MCAZ, ZUJ Join Forces to Crown Zimbabwe’s Top Medicines Safety Journalist
By Desire Tshuma
Harare – The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has partnered with the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) to launch the “Medicines Safety Journalist of the Year” award, in a move aimed at promoting accurate and responsible reporting on medicines and public health.
The award will form part of the National Journalism and Media Awards (NJAMA) 2025/2026, scheduled to be held later this year in Harare.
The partnership is expected to strengthen collaboration between the medicines regulator and the media, while encouraging journalists to produce more public-interest stories that help communities make informed decisions about medicines and medical products.
MCAZ, which is mandated under the Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act to regulate the safety, quality and efficacy of medicines in Zimbabwe, said responsible journalism plays an important role in protecting the public from misinformation and unsafe healthcare products.
The new award category will recognise journalists whose work has contributed to public understanding of medicines-related issues, including side effects, adverse drug reactions, rational medicine use and medicines regulation.
At a time when misinformation about medicines and healthcare products can spread rapidly, the initiative is expected to encourage journalists to go beyond reporting breaking health stories and provide the public with accurate, evidence-based information.
MCAZ said the award is open to eligible journalists who produce work that educates the public on medicines safety and regulatory issues.
The Authority believes stronger media coverage of pharmacovigilance and medicines regulation can contribute to better decision-making among consumers of medicines and medical devices.
The partnership with ZUJ, described as the country’s largest media trade union, will also provide a platform for engagement between journalists, editors, media owners and the medicines regulator on emerging issues in the sector.
MCAZ said it hopes the award will encourage sustained and professional coverage of medicines regulation throughout the year, rather than focusing only on isolated incidents.
The Medicines Safety Journalist of the Year award is part of broader efforts to strengthen cooperation between MCAZ and the media in disseminating accurate information and improving public awareness on medicines safety.
As Zimbabwe continues to confront misinformation surrounding healthcare products and medicines, the initiative could give health journalists a stronger role in safeguarding public health through credible, responsible and well-researched reporting.
