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2021 Tanzania Digital Awards: Winners Announced

              - 2021 Winners

04th February 2022, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

 

The winners of the 2021 Tanzania Digital Awards have been officially unveiled. 57 out of 279 contestants in 12 major categories and 53 subcategories emerged as digital champions in 2021. Winners have been selected due to their contribution to digital transformation in their respective sectors and the country's  development.

TDA added three more major categories and four subcategories in 2021 to accommodate more digital change makers. Major types in 2021 include Digital Governance, Digital Diplomacy, Digital Marketing and Business, Digital Entertainment, Digital Media, Digital Innovation, Digital Communication, Digital Advocacy, Digital Banking, Digital and Telecommunications, the People's Choice Award, and the Honorary Award.

Diamond Platnumz has, for the second consecutive year, emerged the overall winner for individuals as he scooped two awards. Diamond has won the Influencer of the Year and the Best Digital Artist of the Year (male) awards.

Vodacom leads the way among companies to collect all four awards in the Digital and Telecoms category. Vodacom has been voted the Telco Company of the Year, the Best Customer Care on Social Media, the Best Innovative Telco Company of the Year, and its M-Pesa solution emerged as the Best Mobile Money App.

CRDB Bank has bagged three awards, including Bank of the Year, Best Innovative Bank, and its SIM Banking App has emerged as the Best Banking App.

Immigration Department has also won the Best Government Agency on Digital for the second consecutive year. Other government institutions that have won awards in 2021 are the Ministry of Health, the Directorate of Presidential Communications, and the Government e-Payment Gateway (GePG).

Digital Innovator of the year award has been awarded to Maarufu Muyaga of Nderemo App. People's choice award has gone to Jokate Mwegelo, presently the District Commissioner for Temeke District in Dar es Salaam.

For the honorary award, the technical committee voted for the National ICT Broadband Backbone (NICTBB) due to its contribution to the digital transformation in Tanzania. NICTBB enhances digital transformation in Tanzania through the establishment and development of internet infrastructures and frameworks.

TDA announced its second season in October 2021, received 6800 nominations, and shortlisted 279 contestants for the public voting process. After the voting process, technical experts thoroughly evaluated the results and approved the qualified winners in each category. Criteria used by the technical committees include innovation and change management, the impact of the digital solutions in society, best use of digital technologies for service delivery, and overall contribution to the digital transformation.

See the complete list below.

2021 TDA List of Winners per Categories.

Digital Innovation

This award recognises outstanding digital innovators and the most impactful digital innovation, which have positively contributed to societal change in the country.

Digital Innovator of the Year - Maarufu Muyaga- Nderemo App

Digital Innovation in Agriculture - AgriPoa

Digital Innovation in Health - Mobile Afya  

Digital Innovation in Education - SmartClass

Digital Innovation in Justice - Haki Kiganjani - Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC)

Digital Innovation in Transport and Mobility - Twenzao App

Digital Innovation in Finance and Banking - Nala

Digital Startup of the Year - Tunzaa 

Digital Banking

This award recognises banks and financial institutions that drive positive economic advancement through digital technologies.

Bank of the Year - CRDB Bank

Best Banking App - SIM Banking

Best Digital Innovative Bank -  CRDB Bank

Best Customer Care on Digital - NMB Bank 

Digital and Telecommunications

The Telecom industry is a crucial driver to digital transformation in Tanzania. This award recognises telco companies that pioneers digital transformation in the country.

Telco Company of the Year - Vodacom

Best Customer Care on Telecommunications - Vodacom

Best Mobile Money App - M-Pesa                 

Best Innovative Telco Company of the Year - Vodacom

 Digital Communication

Digital Communication has become very instrumental in shaping perspectives and influencing societal changes. This award recognises digital communicators whose efforts reach beyond aesthetic values.

