The National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA Awards) is a set of annual awards granted by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) in recognition of outstanding achievements in the arts and culture.^[1]

The categories have differed over the years. In 2020, they were:

• Outstanding Newcomer
• Outstanding Female Musician
• Outstanding Male Musician
• Outstanding Song
• Outstanding Album
• Outstanding Music Video
• Outstanding Fiction Book
• Outstanding Children's Book
• Outstanding First Creative Published Book
• Outstanding Female Dance
• Outstanding Male Dancer
• Outstanding Actress
• Outstanding Screen Production (Television Series)
• Outstanding Screen Production – Short Film
• Outstanding Mix Media Work
• Outstanding 2 Dimensional Work
• Outstanding 3 Dimensional Work
• Outstanding Exhibition
• Outstanding Journalist (Print)
• Outstanding Journalist (TV)
• Outstanding Journalist Radio
• Outstanding Online Media
• Outstanding Comedian
• Outstanding Poet
• Outstanding Actor (Film and TV)
• Outstanding Actress (Film and TV)
• Outstanding Screen Production (TV)
• Outstanding Screen Production (Short Film)
• Outstanding Screen Production (Full-length Film)
• Outstanding Promoter of the Year
• Personality of the Year
• Service to the Arts Award
• Lifetime Achievement Award
• People's Choice Award^[2]

Awards winners

2020

• Outstanding fiction book: Out of Darkness, Shining Light – Petina Gappah

2010

• Outstanding Fiction Book: The Fading Sun – David Mungoshi^[3]

2009

• Outstanding Fiction Book: Ndafa Here? – Ignatius Mabasa^[4]

2008

• Outstanding Fiction Book: The Uncertainty of Hope – Valerie Tagwira^[5]

2007

• Outstanding Fiction Book: Strife – Shimmer Chinodya^[6]

2006

• Outstanding Fiction: Totanga Patsva – Memory Chirere^[7]

2005

• Outstanding Fiction: Masimba – Chiedza Musengezi^[8]

2004

• Best Fiction Book: Noma Kanjani Kayiphele Linto! – Bekithemba Ncube^[9]

2003

• Best Written Work – Yvonne Vera^[10]

2002

• Best Written Work in any language: Umsebenzi Kawukho – N.C.G. Mathema^[11]