Bulawayo-based newspaper to 'shut down'

Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) top officials have reportedly told workers that its newest publication - Bulawayo based Southern Eye is being phased out in coming months and converted into an online edition.

Southern Eye was launched on 3 June 2013.

AMH is partly-owned and funded by the New York-based Media Development Investment Fund, which also supports Trevor Ncube's Mail & Guardian in South Africa.

Details gleaned by Bulawayo24 since Sunday suggests that Southern Eye is edging towards a shutdown.

Sources in Harare said a de-briefing was convened on Tuesday.

"We were told that the company is intensifying its digital first strategy and as a result Southern Eye in Bulawayo would be digitalised.

"This means that the print version would be off the streets and taken over by an online platform," said the source.

According to the source this move could result in job losses for staff in Bulawayo.

AMH are the publishers of NewsDay, the Zimbabwe Independent, the Standard and the Southern Eye newspapers.

Already AMH is struggling in the market and the move to get rid of Southern Eye was in the pipeline.

Last, year Ncube denied reports that Southern Eye was closing.