Zimbabwe Independent milestones over the past 25 yrs
ZIMBABWE INDEPENDENT this year celebrates 25 years of journalistic excellence and awardwinning journalism.
In the coming weeks, we will be celebrating our milestones. We have been playing our fundamental role in holding leaders accountable, exposing abuse of power and corruption and contributing to democratic processes. We are 25 years in May and still going strong!
The first 20 years
● 1996: Current Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) chairperson Trevor Ncube and business partners Clive Wilson and Clive Murphy launch Zimind Publishers, publishing the first issue of the Zimbabwe Independent in May that year. Ncube and his colleagues wanted to provide an alternative quality, independent and credible voice in the media, focusing on the political economy, while also ensuring pluralism and diversity in a media landscape dominated by state-controlled media outlets;
● On May 10, 1996, the first edition of the Zimbabwe Independent is published and since then the paper has been appearing on the streets every week. Its staff complement was only 13, in one location at the time. e paper focused on local, regional and international news, with a special emphasis on business and financial issues even though politics always loom large in its coverage;
● 1997: e Independent launches its website, becoming the first ever local publication to do so; entering the digital age ahead of older competitors. Now AMH, the Independent’s holding company, which also publishes the NewsDay and Standard, has over 6,5 million unique visits and 16 million page views on its online platforms. AMH also owns Heart & Soul Teleradio, the first teleradio station in the country;
● 1998: e Quoted Companies Survey magazine, an enduring product of the paper, is introduced. It has now become one of business’s most favoured local media products;
● 1999: Another innovative product is launched, the Banks and Banking Survey magazine, a platform for in-depth analysis of banks and the financial sector’s performance. It has become the most authoritative publication in that area; ● 2002: Ncube, formerly Financial Gazette editor, resigns as Independent editor after taking over the Mail & Guardian in South Africa. Iden Wetherell replaces him;
● 2004: Zimind buys Munn Marketing (Pvt) Ltd from Allan Munn and family. is purchase allows Zimind to control the distribution aspect of its business;
● 2004: Vincent Kahiya takes over from Wetherell as Independent editor;
● 2009: Zimind buys Strand MultiPrint. e acquisition allows Zimind to have its own independent press for competitiveness and cost efficiency;
● 2010: e year 2010 was very exciting and dynamic for the publishing company. Zimind Publishers becomes AMH. AMH — now into printing, publishing and distribution of multimedia products — embarks on a Digital First path; 2010: Constantine Chimakure appointed Independent editor to replace Kahiya, who had been assigned to NewsDay as editor;
● 2012: AMH Conversations launched as a platform to bring to Zimbabwe international experts to lead discussions on critical global, regional and local political and economic developments affecting the country. Supports Independent Dialogue Series launched earlier to provide a platform for engagement on topical issues and current affairs;
2012: Dumisani Muleya takes over as Independent editor from Chimakure, who had been assigned to NewsDay as editor before his removal;
2013: e book on Zimbabwean women, Heartbeat of a Nation, is launched in the Independent to celebrate the achievements of women from all walks of life and the first ever “Game-Changer” event was held;
2014: Financial Times syndicated content is incorporated into the Independent before it was suspended;
2015: Independent website given new lease of life through regular updates and its online audiences boom; and
2016: Independent turned 20 on May 10 and celebrated at a special function in Harare, two decades of award-winning journalism.