Private Newspapers Face Collapse

The private newspaper industry in the country is about to collapse in the wake of high production costs worsened by an acute shortage of locally produced newsprint.

The situation could result in a serious news blackout and access to alternative information ahead of the presidential, parliamentary, senatorial, and local government elections slated for 29 March 2008, according to Misa-Zimbabwe.

Executives in the newspaper industry confirmed to MISA-Zimbabwe that the dire situation had forced them to drastically reduce their print-runs. They said they only had a week’s supply of newsprint which would force them off the streets if supplies are not urgently replaced.

However, Justin Mutasa, the group chief executive officer of Zimpapers on 30 January 2008 also revealed that the state-controlled company had also been forced to reduce the print run of its flagship daily.