The Citizen Editor Scoops Top

CNN Award..

The Citizen editor Richard Mgamba (left)acceps the CNN/Multichoice African Journalist of the Year Award for the print general news category in Accra on Saturday.Below is the story that landed Mr Mgamba the honour as published by Sunday Citizen last year.

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The Citizen's News Editor,Mr Richard Mgamba,has won this year's CNN Multichoice Africa Journalist of the year award in the print news category.He was named the winner of the prestigious award at a gala awards ceremony held in Accra,Ghana on Saturday.Ghanaian President John Kufour attended the ceremony in The State Banquet Hall.

Mr Mgamba has been honoured for his coverage of the fate of small-scale miners at the Buzwagi Gold mines in Western Tanzania.The miners were evicted from the mining area early last year to pave way for a Sh520 billion($400 million) project by a foreign investor.His recognition becomes the third for a Tanzanian journalist in the 13-year history of the awards.

Other journalists who previously won the awards in different categories are Ms Betty Mkwasa and former Sunday Citizen Editor Sakina Datoo in 2002 and 2004,respectively.Ms Mkwasa was then with ITV as a senior news anchor.She is now the District Commissioner for Korogwe.In this year's finals, Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Rugoho-Chinono scooped the overall winner's award.The competition received 1912 entries from 44 countries throughout the continent,including French and Portuguese speaking Africa.

There were 23 finalists from 14 countries.Tears of joy overcame Mr Mgamba after receiving his trophy."I dedicate this award to the small-scale miners who suffered at the expense of multinational companies,"he said. By Erick Kabendera, Accra.