Dhiziri Satire Earns Majongwe Award

Saturday, 13 December 2008
HARARE - RAYMOND Majongwe’s controversial song Dhiziri KuChinhoyi won the human rights song of the year award at the Zimbabwe Human Rights Festival held in Harare last week.
The festival, organised by upcoming theatre production company Vhitori Entertainment, saw outstanding human rights defenders in different categories walking away with certificates and sculptures in recognition of their work.
Dhiziri KuChinhoyi talks of how a Grade 3 drop out, Nomatter Mavhunga, duped President Robert Mugabe’s entire Cabinet into believing that refined diesel was oozing out of a rock on the outskirts of Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West’s provincial capital.
In his acceptance speech, Majongwe said he was happy that people appreciated his music although it was not getting airplay from the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC).
“I am happy that people love and appreciate my music even though it is not being played by ZBH,” the stocky trade unionist said. “Artists should be given a platform to express their views without fear of being victimised or harassed.”
Jenny Williams from Women of Zimbabwe Arise (Woza) scooped the woman activist of the year award at the same function. Woza also won the civic society award, while the legal activist of the year award went to Alec Muchadehama.
Freelance journalist Frank Chikowore was honoured as the human rights reporter of the year, while the religion award went to Anglican Archbishop Sebastian Bakare. UK ambassador Andrew Peacock, USA ambassador James McGee and Stan Rylander (Sweden’s ambassador) were also honoured as outstanding campaigners for the rights of Zimbabweans.
The late MDC activist Tonderayi Ndira, who was killed during the run-up to the June 27 presidential election run-off, was also given an award posthumously. The festival was expected to run until yesterday, with a showcase in Harare’s Kuwadzana high-density area.
Source: The Standard - www.thestandard.co.zw

Bring back Jestina Mukoko!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jestina Mukoko was abducted December 3, 2008 by armed men in a pre-dawn raid of her home in Norton, about 40 kilometers south of the Zimbabwean capital Harare and her whereabouts remain unknown.

The government of President Robert Mugabe should do all it can to ensure the safety of Jestina Mukoko and ensure that the human rights monitor and former broadcaster is reunited with her family.

To me as a journalist, Jestina's abduction is an attack on press freedom in Zimbabwe and the Southern African Development Community as well as the African Union should press the Mugabe administration to release Jestina Mukoko unconditionally.