By MKHOKHELI ZIBENGWA
The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) has reported an overwhelming national response to its call for entries for the 24th edition of the National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA), with 1,117 submissions already received while the window remains open.
The surge in entries—drawn from artists across all provinces—highlights a vibrant and highly engaged creative sector. This year’s awards ceremony is scheduled for 28 February 2026 at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC), running under the theme “Fearless Creativity.”
According to NACZ, the majority of submissions were made through the official NAMA online portal, reflecting the sector’s growing adoption of digital systems and confidence in technology-driven processes.
Film, Music, Visual Arts Lead Submissions
The Film category currently tops the submission charts, followed closely by Music and Visual Arts. While entries have come from every province, Harare and Bulawayo lead in overall volume, with notable contributions also coming from Manicaland, Matabeleland North, and Matabeleland South.
NACZ Flags Incomplete Submissions
Despite the high turnout, the NACZ has raised concerns about incomplete submissions. Several artists successfully filled in the online forms but did not send the required supporting materials, such as downloadable links to their work.
The council has urged applicants to email their supporting materials to namasubmissions@gmail.com immediately after completing the online form, stressing that failure to do so may result in disqualification.
NACZ also confirmed that it has received essential radio chart data from major stations including Power FM, ZiFM, Star FM, Sky Metro, and Radio Zimbabwe, which will help inform the Music category nominations.
Final Submission Deadline Approaches
The council reminded artists, arts organisations, and stakeholders that the final deadline for all NAMA submissions is Monday, 1 December 2025. No entries will be accepted after this date.
With just days to go, NACZ is encouraging all creatives who have not yet completed their applications to finalise their submissions to avoid missing out on Zimbabwe’s biggest arts recognition platform.
