & Inclusivity Champion
299. ZCTA Hall of Fame: Girl Child & Gender Equality Champion
300. ZCTA Hall of Fame: Grand Trailblazer of the Decade – Vision 2030

---

📨 How to Submit Your Nominations

To nominate an exceptional individual, business, or community organization, please submit a comprehensive nomination profile. Ensure your submission contains the name of the nominee, their chosen category number, and a motivation portfolio detailing their grassroots impact.

📬 Official Submission Channels

• 📧 Email Submissions: Send portfolios directly to zctanominations@gmail.com
• 📞 Hotlines & WhatsApp: Contact ZCTA Chief Executive Officer Albert Masaka at +263 77 696 3414

MARONDERA – The highly anticipated second edition of the Dungwiza Community Trailblazers Awards (DCTA), originally scheduled to take place today, Friday 29 May 2026, has been postponed until June following critical feedback from community partners.

Organisers of the prestigious event announced the abrupt delay early Friday morning, citing a strategic decision to avoid compromise and protect the overall quality of the ceremony.

In a statement released to stakeholders, the DCTA Organising Committee emphasised that proceeding with the original date would have resulted in “cutting corners” on the guest experience and limited the participation of key regional stakeholders.

“The brief pause protects the value of what our stakeholders paid for,” the committee stated, promising that a rescheduled event in June will deliver the world-class standard originally guaranteed to the community.

Addressing potential corporate anxieties regarding financial risk, the organisers took the unusual step of publicly guaranteeing the absolute security of all ticket and table revenues. According to the committee, all financial transactions are currently locked in a dedicated, untouched awards project account, legally earmarked strictly for the ceremony.

“The postponement doesn’t change ownership — your money remains safe and untouched,” the statement read, reassuring stakeholders that no operational funds have been spent outside direct event logistics.

To manage the fallout from the last-minute scheduling shift, organisers announced that all existing corporate table bookings will automatically roll over to the unconfirmed June date. As an incentive for patience, early-booking stakeholders have been promised premium priority seating and exclusive first access to the revised itinerary.

The awards, which draw heavy participation from prominent regional bodies including various agricultural and industrial giants, are intended to honour trailblazing leaders across various socioeconomic sectors.

The organising committee extended an apology for the logistical disruptions caused by the delay but maintained that a high-calibre execution outweighs a rushed event. A finalised date and an upgraded official programme are expected to be made public soon, whilst organisers confirmed that table bookings remain open for prospective corporate partners.

---