ZIMBABWE’S independent newspaper publishers are up in arms about the government launching a tabloid newspaper yesterday — without a licence, writes Moses Mudzwiti in The Times. 


Only the government is allowed to publish daily newspapers in Zimbabwe.

Webster Shamu, the media minister, tried to cool tempers by claiming that state newspapers are exempt from licensing requirements.

Zimbabwe Independent newspapers, owned by Trevor Ncube, proprietor of the Mail & Guardian, has been waiting for a licence for more than six months.

The group, which publishes two weekly papers, the Standard and the Zimbabwe Independent, wants to launch a daily, NewsDay.

The government said it launched its new tabloid, H-Metro, to take over the market before independent media were allowed to operate.

Click here to read the full report, posted on thetimes.co.za.