Malawian Journalists shined at the 2015 SADC Media Awards that were presented on Monday at the opening of the 35th SADC Summit heads of state meeting in Botswana.

Winstone Mwale of Zodiak Broadcasting Station [ZBS] and Bonnex Julius of Daily Times newspapers were awarded on Radio and photo categories.

Mwale won for his entry on the annual Kulamba ceremony of the Chewas of Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique while Julius won for his entry which showcased the benefits of Nkaya-Kachaso Railway line between Malawi and Mozambique.

The two received US$2000 (over K1 million) each as prize money, a certificate signed by SADC Chairperson, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.

Speaking on the award, President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has hailed the two Journalists for putting the country on the world map.

“This is a proud moment for Malawi bearing in mind that out of the 15 Countries in the SADC Region and only four awards on offer, Malawi has managed to get two, representing 50 percent of the total awards, a feat that has never been achieved before by Malawi in the history of the SADC media awards. The remaining two awards have been shared between Botswana and South Africa.

“It is the expectation of the State President that these awards will encourage the winners to achieve more success in their future endearvours and will also inspire all of us to work harder in all our efforts to put Malawi on the international map for the good reasons as the two sons of the soil have done,” reads in part the statement signed by the then Minister of Information Kondwani Nankhumwa.

The SADC Media Awards take place each year in the four categories of print , radio, photojournalism and television. The competition is open to all SADC national journalists.