Tanya, Chirisa up for awards
Tanya Muzinda and Tongayi Chirisa have been nominated for the virtual Zimbabwe Achievers Awards USA 2020.
Tanya, also known as Tanyaradzwa Muzinda, has garnered two nominations.
Muzinda, who made history by becoming the first Zimbabwean female rider to win a heat at the British MX Master Kids UK Championships, will battle it out with US-based Zimbabwean tennis star Benjamin Lock for the outstanding achievement in sports.
The 16 year-old, who won the Teen Female Sports Award in 2015, was also nominated for the young achievers awards.
Hollywood actor Tongayi Arnold Chirisa has been nominated for the outstanding achievement in entertainment. Together with Grammy award winning Zimbabwean songwriter and record producer Brian Soko, actor Charlse Chiyangwa, multilingual filmmaker Sue Ellen Chitunya and Godwin Jabangwe, who inked a reported six-figure deal with Netflix to produce an animated musical film titled Tunga in 2019.
ZAA is a Zimbabwean forum that rewards, acknowledges and celebrates Zimbabweans artists, sportsmen, entrepreneurs and organizations in the diaspora who would have excelled throughout the year.
ZAA USA and Canada 2020 will hold a combined virtual event with a segment for each, on 16 January 2021 after pushing the initial dates for the respective editions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The ZAA USA and Canada 2020 virtual edition is here to recognize, celebrate and honour some of the leading lights this year.
“It has been a difficult year for everyone but our people’s exploits have been a constant source of inspiration for all that Zimbabweans can and continue to do.
“I would like to congratulate all the nom
inees and thank our partners and everyone who has worked to fly the Zimbabwean flag high,” said ZAA Chairman Conrad Mwanza.
At the announcement of the nominees, advisory board member Savanna Mamombe praised the communities for fostering unity and extending a helping hand in especially during this past year which has been difficult for many because of Covid-19.
“It has been a difficult year for most people but we are pleased with how people have come up with ways to support each other and those facing dire straits.
“There are many community based initiatives by various groups and individuals and even a fund set aside by well-wishers to help others.
“In it all, I am proud that we have not lost our roots as Zimbabweans and as ZAA we are happy to celebrate with our people once more,” said Savanna Madamombe.
ZAA USA and Canada follows closely behind events held in December for the 6th annual ZAA SA in Johannesburg and the inaugural ZAA Botswana edition in Gaborone.