In a country often dominated by stories of economic hardship, political divisions and social challenges, Zimbabweans are being challenged to turn the spotlight on themselves by celebrating people who are making a difference in their communities and shaping the country’s future.
The Centre for Innovation and Technology (CITE) has opened nominations for its inaugural CITE Awards 2026, calling on members of the public to identify and recognise individuals whose work, creativity and commitment are contributing to positive change across Zimbabwe.
The awards seek to celebrate people whose contributions often happen away from the national spotlight, from grassroots community builders and young innovators to content creators, diaspora personalities and individuals making an outstanding public contribution.
CITE Director Zenzele Ndebele said the initiative was designed to create a platform where Zimbabweans could recognise achievements and give credit to people whose work deserves wider recognition.
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The six award categories are CITE Person of the Year, Community Changemaker of the Year, Young Innovator of the Year, Zim Diaspora Ambassador of the Year, ZPRA Liberation Archives Interviewee of the Year and Content Creator of the Year.
The flagship CITE Person of the Year category will recognise an individual whose work within Zimbabwe has made an outstanding public contribution during the award year. The Community Changemaker of the Year category, meanwhile, focuses on grassroots initiatives and individuals improving lives, solving local problems and expanding opportunities, particularly in underserved communities.
Young people aged between 18 and 35 will compete for the Young Innovator of the Year award, which recognises fresh ideas and practical solutions in technology, business, culture, media and public problem-solving.
The Zim Diaspora Ambassador of the Year category will celebrate Zimbabweans abroad who positively represent the country, while the Content Creator of the Year award recognises creators whose work informs, inspires and engages audiences.
The ZPRA Liberation Archives Interviewee of the Year category will recognise individuals whose testimonies contribute to preserving Zimbabwe’s liberation history. The five eligible interviewees receiving the highest number of nominations will become finalists.
Nominations opened on 2 November and will close on 14 November 2026. Members of the public can nominate themselves or other deserving individuals by completing the online nomination form.
Nominations can be submitted through the official CITE Awards portal:
CITE will review submissions between 16 and 20 November, including verifying nominees’ eligibility and obtaining their consent before the public voting stage.
Public voting will run from 23 November to 11 December, after which the finalists and results will undergo a verification process between 14 and 18 December.
Winners will be announced on 31 December 2026.
Beyond recognising individual achievements, the awards offer an opportunity to document stories of innovation, resilience, leadership and community action that reflect the Zimbabwe people are building.
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