By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Harare — The Centre for Innovation and Technology (CITE) has launched the inaugural CITE Awards 2026, a new platform to recognise individuals and grassroots organisations making meaningful contributions to Zimbabwean communities, culture, innovation and public life. Public nominations open on Monday, 2 November 2026.
Held under the theme “Celebrating the people, stories and voices shaping Zimbabwe,” the awards will spotlight community leadership, innovation, Zimbabwean storytelling and the preservation of the country’s historical memory.
They aim to recognise achievements that often go unnoticed and amplify voices from across Zimbabwe and the diaspora.
“Across Zimbabwe, people are doing extraordinary work in their communities, developing solutions to everyday challenges, creating content that informs and inspires, and preserving stories that help us understand our past,” said CITE Director Zenzele Ndebele.
“The CITE Awards will give the public an opportunity to recognise and celebrate these contributions.”
Six Categories, One Mission
The awards feature six categories spanning public service, grassroots impact, youth innovation, diaspora contribution, historical preservation and digital storytelling:
CITE Person of the Year: For an outstanding public contribution in Zimbabwe during 2026.
Community Changemaker of the Year: For grassroots work that improves lives or addresses local challenges. Open to individuals and grassroots community organisations.
Young Innovator of the Year: For impactful innovations by individuals aged 18–35.
Zim Diaspora Ambassador of the Year: For Zimbabweans abroad who positively represent and contribute to the country.
ZPRA Liberation Archives Interviewee of the Year: For an interviewee featured in CITE’s ZPRA Liberation Archives, presented in collaboration with The Frontline and decided entirely by public vote.
Content Creator of the Year: For original Zimbabwean content published in 2026 that informs, inspires or entertains with quality and integrity.
How to Participate
Members of the public in Zimbabwe and the diaspora may nominate themselves or another eligible person or organisation through the official nomination form at https://cite.org.zw/cite-awards-2026-nominate-someone-making-a-difference/. The form takes less than three minutes to complete on a phone. Each nomination should name the nominee, select a category and briefly explain why they deserve recognition. Supporting links are encouraged, and links to original 2026 content are required for the Content Creator of the Year category. Nominating and voting are free.
CITE staff, judges, public office holders, political figures and their immediate families are not eligible for nomination. Full rules are available on the CITE Awards page.
Key Dates
2–14 November 2026: Public nominations
16–20 November 2026: Eligibility checks, nominee consent and selection of finalists
23 November 2026: Finalists announced
23 November–11 December 2026: Public voting
14–18 December 2026: Vote verification and final judging
31 December 2026: Winners announced
Up to five finalists will be selected in each category. In the ZPRA Liberation Archives Interviewee of the Year category, the five eligible interviewees receiving the most nominations will become finalists. In the other five categories, final results will combine independent judges’ scores (70%) with verified public votes (30%). The ZPRA Liberation Archives Interviewee of the Year will be determined entirely by verified public votes, subject to eligibility checks.
Beyond the Trophy
Winners will have their stories told through a dedicated CITE feature or short film, reaching audiences across Zimbabwe and the diaspora, and will receive an official CITE Awards certificate and winner badge. Every finalist will be profiled by CITE. Together, these stories will form a lasting record of the people shaping Zimbabwe today.
Members of the public are encouraged to follow CITE on its website and social media, and to use the hashtag #CITEAwards2026 for the nomination form, category criteria, rules and voting updates.
Background: Who is CITE?
The Centre for Innovation and Technology (CITE) is a Zimbabwean media and technology organisation dedicated to promoting transparency, accountability and citizen participation through digital innovation. Based in Bulawayo, CITE is known for its investigative journalism, civic technology tools and projects that amplify marginalised voices. The organisation has previously worked on initiatives including the ZPRA Liberation Archives, which documents the history and experiences of Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZPRA) cadres — a project that now forms the basis of one of the six award categories. The CITE Awards 2026 represent a significant expansion of the organisation’s mission, moving beyond media production to directly celebrate and connect the individuals and communities driving change across the country and its diaspora.
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