THE NEW TIMES REPORTER Athan Tashobya pocketed Rwf. 0.2m after finishing third in a mini-marathon which was organised by Rwanda Journalists Association as part of  celebrations to mark the World Press Freedom yesterday.

The 7.5km run which involved journalists, partners and other interested stakeholders, started from KBC roundabout through RDB, MTN centre, MYICT headquarters, Kigali golf club, Diplomat Hotel, KBC roundabout and ended at Lemigo hotel.

Felis Uwitonze from TV 10 and Innocent Vumuriya from Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) won the top two slots, to earn cash prizes worth Rwf. 0.5m and 0.3m respectively.

Daniel Hakizimana (Amazing Grace Radio), Fidel Gakire (Ishema Newspaper), Bonnie Mugabe (The New Times), Pascal Bakomere (Izuba Rirashe), Jean Pierre Mujyambere (Media High Council), Emmanuel Mugisha (Media High Council) and Nicholas Schimds (UNDP) completed the other slots in the top ten.

Top female winners were Isabelle Nyaminani (TV10), Clarrise Nyiransabimana (Intego Newspaper) and Claudine Barakamfitiye (Media High Council).

On 3rd  May every year, the world celebrates the World Press Freedom Day. In Rwanda, the World Press Freedom Day theme for 2014 is "Free and professional Media, a Driver for Development and Good Governance.”

This year’s celebrations held at Lemigo hotel were organised as a joint activity by the Rwanda Journalists Association, the Rwanda Media Commission, the Rwanda Governance Board, the Media High Council and the One UN in Rwanda as part of the Deepening Democracy through Strengthening Citizen Participation and Accountable Governance Programme.