Daily News group lays off correspondents

Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ) has reportedly laid off all provincial stringers and plans to retrench several full time workers in the coming few weeks.

The development comes as the failing economy takes its toll on the country's fledgling privately-owned media industry.

Sources at the newspaper group which publishes The Daily News, The Daily News on Sunday and the weekly Weekend Post said that the company was facing serious financial challenges which have also resulted in workers receiving their April salaries last week.

Provincial correspondents who were based in towns and cities such as Gweru, Mutare, Masvingo and Bulawayo were being paid $35 for every published story while some had a fixed returner fee.