Graphic Designer of the Year - Mulla Designer

Videographer of the Year - Oneecha

Photographer of the Year - Osse Greca Sinare

Content Creator of the Year - Millard Ayo

Influencer of the Year - Diamond Platnumz

Digital Entertainment

Through digital technologies, artists and athletes can invent and effectively use the available digital platforms to market their work, and build and maintain their brand identity. This award recognises artists and athletes with magnificent digital efforts.

Digital Artist of the Year (Female) - Zuchu

Digital Artist of the Year - Diamond Platnumz 

Digital Comedian of the Year (Male) - Joti

Digital Comedian of the Year (Female) - Katarina Karatu

Digital Sports Club of the Year - Simba Sports Club

Digital Athlete of the Year (Male) - Hassan Mwakinyo

 Digital Marketing and Business

As the means to grow presence online, businesses to strives to make the most of digital marketing. This award is a tribute to business and marketing efforts in the digital space.

Social Media Marketing Campaign - Ni Zaidi ya Furaha - MeTL Group

Corporate Leader of the Year on Social Media (Male) - Mohammed Dewji - CEO of METL

Corporate Leader of the Year on Social Media (Female) - Miranda Naiman - CEO Empower LTD

Digital Marketing Agency - Attwood Marketing & Communications

Entrepreneur on the Digital (Male) - Benjamin Fernandez

Entrepreneur on the Digital (Female) - Shilole - Shishi Food

Best Local Brands on Digital - Active Mamaz

Digital Media

At the age where everything goes digital, so many things are reimagined, including media. This award honours digital media movers and shakers.

Digital TV of the Year - Ayo TV

Blog of the Year - The Chanzo

Best Media House on Digital - Azam Media

Online Radio of the Year - +255 Global Radio

Best Digital Journalist (Male) - Khalifa Said

Best Digital Journalist (Female) - Anna Mbawala - Global TV Online

Digital Governance

The public sector has recognised and vigorously started to make effective use of digital technology to get closer to the people and win their support. This award recognises the best use of digital platforms by public sectors and actors.

Digital Politician of the Year (Male) - Humphrey Polepole

Digital Politician of the Year (Female) - Catherine Ruge

Government Page of the Year - Ikulu Mawasiliano

Best Government Agency on Digital - Immigration Department

Digital Innovation for Social Service Provision - GePG

Best Political Party Use of Social Media - CHADEMA

Best Government Ministry on Social Media - Ministry of Health

Best Government Leader of the Year on Social Media (Male) - January Makamba (Mb), Minister of Energy

Best Government Leader of the Year on Social Media (Female) - Ummy Mwalimu - Minister of Health 

Digital Advocacy

This award honours outstanding civil societies/NGOs and actors in the development sector whose digital actions have made a difference.

Best NGO Use of Social Media - Haki Elimu

Best Social Media Advocacy Campaign - Barakoa Inaokoa - UNICEF Tanzania

Best NGO Leader of the Year on Social Media (Male) - Ian Tarimo, Tai Tanzania

Best NGO Leader of the Year on Social Media (Female) - Rebeca Gyumi - Msichana Initiative

 Digital Diplomacy

 

This award recognises diplomatic missions and diplomats whose inputs have been the best in the Tanzania Digital Space.

Foreign Mission/Embassy Page of the Year - US Embassy in Tanzania

Diplomatic Leader of the Year in Social Media - Donald J. Wright - US Ambassador to Tanzania

Best International Agency in Digital - United Nations Tanzania

 People's Choice Award

Overall Best Use of Digital Platforms by an Individual voted by people.

Jokate Mwegelo - District Commissioner for Temeke District.

Honorary Award

Outstanding contribution in the country's digital transformation by an individual or institution voted by the TDA technical committee.

They are a pioneer of the National ICT Broadband Backbone (NICTBB). They contributed to the establishment and development of the NICTBB, which has contributed to the digital transformation by providing a conducive framework for investments in ICT and digital technologies.