The Mark Chavhunduka Award

THE Association of Zimbabwe Journalists in the UK seeks to honour a courageous Zimbabwean journalist annually in the memory of the late Mark Chavhunduka, the former Editor of the Standard newspaper. Mark was arrested in 1999 by military police officers together Reporter Ray Choto. They were later to be tortured and humiliated for writing a story the Zimbabwe National Army denied was true. But this did not stop Mark from going back to Zimbabwe after receiving treatment abroad. He continued to work as a journalist in Zimbabwe and remained critical despite the treatment he got from the Zimbabwe government. Today many brave and talented journalists from Zimbabwe are now based abroad after the closure of their newspapers by the government and other reasons related to the political and economic crisis in the country. But Mark was a different man – he stayed on and even met his torturers from time to time while doing his work.

Mark was the Chief Executive Officer and publisher of Thompson publications, whose titles include the popular Parade Magazine, at the time of his death. He was 37 years old.

To many of us, Mark was an inspirational journalist and colleague who rose from being a mere Reporter to an internationally acclaimed Editor and finally to a Chief Executive Officer.

To give this award we will be working with our colleagues in the media in Zimbabwe and Mark's friends scattered around the world.