By Trevor Makonyonga
Investigative Journalist, Hopewell Chin’ono, is one of the recipients of the prestigious Gatefield People’s Journalism Prize for Africa (PJPA) for 2020.
Chin’ono was awarded this prize as a result of his persistent coverage of the Covidgate scandal as indicated in a statement from Gatefield.
“Investigative journalists Hopewell Chin’ono, David Hundeyin and gender advocacy group – Feminist Coalition (FemCo) are winners of the Gatefield People Journalism Prize for Africa 2020 (PJPA).
In its second year, the PJPA 2020 comes with a $3,000 reward for the selected journalists and $15,000 worth of strategic communications support to FemCo from Gatefield.
This announcement was made by Adewunmi Emoruwa, the founder of the award on Monday in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.
“Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin’ono is the People Journalist for Africa 2020. We selected Hopewell for his investigative reporting on the COVID-19 procurement corruption in Zimbabwe. This report stopped this corrupt activity and forced the sack of the country’s health minister.” Gatefield communicated.
Gatefield also explained why the other two recipients of the award were selected.
“David Hundeyin is the People Journalist for Informed Commentary 2020. We selected David for his exposé on the draconian Infectious Diseases Bill under consideration by Nigeria’s House of Representatives during the COVID-19 lockdown. This report led to the withdrawal of this proposed legislation, which would have imperiled Nigerians’ fundamental human rights.
“The Feminist Coalition are the winners of the People Newsmaker for Social Justice Award. We selected FemCo for their exceptional leadership that rallied an unprecedented nationwide and global response against the injustice of police brutality in Nigeria”.
Ever since the exposé, Chin’ono has been in and out of jail countless times as it seems he is being persecuted for speaking out against corruption.
