Zimpapers reshuffles top editorial posts

State-controlled Zimbabwe Newspapers (1980) Limited (Zimpapers) has made another major editorial shake-up, appointing Chronicle editor Lawson Mabhena as head of news in a move that effectively makes him the group's chief content officer or editor-in-chief.

Mabhena replaces editorial executive and head of news and digital Elias Mambo, whose removal earlier this year followed a bruising newsroom power struggle involving the Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Ministry and senior Zimpapers management.

Mabhena's appointment comes amid continuing concerns over political interference, state control and editorial independence at Zimpapers, the country's largest publicly owned media group and a key vehicle for government and Zanu PF messaging.

Mabhena will be replaced at the Chronicle by Sunday News editor Hatred Zenenga, who will now serve as editor of both titles.

The Chronicle and Sunday News are Zimpapers' Bulawayo-based publications. Zenenga is a former editor of The Herald.

Mambo, who has now been confined to digital operations, was regarded within the organisation as an ally of former Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Jenfan Muswere.

Muswere's removal from the Information Ministry in February left Mambo politically exposed. Muswere was reassigned to the Ministry of Skills Audit and Development during a three-way Cabinet reshuffle by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Muswere had previously served as Information, Communication and Technology Minister and was known for having worked as Mnangagwa's personal assistant before his ministerial appointment.

Zhemu Soda subsequently took over the Information portfolio.

Mambo's departure from the top editorial position came as Zimpapers was undertaking an ambitious digital transformation programme aimed at restructuring its newsrooms and consolidating content production.

The more than US$500 000 project is establishing a converged “super-desk” at Herald House in Harare, bringing together print, digital, radio and television production in an effort to move the organisation towards real-time, multi-platform journalism.

The restructuring is intended to eliminate duplicated workflows across the group's various titles and create a unified content production operation.

Mambo had been central to the transformation programme while serving as editorial executive and head of news and digital.

However, shortly after Muswere's removal, Mambo was suspended following allegations that he had intimidated colleagues during a morning editorial diary meeting.

The Zimpapers board issued him with a suspension letter on February 26, with the disciplinary action taking effect from March 1 to March 12.

The suspension, however, triggered speculation within media circles that the disciplinary action was connected to a broader power struggle involving the Information Ministry, Zimpapers and competing interests within the state media sector.

Mambo was also suspected of leaking a disputed Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation story to the privately owned Zimbabwe Independent, where he had previously worked. He denied the allegation.

Following disciplinary proceedings, Mambo was reportedly cleared of wrongdoing. However, his position within the organisation had already become untenable.

His efforts to appeal his removal through the Office of the President and Cabinet were unsuccessful, paving the way for his replacement as head of news.

The latest appointment has placed Mabhena at the centre of the editorial hierarchy.

It is understood that some Zimpapers executives preferred Itai Musengeyi, the current Intake Editor of the Super-Desk, to take over from Mambo.

However, sources said the Information Ministry had for some time favoured Mabhena for the position.

His appointment therefore comes against the backdrop of continuing tensions at Herald House involving editorial staff, management and the ministry.

The latest changes have once again raised questions over the extent to which political and government interests influence editorial appointments at Zimpapers, which publishes The Herald, Chronicle, Sunday News and other newspapers while also operating digital, radio and television platforms.

The reshuffle also underscores the continuing “revolving door” at the top of Zimbabwe's state media, where senior editorial appointments have frequently coincided with changes in government and political power dynamics.