The ZIWAs, created by Juliana Jonathan and Maud Goba in 2013, are growing from strength to strength. With the goal of honouring and magnifying unsung heroines, the ceremony will shine a bright light on Zimbabwean women and their successes that have mostly been invisible within our patriarchal society.
July kicked off with the nominations process where Zimbabweans across the globe put forward phenomenal women overdue for recognition. Having listened to the constructive criticism from the public last year, there was more interaction with the community during the nomination process.
The ZIWA director Mukunda M’Tandari affirms, ‘we had a lot of public participation from all corners of the world. Some women we had not heard of at all. This is what ZIWA is about, bringing those women who are ‘hiding’ in our communities out into the public eye so we get to celebrate them.’ The ZIWA team are indebted to the public for their full support, as ZIWA exists because of and solely relies on community engagement.
On August 1st, the ZIWA Team and an independent panel of 6 men and women – the ZIWA Selection Panel – met to finalise the nominees in 22 categories. All nominee profiles were presented by the Selection Panel members who had researched the nominees as they came in.
The entire team considered a range of criteria including whether each nominee was currently active in at least the previous 12-18 months, and their contributions in their respective field, as well as to the Zimbabwean community. It was a tough process, because this year’s response to the nomination process meant that the quality and number of nominees are outstanding. We had nominees based in Zimbabwe, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, Canada, the US, Nigeria and South Africa.
This is just what ZIWA has in mind: to applaud Zimbabwean women all over the world. This year also sees the introduction of the Panel Choice Award, where the panel puts forward exceptional women who just missed being a final nominee in their respective categories.
Founder Juliana Jonathan says, ‘Everyone knows of a Zimbabwean woman who is making a significant impact within her environment whether it’s in business or her local community.
ZIWA 2015 will continue to serve as a platform to empower, inform, highlight, influence and challenge the perceptions of Zimbabwean women, and the nominations are the first step in that process.’
ZIWA 2015 final nominees
Artist Of The Year
1. Helen Leiros – Zim
2. Virginia Chihota-Sulzberger – Zim
3. Sheena Chadwick – Zim
4. Nancy Mteki – Zim
5. Ruramai Rudo Msekiwa – Zim
Actress Of The Year
1. Chipo Chung-Uk
2. Denise Edwards-Zim
3. Memry Savanhu-Nigeria
4. Ratidzo Mambo-USA
5. Hannah Madzikanda-Zim
Author Of The Year
1. Noviolet Bulawayo-USA
2. Epi Mabika-UK
3. Taurayi Mary Sadomba-UK
4. Bertha Mukodzani-UK
Business Woman Of The Year
1. Julia Senah-UK
2. Takudzwa Chitsike-Zim
3. Faith Domingo Nechironga-UK
4. Rumbi Serima Fowler-UK
5. Sifiso Nxumalo-Canada
Blogger (General) Of The Year
1. Tendai Marowa -SA
2. Sakhile Khanye-UK
3. Harriet Mupungu-UK
4. Kudzai Pasirayi-UK
5. Dorcas Gwata-UK
Community Champion Of The Year
1. Simangele Moyo-Zim
2. Sakhile Sibanda-Kamera-Zim
3. Scholastica Munaku- Zim
4. Jennifer Ngulube Mbe-UK
5. Nyari Mashayamombe -Zim
Entrepreneur Of The Year
1. Tarisai Tsveta-UK
2. Ruth Mthombeni-Zim
3. Lungile Dlodlo-Zim
4. Jackie Mgido-USA
5. Lani Masuku-AUS
Fashion Blogger Of The Year
1. Natasha Ndlovu – Bisous (UK)
2. Lolo- Lolos Kloset (UK)
3. Cynthia Hungwe – Skittlisfashion (UK)
4. Robin Chaibva – Concrete Jungle (Zim)
5. Tendai Kamusikiri-Signature Toscie (Zim)
Sportswoman Of The Year
1. Teurai Chanakira-Aus
2. Rutendo Nyahora-Zim
3. Sharon Tavengwa-Netherlands
4. Tanya Muzinda-Zim
5. Yolanda Mubaiwa-Zim
Fashion Designer Of The Year
1. Joy Ndundu- UK
2. Trudy Furusa – UK
3. Yvette Ndaba- Zim
4. Unique Sibanda-UK
5. Phoebe Mwanza-AUS
Humanitarian Award Of Year
1. Rumbidzai Dube-Zim
2. Clarissa Regede-Zim
3. Rumbi Bvunzawabaya-UK
4. Tariro Nhari- UK
5. Vu Mashengele, Lorraine Bere & Thuli Mazwi (You Have It In You Foundation) Canada
Inspirational Woman Of The Year
1. Vonayi Nyamazana-UK
2. Ivy Chatora-UK
3. Thandi Haruperi-UK
4. Hatifare Munongi -Zim
5. Tsitsi Chituku-UK
Young Achiever Of The Year
1. Vongai Ruzive-UK
2. Nicolle Ndiweni-UK
3. Cynthia Masiyiwa-UK
4. Thando Sikwila-Aus
5. Sh’anesu Angela Gutsa-UK
Media Professional Of The Year
1. Candice Mwakalyelye-Zim
2. Mai Chisamba-Zim
3. Tsitsi Mutendi-Zim
4. Vimbai Kajese-Sibanda-China
5. Vimbai Mutinhiri-SA
Motivational Speaker Of The Year
1. Tendai Garwe – Zim
2. Ruth Mutanda- UK
3. Teurai Chanakira-Aus
4. Pamela Dunduru -UK
5. Tendayi Ndoro – UK
Musician Of The Year
1. Nobuntu-Zim
2. Ammara Brown-Zim
3. Chashe -UK
4. Tinashe-USA
5. Hope Masike-Zim
Panel Choice Award Of The Year
1. Vanessa Sanyauke -UK
2. Hanani Dube -UK
3. Mellisa Mazingi – Zim
4. Dr Marina Hudson – Isle Of Man
5. Faith Katsaura-Mawande-Zim
People’s Choice Award
1. Kudzai Violet Gwara (Kvg)- Zim
2. Lilian Choruwa-Zim
3. Jenny Msonza-UK
4. Cecilia Kupera-UK
5. Fadzi Jaravaza/Sista Zai Zanda – Aus
Professional Woman Of The Year
1. Mary Majoni-UK
2. Felicity Ukoko-UK
3. Nyarai Kadungure-UK
4. Kundai Chinyenze-Zim
5. Tsitsi Grace Penduka-Zim
Women’s Collective Award Of The Year
1. Kusimudzirana Women’s Trust-Zim
2. The Musi Trust-Zim
3. Zim Women Association Northampton-UK
4. The Life Project(Mpilo Maternity)-UK
5. Zvipo The Girl’s Legacy-Zim