Zimpapers to cut 154 Jobs to stem losses, refocus on digital
STAFF WRITER
The Zimbabwe Newspapers Group (Zimpapers) is cutting 154 jobs after announcing mandatory retrenchments on Wednesday.
Most of the job losses are expected to be felt at its loss-making television division, Zimpapers Television Network (ZTN), insiders said.
Company executives met workers’ representatives in Harare on Wednesday, where the planned staff cuts were announced.
“They said 154 jobs will go in the first phase, which means more people will be forced out in the next phase,” an individual familiar with the discussions said.
Zimpapers, Zimbabwe’s biggest media group, employs more than 900 people across its newspapers, radio, television and printing divisions.
In a statement, the company said it was cutting jobs as it transitioned into a “digital-first organisation”, but did not disclose the number of positions affected.
Board chairperson Doreen Sibanda said the newspapers division would be realigned into a digital- and mobile-first operating structure.
“These changes require the reorganisation of operations, consolidation of functions, and optimisation of organisational structures,” she said.
“As a result, certain positions have become redundant within the revised operating model, and the company has commenced a retrenchment process in compliance with applicable labour laws and established human resources procedures.
“Zimpapers remains committed to treating all affected employees with fairness, dignity and respect throughout the process while continuing to deliver quality content and services to its audiences, advertisers, shareholders and other stakeholders.”
Zimpapers said it would immediately inform the National Employment Council and the Retrenchment Board of its decision, which would be followed by the affected workers being handed their retrenchment letters.
The restructuring has already resulted in changes to the group’s editorial management.
Sunday News editor Hatred Zenenga is now doubling up as editor of The Chronicle following the departure of Lawson Mabhena, who has taken up the position of head of news for all Zimpapers titles and based in Harare.
Zimpapers is facing the same structural pressures confronting newspaper companies globally, with declining print circulation and advertising revenues as audiences increasingly consume news online.
Its expansion into television through ZTN has added to the financial strain. The capital-intensive operation has accumulated substantial losses and has relied on subsidies from the group’s other divisions, according to insiders.