Back to Index

SW Radio Africa’s Violet Gonda and Zimbabwe’s women awarded for radio documentary
International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT)
October 31, 2005

Williamsburg, Virginia USA– An African journalist wins an international award for a radio documentary portraying the experiences of Zimbabwean women who repeatedly defy the brutal regime of President Robert Mugabe despite beatings, rapes and imprisonment.

The International Association of Women in Radio and Television will present two awards for best documentary in radio and in television at a banquet, which will be held at Woodlands Hotels and Suites on Tuesday.

Violet Gonda, of Short Wave (SW) Radio Africa, will be awarded the prize for her innovative documentary ‘Arise! Zimbabwean Women speak out.’

Ms Gonda, now living in exile in London, broadcasts stunning eyewitness reports from people calling in on mobile phones, from police stations, hospitals and courtrooms on SW Radio Africa – and broadcasts back into Zimbabwe. Ms Gonda has been banned from returning to her country, and Zimbabweans risk their lives to call in and listen to the programme. Recently broadcast time has been reduced and changed because the Zimbabwean authorities have been jamming the radio broadcasts.

The top television award goes to a compelling documentary dealing with immigration, music, and the life of a Kurdish woman living in Sweden who uses her music to preserve her native culture. Numerous programmes covered the issue of immigration..

Two juries reviewed fifty compelling stories produced by women about women from each continent around the world.

An honorable mention was awarded to "The Pianist of Theresienstadt," (pron TERASE- see-ahn- SHTAT) that revisits the holocaust through the eyes of a 102 year old survivor, Alice Sommer.

Founded in 1947, the IAWRT is a unique organization for new and experienced producers to share their work and find creative ways for women’s voices to be heard on the media.

Guests and speakers available to speak:

• Laila Doss – U.S.A. journalist for over 40 years, former UN Under Secretary- General and founding member of IAWRT
• Jai Chandiram – India, President of IAWRT
• Radio Jury – Sheila Dallas, USA.
• Violet Gonda – recipient of Radio Award - PRESENT
  

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP