Volume 65 December 2026-January 2026 : Politics

Shonga received the award during the official opening of the 32nd ordinary SADC summit of heads of state and government in Maputo, Mozambique on August 17.  Competition entrants around SADC were required to submit works with themes relating to issues and activities promoting regional integration in the region, as well as those that related to issues and activities promoting Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM).

Shonga emerged the best in the photojournalism category for his 2011 photo showing President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama in a private meeting with then SADC chairperson, Hikifepunye Pohamba, the then SADC Organ on Defence Security Cooperation chairperson, Rupiah Banda and SADC mediator on Madagascar, Joaquim Chissano, at a two-day Madagascar political stakeholder’s dialogue in Gaborone. Lost for words after receiving the award, the ecstatic photographer said in an interview that the award was testimony that winning photographs are not only about war, violence or poverty. “Images that are about bringing peace to the nations are worth winning,” he says.

Shonga started photography at a very tender age, inspired by his art teacher at secondary school, who taught that art and photography blended well. The first camera owned, he says, was a gift from the late former Herald editor in Zimbabwe, Farayi Munyuki, who took him for an intermediate print journalism course in the late 1990’s. The youthful looking Shonga who is well known in media circles both locally and across borders is no new comer to winning awards. In 2003 and 2004, Yobsta as he is affectionately called by his colleagues, scooped MISA photographer and joint overall journalist of the year awards respectively. He was also the best photographer at Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria, South Africa for three consecutive years while studying for his Bachelor of Arts Degree in photography. He passed with a distinction.

Shonga’s work comprises photographing high profile people most of them African presidents including former South African president, Nelson Mandela. In the list of people he photographed and shaken hands with are former presidents, Fidel Castro of Cuba, Bill Clinton and George Bush of America as well as the late king of pop music, Michael Jackson. His work has also been featured in PIX magazine, one of Africa’s leading photographic and video magazines. The climax of his career, he says, was during former US president, Bill Clinton’s visit to Botswana. He was assigned as state house official photographer.

“It was only the two of us, me and US photojournalist, Sharon Farmer. That time, I felt self-actualisation in my life, that if I can be entrusted with something big like this, then I am recognisable.” On the flip side, Shonga reminisces fondly about former South African president Thabo Mbeki’s inauguration. His lens was not long enough to reach a distance. “That was the worst frustration of my career but I managed to improvise,” he recalls. Out of that frustration, he won an award with the picture he took - a statue of South Africa’s rainbow nation. Shonga remains dedicated to his craft and quitting is something that is yet to cross his mind. ENDS

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