Pachena
Pachena reporters Brenna Matendere and Ruvimbo Muchenje scooped four awards at the 2026 National Journalism and Media Awards (NJAMA) on Friday.
Matendere won the Mining Reporter of the Year and the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Reporter of the Year awards, while Muchenje scooped the inaugural Supply Chain and Public Procurement Journalist of the Year award.
A Pachena investigation by Matendere and Muchenje, which exposed how authorities ignored warnings ahead of the 11 August 2026 Mbuya Nehanda ferry disaster, was adjudged runner-up in the Investigative Journalist of the Year category.
Pachena is an online investigative journalism outlet that began operating in June 2026. The awards mark a solid start for Pachena, which seeks to hold power to account while giving a voice to the voiceless.
The 2026 NJAMA ceremony emphasised the role of the media in driving national development and the importance of ethical reporting in the digital age.
The awards, organised by the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ), recognise excellence in journalism across various categories, including health, procurement, business, environment and mining.
Matendere’s story, which won the Mining Reporter of the Year award, investigated the effects of mercury from artisanal mining along the Mazowe River on Zimbabwe’s food chain.
The story showed that artisanal miners are using mercury in the river, whose water is then used for farming, posing health hazards to people who consume the agricultural produce.
The ESG story exposed how funeral services company Nyaradzo is contributing to a public health disaster by dumping hazardous funeral parlour waste at a public dumpsite in Ngezi.
Matendere’s stories were supported by the Information for Development Trust and republished by Pachena.
Muchenje won her award in the inaugural Supply Chain and Public Procurement Journalist of the Year category.
Her story revealed how the President of the Senate, Mabel Chinomona, had her home renovated using US$400,000 of public funds without going to tender.
The improper transaction was flagged by the Auditor-General. Muchenje dug up the receipts.
Her story was produced with the support of the Centre for Innovation and Technology.
