Samachar Sub Editor wins writing contest

Sakina Zainul Datoo, Sub Editor of Women Pages in the Samachar and Acting Editor of The Express – the Tanzanian national English-language weekly newspaper -- in September this year grabbed the prestigious first runner-up prize in the ‘Impressions of Tanzania’ travel writing competition organised by the Holiday Inn in Dar es Salaam. 

Sakina, whose article featured the magical island of Zanzibar received Tsh. 300,000 and a trip to Arusha Coffee Lodge and Tarangire Tree Tops plus a night for two at Holiday Inn. 

According to the organisers, a total of 41 participants entered the competition but only 20 were shortlisted out of whom three emerged winners. 

Sakina received her BA Journalism degree from Napier University in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1999 and has certificates in Washington Journalism from American University in Washington, DC and ‘Journalism Without Stereotypes’ from University of Missouri-Columbia in Missouri, USA. 

Her journalism experience amongst others includes Dar es Salaam Television in Tanzania; CBS News; Worldnet TV – Africa Journal; and National Journal – Womenconnect Politics Daily in Washington, DC. Sakina has also worked in Missouri for the newspaper Columbia Missourian and KBIA radio and during the 1999 Cricket World Cup in UK worked on the grounds in the Press Box section.  

“There is no greater pleasure for a journalist than being awarded for her writing. Writing as a profession not only gives you an opportunity to influence people’s thought but is also so satisfying personally. There is a lot of talent in our community but unfortunately journalism as a profession has not been taken to too keenly. I would challenge our youngsters to seriously consider the profession especially in these times when media is such a powerful tool in the world,” Sakina told the Federation Samachar. 

Speaking at the awards function, Deputy South African High Commissioner Lucas Tshivhase said the aim of the competition was to sell Tanzania in South Africa as a holiday destination as well as building a bridge in the tourism industry. 

The first prize went to a correspondent with the East African newspaper Apolinary Tairo, who wrote an article on the Ngorongoro crater and was awarded with Tsh. 500,000 and a ticket to Durban in South Africa to participate in the Indaba Tourist Exhibitions in May next year. The second runner-up was Nocodemus Odhiambo, a correspondent with PANA who wrote on Tanzanian tourism industry in general and scooped a cash prize of Tsh.150, 000 and a trip to Arusha.